Construction Managers

High School

If you are thinking about a career in construction management, chances are you have a knack for building things. Industrial arts classes such as woodworking, welding, and drafting and design will give you good background experience for the construction industry.

Construction managers are savvy business professionals as well. Give yourself a solid introduction to the business side of this job by taking classes such as accounting, finance, management, and mathematics. Learning Spanish will also be helpful since Spanish-speaking workers make up a large part of the construction workforce in certain areas of the country. Other important classes include computer science, English, and speech.

Postsecondary Education

Many construction managers have an associate's or bachelor's degree in construction science, construction management, or civil engineering. A typical class load for students studying construction science, for example, includes construction methods, building codes, engineering, site planning, and cost estimating. Some even earn their master's degree in these fields. Others earn graduate degrees in business administration or finance to expand their job skills. Visit https://www.acce-hq.org for information on accredited programs.

Other Education or Training

The Construction Management Association of America offers a standards of practice course that helps construction managers master the construction management core competencies. It also offers webinars on new software and other technology and general practice issues. Associated General Contractors of America offers online classes and webinars that cover topics such as management skills, business writing, and job-site safety issues. The National Association of Home Builders offers courses, webinars, and continuing education opportunities for construction professionals. Contact these organizations for more information.