Online Course · Building Estimating

Take the First Step Toward a Career in Estimating

You might be the person who always knows what a job costs. This course covers estimating, labour and material schedules, tenders and codes. It has you covered on homes and commercial work alike.

From $67per week on a flexible plan
10 Monthsfull-time study
15 Unitsall accredited
CPC40320nationally recognised
At a Glance

Course Snapshot

DurationAbout 10 months full-time, 12 to 14 part-time
CostFrom $67 a week on a flexible plan
DeliveryOnline and self-paced, open 24/7
Units15 accredited units of competency
RecognitionCPC40320, nationally recognised
Enrolment24 months, with extension and deferral options
Comes with
  • Weekly or monthly payment plans
  • Unlimited one-on-one support
  • Two short courses included
  • No set class times
Who It’s For

Why Do This Course

Put Your Head for Numbers to Work

Estimating is where a job is won or lost. If you already sense what work should cost, this puts a method and a code behind it.

Move Off the Tools

Estimators work from plans and prices rather than ladders and dust. The trade knowledge you have is the part that makes you good at it.

Finish Inside a Year

Full-time students take about ten months. It is one of the quicker ways into a construction office role.

Where The Skills Fit

Where These Skills Could Take You

Nothing gets built until someone prices it, so estimators stay busy in good years and lean ones. The work is easy to picture: measuring off a drawing, calling suppliers, building the schedule, and handing over a tender that stacks up.

Building Estimator

Prices jobs from plans and turns them into ordering schedules.

Estimating Team Leader

Runs a small estimating team and checks the numbers before they go out.

Site Manager

Takes on the whole site, once site experience is behind you.

Roles where these skills are useful, not promised outcomes. Every employer is different, and team leader and site manager roles usually ask for experience as well.

The Course

What You Learn

Fifteen units cover pricing, plans, codes, contracts and planning.

01
Pricing the Work
Turn a set of drawings into a number you can stand behind.
Identify and produce estimated costs for building and construction projects
Produce labour and material schedules for ordering
Select, procure and store construction materials for building and construction projects
Prepare and evaluate tender documentation
02
Plans, Codes and Structure
Know what is drawn, what is allowed, and what holds the build up.
Read and interpret plans and specifications
Prepare simple building sketches and drawings
Apply building codes and standards to the construction process for Class 1 and 10 Buildings
Apply building codes and standards to the construction process for Class 2 to 9, Type C Buildings
Apply structural principles to residential and commercial constructions
03
Contracts and Clients
Get the agreement right and keep the client brief clear.
Select, prepare and administer a construction contract
Process client requirements
Apply legal requirements to building and construction projects
04
Planning and Risk
Plan the work, spot what could bite, and cut the waste.
Plan building or construction work
Apply project risk management techniques
Minimise waste on the building and construction site
Included

What You’ll Get

Study

  • Online and self-paced, open 24/7, study when you want
  • Fifteen accredited units, costing, plans, tenders, risk
  • Unit quizzes, to check what has landed
  • Workplace evidence tasks, practical, not theory alone

Support

  • Unlimited support, one-on-one with your coach
  • Regular feedback, from experienced facilitators
  • Flexible plans, weekly or monthly to your budget
  • Diploma pathways, open when you finish
Why This One

What Makes It Different

Three reasons it suits estimators: costing sits at the centre, tenders are covered, and you can study around a full week of work.

01
Costing at the Centre

Estimated costs, labour schedules and material schedules for ordering are core units, not something touched on once.

02
Tenders End to End

You prepare and evaluate tender documentation, so the paperwork side of winning work is part of the course.

03
Plans You Can Read

Reading drawings, sketching, structural principles and both building code classes give you the ground an estimate stands on.

The Credentials

What You Walk Away With

Nationally Recognised

Certificate IV in Building Project Support (Estimator)

CPC40320, awarded by the Australian Government

A Recognised Certificate

CPC40320 is nationally recognised training, awarded by the Australian Government and respected nationally.

The Estimating Skill Set

Estimating labour and materials, producing schedules for ordering, and preparing tender documents from the drawings up.

Two Diploma Pathways

Graduates can go on to the Diploma of Building and Construction (Management) or the construction project management diploma.

Getting Started

How It Works

Step one

Enquire

Ask for the course guide. It takes a minute and costs nothing.

Step two

Talk It Over

A consultant checks estimating is the right direction for you.

Step three

Choose a Plan

Pick weekly or monthly payments to suit the budget, then enrol.

Step four

Start Pricing

Begin with costing and plans, and work at the pace you set.

The Investment

What It Costs

$67 / week
Pay weekly or monthly on a plan tailored to your budget.
Weekly or monthly payment plans
Plans tailored to your budget
30-day cooling-off period
Two short courses included
Enquire Now
Good to Know

Common Questions

Do I need experience to enrol?

You can start without industry experience, though trade knowledge helps. You must be 18 or older when you register and show English, maths and reading at ACSF Level 3. A short test may apply if English is not your first language.

How long does it take?

About 10 months full-time, or 12 to 14 months part-time. The enrolment period runs 24 months, with extension and deferral options.

What does it cost?

Plans start from $67 a week and can be tailored to your budget, weekly or monthly. The college is fee-for-service, so FEE-HELP and VET Student Loans do not apply.

What does a building estimator do?

You work out the labour and materials a job needs, produce schedules for ordering, and prepare tender documents. Reading drawings and interpreting site information is most of the daily work.

Can I study while working full-time?

Yes. The course is online and self-paced, with no scheduled classes and no hard deadlines. Study fits into the gaps in your week.

How is the course assessed?

Through unit quizzes and practical tasks based on workplace evidence. Your coach gives feedback on each task before you move on.

How is this different from the Contract Administrator stream?

Both sit under CPC40320. This one centres on pricing work, schedules and tenders. The contract administrator stream centres on contracts, claims and approvals.

Is this course nationally recognised?

Yes. CPC40320 Certificate IV in Building Project Support (Estimator) is nationally recognised training, awarded by the Australian Government.

What if I change my mind?

A 30-day cooling-off period applies. Withdraw inside it and you receive a full refund, less an administration fee. After that, stopping payments needs evidence of hardship.

Delivered By

About the College

College for Adult Learning is an online college built around people who already work. Its construction courses are designed in consultation with industry experts, and coaching is one-on-one and unlimited. The college is fee-for-service.

Designed with industry expertsUnlimited one-on-one supportOnline and self-pacedFee-for-service provider
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