Before you go off to college to study quantity survey, take some free online quantity surveying courses to have a fundamental knowledge of the field so that when you get to college, the topics won’t look so new to you.
Before you get surprised that you can learn quantity surveying online for free you should know that today, in this digital age, one can learn nearly anything online and for free too. From free GIS courses online to free online classes for farmers, there is nearly no limit to the classes and courses one can take online, and as the day goes by, more of them keep rolling out.
The aim of free online courses, in any field, is to equip you with the latest knowledge, skills, and technique of that field and prepare you for career advancement irrespective of your experience level. The free online quantity surveying courses I have curated in this blog are a stepping stone for those who want to study quantity survey in college.
When they finish taking the courses, they will have a better understanding of the field they are about to go into and be exposed to the opportunities within the industry and how to start exploring on their own. This is why taking a free online course is important, and remember, the ones I curate here are 100% free.
If you finish the course and would like to continue learning online there are colleges around the world that offer accredited online degree programs in quantity surveying. You can enroll in them to continue enjoying the technology of online learning.
Experienced quantity surveyors are also encouraged to take some of these free online quantity surveying courses to find something they can learn and apply in their jobs, this could take your career and knowledge to a whole new level.
What is Quantity Surveying
Quantity surveying is the act of estimating and controlling costs for large construction projects. As a quantity surveyor, your job is to estimate the amount and cost of materials needed for building structures and how long it will take to build. They also ensure that the structure meets legal and quality standards.
How Do I Become A Quantity Surveyor?
To become a quantity surveyor today is easy. Simply read through the guide below and follow up:
1. Earn a Degree in Quantity Surveying or a Related Field
First, you need to obtain, at least, a bachelor’s degree in quantity surveying or a related field like engineering, finance, or management whether online or traditional method. When you complete your education and earn your degree, which takes about 4 years, concentrate on gaining experience instead of applying for jobs because most open positions require applicants with experience, and since you have none, it would be challenging for you to land a job.
2. Acquire Work Experience
So, after earning your bachelor’s degree in quantity surveying, the next step would be to apply for internships, apprenticeships, or entry-level roles to stack up some experience. The experience you gain can lead to career advancement, you can either get promoted in that same company or apply for jobs elsewhere and this time you have a competitive edge above others without experience, therefore, you will stand a chance to get the job.
3. Consider Professional Certification
You can decide to stop at No. 2 and still have a successful career as a quantity surveyor but there are still other things in the field to explore like earning a professional certification. Earning a professional certification in quantity surveying increases your chances of getting hired because employers are more likely to hire certified professionals.
Here is a list of certifications offered by the Association for the Advancement of Cost Estimating International that quantity surveyors can pursue:
- Certified Cost Technician (CCP)
- Certified Scheduling Technician (CST)
- Certified Cost Professional (CCP)
- Certified Estimating Professional (CEP)
- Earned Value Professional (EVP)
Other opportunities that quantity survey experts can explore are:
- Loss control surveyor
- Construction manager
- Project manager
- Senior estimator
- IT project manager
What is the Salary of Quantity Surveyors?
According to Indeed, the average salary of a quantity surveyor in the US is $77,015 per year while in the UK, the average salary of a quantity surveyor is £48,814 per year.
Free Online Quantity Surveying Courses
The following are the quantity surveying courses you can take online for free:
- Basics of Quantity Surveying
- Free Building Cost Estimation and Quantity Survey Estimation
- Construction Cost Estimation and Cost Control
- Construction Management Specialization
- Construction Scheduling
- Construction Finance
1. Basics of Quantity Surveying
Here is an ideal course for students who want to pursue quantity survey as a college degree, enrolling in this course will give you a basic understanding of what the field is all about like a way of testing the water before you dive in. The course explores the rudiments of quantity surveying and the necessary skills to become a quantity surveyor.
The course consists of 3 modules and addresses topics on regulation and control, report writing, predicting potential risk and management, cost management, quantity surveying measurement, and many more. You can complete the course in 3 hours or less depending on your pace. At the end of the course, you will acquire skills and knowledge in construction, risk management, architecture, pricing, STEM, and surveying.
2. Free Building Cost Estimation and Quantity Survey Estimation
This is a 2-hour tutorial video on Udemy that teaches the basics of quantity surveying, construction estimation, cost estimation, civil engineering, and building estimation. At the end of the course, you will learn cost estimation for building elements, be able to estimate different building projects, and be prepared to take on the entry-level role as a quantity surveyor and estimator.
3. Construction Cost Estimation and Cost Control
This is one of the free online quantity surveying courses available on Coursera. It is a beginner-level course that will introduce you to the aspect of cost estimation and control in construction. This is a fundamental skill that any quantity surveyor must possess.
Students will learn cost control methods emphasizing the Earned Value Methods and the fundamentals of cost estimation and the design phase to perform cost estimation. At the end of the course, students will gain skills in cash flow, cost, cost control, and cost estimate.
4. Construction Management Specialization
This quantity surveying course is offered online for free on Coursera by Columbia University in the City of New York. It is a beginner-level course that will help those without prior knowledge develop an understanding of the foundations of project planning and scheduling techniques.
You will learn major construction management fundamentals, key project scheduling techniques, types of cost estimates, and monitoring project cash flow. At the end of the course, you will gain skills in scheduling, finance, cost control, real estate finance, and cost estimating.
5. Construction Scheduling
Test the waters of quantity surveying before diving in by taking this free online course. It is an ideal course for beginners and takes 21 hours to complete but it is self-paced allowing you to start and finish on your own time. The course will teach your key project scheduling techniques and procedures equipping you with skills in critical path method, linear scheduling method, PERT, and schedule.
6. Construction Finance
Construction Finance is one of the free online quantity surveying courses for beginners and requires 18 hours to complete but it has a flexible schedule which means you can learn at your own pace. The course will teach you the importance of a cash flow diagram and the basic economics of the essential components in every construction project leaving you with skills in financial modeling, project, real estate, and finance.
These are the free quantity surveying courses that are available online. The majority of them are paid degree programs offered by universities from around the world. Below is a list of universities and colleges that offer quantity surveying degree programs online:
- The University College of Estate Management
- Northumbria University
- The University of Salford
- Birmingham City University
- Institute of Technology Sligo
- Glasgow Caledonian University
- Heriot-Watt University
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