Construction contracting schools provide programs useful in preparing people for positions as general contractors, heavy and civil engineering construction contractors, and specialty trade contractors. General contractors erect residential housing and commercial or industrial buildings. These contractors are also referred to as construction of buildings contractors. Heavy and civil engineering contractors accomplish the building of roads, bridges, and sewer systems. A specialty trade contractor performs construction-related tasks, such as carpentry work, electrical or plumbing system installation, or painting. In many cases, a general contractor will take responsibility for completing a project, but often will sub-contract the majority of work to a heavy or specialty contractor.
Schools offering associate degree programs, such as an Associate of Applied Science in Construction Management, prepare students to obtain a contractors license. Each state requires a construction contractor to pass a licensing examination prior to managing a building project. Associate degree programs teach administration methods like hiring and supervising employees. Construction contracting schools also educate students about safety procedures necessary at construction sites. The curriculum includes accounting basics, project management, surveying and customer relations. Additionally, a school with an associate's degree program in construction management will teach cost-estimating, material ordering techniques and the skills necessary to interact with architects and designers.
Institutions providing bachelor degree programs, like a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, reinforce and expand on the management skills gained through an associate's degree course. Students that have earned an associate's degree in construction, or those who have obtained on-the-job experience, often attend schools with bachelor degree programs in construction to further their careers. Course work includes designing concepts for various types of construction sites, handling bids, developing schedules and effectively directing a team of construction personnel. Furthermore, schools offering these degree programs instruct students on the variations between constructing commercial and residential buildings and provide an understanding of building codes.
Some construction contracting schools offer apprenticeship programs providing students with actual on-the-job training. People in these apprenticeships often progress quicker in their learning compared to similar programs, because they have already gained classroom knowledge in many areas of construction. Apprenticeships often include a combination of on-the-job training and additional instruction in a classroom.