The Importance of Online Continuing Education for Construction Workers

With the fast pace of today’s world, along with the demands of daily life, it can be challenging to stay on top of learning new things or even continuing to learn more about something you already do for a living. When you need to learn something for your career, balancing work and education can be a challenge. If you’re in the construction industry, you’re likely accustomed to hands-on learning experiences, but the world – and what education is available to you – really expands when you consider online contractor courses. Construction workers in today’s digital world can rely on continuing education courses from the comfort of their home or office.

Whether your interest in continuing education stems from a desire for personal growth or to maintain construction certifications, the good news is that it’s easier than ever to complete. Luckily, there are currently a lot of services providing online continuing education as a response to the changing needs of the economy, and the times, more generally.

How Construction Workers Benefit from Continuing Education Online

Whether you already have the highest certification level for your area of expertise or not, chances are, your construction specialty is growing. It’s crucial to stay on top of changes and developments in your field – no matter how skilled you are. Whether you’re a high-level trades worker or a specialist in a construction niche, learning never really stops. Additionally, with all the new technology developing each day, there are always new ways of learning to do things.

Construction work, like most careers, benefits from continuing education. It opens up your skillset, not to mention enhances your opportunities for the future. There is an incredibly wide variety of construction certifications that can help people boost their careers. Online continuing education makes that possible no matter what aspect of work you do. In fact, the digital era has made education more accessible than ever, regardless of the industry.

Those in the construction field aren’t the only ones who can benefit from online education courses. Here are just some examples of the variety of continuing education courses offered online:

• Hoisting courses for excavator and lift operators to get certifications
• Landscaping courses for gardeners wanting to up their game
• Carpentry, with detailed tutorials
• Metalsmithing
• Electrical work
• Plumbing
• Contractor licensing and re-certification
• Mechanics

Many of these fields complement the work and skillset of construction workers, so such courses can be truly beneficial. While some construction professionals can continue their education through voluntary seminars and workshops, others require actual certification courses and exams. Continuing teacher and plumber education are two common examples of those fields that require mandatory ongoing certification. Online contractor courses are also becoming increasingly common and available, particularly with the massive increase in online learning in recent months.

For example, CSL continuing education (or construction supervisor continuing education) from At Leisure is frequently sought after for certification of the coveted license associated with it. The license can now be obtained online and is also available through in-person, scheduled classes, once that is permitted on a state level. That being said, while the hours of training necessary to maintain certification in various fields may differ, the need for them remains the same.

What Are Some Benefits of Continuing Ed for Construction?

• Depending on your state of residence, it might be the law. Whether you’re required by law to be certified in general or on an ongoing basis, it’s truly important to heed these rules. Many states carry heavy monetary penalties and even jail time for practicing without a license or certification. The money you’ll spend on fines and possibly court costs or worse, generally are far, far more costly than just getting the certification itself. Those are things you’ll want to avoid, no matter your profession.
• It can help you to make a career transition or upgrade. Improving your career is one of the most common reasons people are interested in continuing education. Some areas of construction work are challenging to gain entry without skilled technical training. Other areas rely on additional training to achieve a higher pay grade. A handyman may want to get certified as a contractor because contractors can work on larger jobs for more money. As a rule, having a license or certification instills more trust in your client base, and this helps you to expand it. Contractor licensing courses can be a considerable upgrade in the profession for some, and very much worth the short amount of time that it takes to complete the coursework and receive certification.
• Continuing education can help you increase your income. With the career shift or upgrade that continuing education provides, the better news is that an increase in income is generally inevitable. Certification and licensing can be the difference between winning the bid on a huge job and being saddled with smaller, lower-paying ones. Most major building projects, especially those with investors, for example, require licensed contractors. A little time and money invested now in continuing education could make a massive difference in a short amount of time.
• Personal growth is another leading reason for people to seek out continuing education. While it may be a new language, hobby, or craft, lifelong learning is an important and healthy aspect of a full life. Even skills that may seem unrelated to your work in construction may help you improve or enrich your life in any number of other ways.

What Kind of Continuing Education Is Available to Construction Workers in 2024?

While most continuing education for construction has been done in traditional classrooms or hands-on learning applications, now more than ever before, it’s being done online via classes and webinars. This also translates to continuing education being easier and more convenient than ever before. It’s accessible, can be done from home, and available for a reasonable cost. In many cases, online companies design courses that you can participate in at your convenience and when you have the time and energy to learn from them. Continue your role with your construction team as you learn online at your own pace. This design increases the ability for you to benefit more fully from these educational opportunities, as you reap more benefits when you’re fully able to absorb those lessons. You virtually can’t go wrong with continuing education online.