General Contractor Training
General contractors, also known as construction managers, work at the center of every construction project, from the conceptual phase to the final construction. They plan and budget the work, then they hire and manage the professionals who carry it out. Such a big job requires extensive experience and training. After all, it's difficult to manage construction work if you don't know how to do the job yourself.
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Construction Experience
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It is difficult to become a general contractor without first acquiring some construction experience. Prospective general contractors should consider internships or lower-level jobs on construction sites. Some general contractors enter the profession after extensive experience as specialized craftspeople in trades such as carpentry, masonry and plumbing.
Classes or Associate's Degree
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Work experience in the construction industry can be supplemented with trade school or community college classes in general contracting. These courses generally teach the skills needed for the business side of the field, including how to read a blueprint, understand a contract, plan a project and follow local building regulations. Many such courses will award associate's degrees to graduates. In states that require general contractors to be licensed, these courses are often designed specifically to prepare students for the state licensing exam.
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Bachelor's Degree
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More than 300 American colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in construction science, building science and construction engineering, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Courses in these programs teach project development, construction techniques, cost estimating, accounting and business financial management, as well as more academic subjects such as engineering, statistics, architectural sciences and information technology. A degree from one of these programs is quickly becoming the norm in the industry, according to the BLS.
Master's Degree
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Several colleges and universities also offer master's degrees in construction management. These programs cover many of the same topics as bachelor's degree programs, but they focus on preparing graduates to take on complicated, large-scale projects after graduation, such as office buildings and industrial complexes. Construction managers sometimes pursue graduate degrees in business administration and finance.
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