How to Become a Site Manager: Australian Careers in Building and Construction

Give your career in building the best foundation with the CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) from Open Colleges! Designed to help working trades professionals and newcomers to the construction industry become licensed builders without the hassle of full-time classes, this course is delivered entirely online to ensure ultimate flexibility and the freedom to study at your own pace.

The course is designed to give you a solid understanding of building fundamentals and structural principles for residential and commercial low rise construction projects. Learn how to prepare simple building sketches, interpret plans and specs, estimate costs for a range of projects, prepare contracts, plan construction work, select and procure the correct construction materials and conduct on-site supervision of construction works.

The course also covers building codes and standards, WHS protocols on construction sites, and how to comply with legal requirements and resolve business disputes. Upon completion of this course, you will have met the educational requirements needed for registration as a licensed builder in Queensland, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory. NSW Fair Trading, the SA Consumer and Business Services (CBS), the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) and Builders Registration Board of WA might evaluate this qualification as part of a broader consideration of your experience and knowledge for registration as a licensed builder. As licensing varies from state to state, there may be extra requirements necessary to register. Please ensure you refer to your state’s licencing requirements.

PLEASE NOTE – Open Colleges is a privately-run RTO, not government-run like a TAFE, so they cannot offer government funding. Please check eligibility requirements before beginning an enrolment with Open Colleges.

Are you feeling ready to take the next step in your career in the construction industry? Gain the skills you need to aim for a respected, higher-paying position with the Diploma of Building and Construction (Management) (CPC50320) from the College for Adult Learning.

This 100% online course offers a nationally accredited qualification for those aspiring to work in construction management. As well as developing the core knowledge and skills you’ll need for a management role, you’ll also learn how to lead WHS and risk management; create and execute project plans on time and on budget; manage the application of building codes to ensure projects meet standards.

After approximately 12 months of full-time study or 16 – 18 months part-time, you’ll be confident, qualified and ready to transition from working on the tools to running the entire process of a construction job, setting you up for long-term career growth.

The online CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Site Management) from College for Adult Learning will develop your skills in the building and construction industry to give you the ability to successfully manage a construction site. Step up from Foreperson and Site Supervisor roles with the confidence to handle all aspects of construction site management from administration to planning, team leadership and operations to ensure regulations and project requirements are met.

You’ll also learn how to:

• Manage construction project resources to ensure projects run smoothly;
• Understand and interpret information from sites and set-out plans and manage the application of building codes;
• Establish a workplace safety plan to keep crews and subcontractors safe;
• Prepare tender documentation and administer contracts.

The Certificate IV in Building Project Support (Contract Administrator) (CPC40320) from College for Adult Learning will put you on the pathway to become a contract administrator in construction by developing a range of skills, including how to prepare and develop contracts, project management and administration techniques, and overseeing sites to ensure they meet legal requirements.

With this course, you’ll learn to ensure construction compliance requirements are met, as well as applying building codes and standards to the construction process.

You’ll learn how to:

• Manage and negotiate contracts
• Arrange building applications and approvals to ensure they are meeting legal and contractual standards
• Ensuring quality, OH&S standards, and legal requirements are met to support safe workplace practices
• Identify client requirements and finalise contract requirements.

NOTE: This course is currently only available to residents of Victoria, Australia. 

If you’re now working in construction or as a tradesperson and would like to progress your career and get access to more senior industry roles, then this CPC50220 Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) qualification from Parker Brent could be the ideal course to take.

Aimed at people interested in performing supervisory or management roles in the building industry, the CPC50220 Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) from Parker Brent will teach you all you need to know about how to manage contracts and tender documentation, prepare estimates and monitor costing systems, manage sustainability practices and environmental processes, apply site-surveys and set-out procedures, building project management and supervision. By the end of the course, you will have gained all the skills and knowledge required to confidently take on and manage the wide range of tasks involved in residential and commercial low-rise building and construction.

Whilst this course is online-only, you will be required to attend online classes two evenings per week.

Government funding available: this course is a part by the Victorian Government’s Skills First program and eligible students can get a large portion of their fees covered by the government. Enquire now to see if you qualify.