While a college degree greatly enhances a person’s chances for becoming a BIM Coordinator, the profession is still attainable without having a college education for people who possess the right experience in construction, design, and BIM related software and tools. Anyone interested in a career as a BIM Coordinator may do so by gaining certification with BIM technology for knowledge in software and procedures to carve a path that leads to working in Building Information Modeling as well.

Skills in graphic design along with experience related to construction, architecture, and engineering can also help with finding work as a BIM Coordinator. Knowledge of construction management, information technology, and project management may also contribute to impressing potential employers who own construction companies of a candidate’s skills for working as a BIM Coordinator.

Pros and Cons of Becoming a BIM Coordinator Without a Degree

There are advantages and disadvantages to pursuing a career as a BIM Coordinator without a college degree. While knowledge is power, and people have many ways of learning the same things through different methods, the perception that a college degree makes a person “more qualified” is a difficult obstacle to hurdle. Listed below is a comparison of the benefits and drawbacks of pursuing a career as a BIM Coordinator without having obtained a college degree.

Pros

Becoming a BIM Coordinator without a college degree may likely be less expensive than attending a university for four years with the possibility of getting saddled with student loans. Alternatives to seeking a degree in business, construction management, architecture, engineering, or graphic design--which typically provide the foundation for working as a BIM Coordinator--include enrolling in less expensive live online and on-demand courses for learning BIM software and processing with tools like Revit, Navisworks, Archicad, or Tekla Structures, which is a BIM authoring tool. LinkedIn Learning, for example, offers several free and low-cost video tutorials that train people in how to work with BIM technologies for streamlining the design process for design modeling that lead to constructing buildings and other types of structures. Through LinkedIn Learning, students will learn about 2D and 3D modeling, data management, and techniques for collaborating in the workplace among Architects, Engineers, Project Managers, General Contractors, and clients. These video tutorials include learning software like Revit and AutoCAD for designing models for building structures by more efficiently coordinating construction projects. Additionally, individuals with the proper background in related disciplines can find internships or apprenticeships for crossing over into working more directly with BIM technology.

Another angle for a career as a BIM Coordinator without a college degree would be with possessing knowledge in computer-aided design (CAD), which can contribute to learning skills with BIM. Through taking AutoCAD courses, bootcamps, or certificate programs from online education providers like Noble Desktop, students can initiate training with software like AutoCAD for moving forever with expanding their knowledge for eventually learning BIM technology following their training in AutoCAD courses though introductory courses or certificate programs.

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Cons

The biggest drawback to pursuing a career as a BIM Coordinator without a college degree is competing with people who have college degrees. The general assumption is that a person with a degree is more qualified than someone lacking the same. While it can be argued that online courses and certifications lack the depth as having gone through a series of college courses, people with training from non-traditional courses typically already have experience working with the technology they’re interested with training in and may enroll in courses or programs in order to nail down terminology or to get comfortable with related software that they may not be as familiar with.

It is no secret that in almost every industry that people with formal training also have an advantage over those who have picked up their skills from hand-on experience from work but supplementing that experience through online training may at least put anyone hoping to become a BIM Coordinator within the same perimeter as someone with a degree. Unfortunately, some employers may perceive that a candidate’s lacking a degree as a bigger risk than a person with a college education. Without a degree, possessing a background in construction or related areas such as architecture can go a long way towards leveling the playing field.

Learning Methods to Become a BIM Coordinator Without a Degree

There are several ways for learning how to work with BIM related software without needing to earn a college degree. Prospective BIM Coordinators can seek training through on-demand or live online courses, which is highly recommended for learning skills for working with tools and procedures related to Building Information Modeling. LinkedIn Learning, for example, offers free and low-cost video tutorials that introduce people to BIM technology for learning 3D modeling, data management, and collaborating with colleagues in the workplace for designing building structures. These tutorials cover learning BIM-related tools such as Revit, BIM 360, or Archicad for more efficiently coordinating construction projects.

Other options for becoming a BIM Coordinator without a college include taking courses from online education providers like Noble Desktop with on-demand courses through VCDI for gaining certification with BIM-related tools and software like Autodesk Revit and Navisworks. Students also have the option of enrolling in on-demand courses offered from any number of online education facilitators like Coursera, Udemy, Simplilearn, and Alison for grasping the fundamentals related to BIM technology with workflows and industry standards.

What is a BIM Coordinator?

BIM Coordinators are tasked with managing projects related to the construction industry. Their jobs typically involve developing strategies, coordinating modeling, facilitating collaboration among professionals like Architects and Engineers, and maintaining communication among those colleagues as well as clients. BIM Coordinators ensure that everyone involved on a project stays in lock step with responsibilities for creating, managing, and coordinating BIM modeling from the planning stages through construction.

BIM Coordinators have to make sure that proposed concepts are viable for construction by thoroughly analyzing designs to make sure that they’re not only aesthetically pleasing but structurally sound as well as compliant with local codes and zoning regulations through applying BIM processes. Their responsibilities involve the geometry of a design revealed through 3D modeling for examining shapes, lines, and points with structural design for determining overall integrity.

Once a plan goes forward, BIM Coordinators are responsible for supervising 2D and 3D modeling involved with construction projects related to architectural design and engineering. This requires working with Architects, Engineers, and Project Managers for overseeing models with an emphasis on structural design as well as MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) engineering.

Can You Really Become a BIM Coordinator without a Degree?

While the path may be more difficult, a person can still become a BIM Coordinator without a college degree by possessing skills and experience with the construction industry such as construction management, architecture, engineering, business, or project management. Not so distant skills such as graphic design, computer-aided design (CAD), 3D modeling, and other types of digital design technology can also help with eventually finding work as a BIM Coordinator. While the construction industry likely prefers people with an education directly related to construction, people who can demonstrate being able to work with BIM tools and software may be able to get a foot in the door by having a degree indirectly related to construction areas such as graphic design or digital design.

Experience with graphic design tools along with knowledge related to construction, architecture, or engineering may also help with eventually landing work as a BIM Coordinator. Familiarity with construction management, information technology, or project management can also contribute to impressing construction companies of a person’s qualifications as a BIM Coordinator.

Steps to Become a BIM Coordinator

Becoming a BIM Coordinator typically requires having a college education related to engineering, business, construction management, architecture, computers science, or industrial design for working with BIM software, tools, and procedures for designing and developing building structures or manufacturing products. Without a degree, enrolling in live online BIM training courses or gaining the appropriate certification can enhance a person’s options for a career as a BIM Coordinator working in the construction industry.

Prospective BIM Coordinators who are considering BIM training might want to enroll in a certificate program or gain certification with related software such as Revit, Archicad, or Civil 3D. To be clear, certificate programs and certifications are not the same things. Certificate programs offer hands-on training with BIM or AutoCAD technology that provides ambitious BIM Coordinators, Engineers, and Architects with skills for working with the design technology. Education providers like Noble Desktop provide training in BIM through VCDI along with training for similar technology through courses like the AutoCAD Bootcamp for learning the fundamentals of technical drawing along with gaining advanced skills for creating 2D drawings using AutoCAD.

Anyone considering gaining certification in BIM can do so through Autodesk, which offers several paths for certification contingent on a person’s career ambitions. The Autodesk Certified Professional (ACP) verifies an individual’s skills with AutoCAD, including capabilities with solving complex problems involving workflows and design with the software. People can gain certification for improving career options with knowledge of CAD and BIM technology. A BIM Coordinator working in BIM modeling for developing building structures can take the Revit Certified Professional certification program in order to gain expertise for creating and managing architectural modeling using the software. While certificate programs and certifications are not the same, enrolling in certificate training can help with passing certification exams.

Learn the Skills to Become a BIM Coordinator at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers training for learning BIM technology, software, and procedures through VDCI. VDCI is an authorized Autodesk training center that provides education and certification related to various technologies, including BIM. BIM, or Building Information Modeling, is a digital process for designing, developing, and managing projects for working as Architects, Engineers, Interior Designers, Project Managers, and BIM Coordinators in various industries like construction and manufacturing. BIM Coordinators, in particular, have to manage projects by applying 2D and 3D modeling in construction and manufacturing with responsibilities for handling costs, collaborating with other professionals, and interacting with clients.

VDCI offers a Revit Certification Training Bundle that is ideal for students looking to learn the broad strokes of BIM skills that aspiring professionals need to master. This course covers introductory and advanced Revit skills, making it ideal for beginners and experienced designers alike. In addition, students enrolled in this course will be able to take the Revit Certification exam as a part of their tuition, making it a practical option for future professionals. VDCI also offers focused courses in the important daily tasks involved in BIM projects, such as the BIM Construction Documents I course or the BIM Detailing course.

Anyone considering becoming a BIM Coordinator might want to enroll in a certificate program or get certification in the methodology or similar technologies. To be clear, certificate programs and certifications are not the same. Certificate programs provide hands-on training in BIM or similar technologies for working as Engineers, Architects, or BIM Coordinators. Certifications, on the other hand, verify an individual's expertise in a particular area such as a programming language, software, type of tool, or methodology like BIM. Education providers like Noble Desktop also offer various AutoCAD-related certification training, including the AutoCAD Certification Program that offers a comprehensive program that prepares candidates for Autodesk certification exams. Training involves learning the fundamentals of technical drawing along with skills for drafting and creating 2D and 3D drawing using AutoCAD.

Achieving certification requires passing an exam administered by an industry recognized organization. Ambitious BIM Coordinators can pursue certification through Autodesk, which offers several paths contingent on a person’s career ambitions. The Autodesk Certified Professional (ACP), for example, confirms a candidate’s skills with AutoCAD, including being able to solve complicated problems with workflows and designs related to the design software. BIM Coordinators can also gain certification for improving career options through tools like Autodesk Revit for working in BIM modeling for designing and analyzing building structures. This can include taking on the Revit Certified Professional certification program for gaining expertise for work in creating and managing architectural models using the Revit software.