Are Revit Bootcamps Worth It?

What is Revit?

Autodesk Revit is a building information modeling (BIM) tool that Architects, Contractors, Interior Designers, Urban Planners, and Engineers use to design, document, visualize, and share building-related projects in 3D. Revit was originally created by Charles River Software in 1997. In 2002, Autodesk acquired this product and renamed it Autodesk Revit. In the time since, Revit has grown to be one of the most popular BIM tools in existence, with a significant market share in BIM software. 

Revit users rely on this tool to help them create accurate 3D models of systems, shapes, and structures and add annotations to them with 2D drafting tools. With Revit, professionals can easily make revisions to schedules, visualizations, plans, elevations, and sheets, which are shared in real-time with other team members to ensure that everyone involved in a building project can use the most current information and updates. Revit also has tools for integrated analysis and can unify different datasets and file types. 

Benefits of Learning Revit

Those with Revit expertise can apply their skills to a range of BIM-related tasks, including creating intricate, accurate 3D models of small and large construction projects. Revit helps users create design models that are integrated and unified and bring together mechanical, engineering, and plumbing elements. These detailed models can be shared in real-time with anyone who’s collaborating on a construction project, including Architects or Structural Engineers. Revit knowledge is also useful for documenting all work on a project throughout the entire building lifecycle. Revit users can automatically generate schedules and drawings based on their 3D models, which is essential for documentation purposes. 

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One of the main benefits of learning Revit is that this skill set can open many professional doors to high-paying careers. This software has applications in a range of industries and professions. In the field of construction, Revit is used by Construction Managers to anticipate and handle possible design issues prior to the construction phase, which can save a significant amount of time and money down the line. Architects use Revit to make intricate designs and 3D models of buildings and interior spaces. In the field of urban planning, Revit skills assist with creating lifelike models of neighborhoods and cities, in addition to addressing the specific needs of the community. Structural Engineers use Revit’s add-ons and plugins to make shop drawings and 3D reinforcement designs with rebar schedules. Interior Designers also use Revit so they can visualize interior spaces and make any necessary design changes. It also helps them create lifelike renderings and 3D panoramas. 

For most individuals, the benefits of learning Revit far outweigh the challenges they’ll encounter along the way. Because the information used to make Revit models is housed in a single database, every time a change to the model is made, the whole database updates; each change is executed throughout the entire model. This process not only streamlines the whole building process and improves its efficiency, but it also enables automation and reduces the work necessary to incorporate changes to various project files while maintaining overall consistency. Revit users also have capabilities that allow users to coordinate between different models, disciplines, or file types. Those who know how to use the Tools feature can leverage it to keep a record of each change to the linked model, be notified of specific changes, and populate the base model with elements that were copied from the linked model. Team members or entire teams involved in the project can then be contacted via Revit and made alert of which items still must be resolved.

Another benefit of working with Revit is that it’s a great resource for scheduling tasks because it can significantly cut down on the amount of time required for traditional workflows. Changes made to Revit models automatically update existing schedules. Schedules can then be exported from Revit, revised, and brought back into the software to show changes. Additionally, Revit Cloud Worksharing is a popular feature that provides a way for multiple users to collaborate in real time on a model that’s stored in the cloud. This ensures that any team member, regardless of their physical location, will be able to immediately access project revisions. Cloud Worksharing provides Revit users with a record of version models, which is useful in case the team has to revert to a previous version. It’s up to the Project Administrator to grant users access to the model or editing capabilities.

Finally, Revit is a great tool for those who wish to focus on sustainable design. Professionals like Structural Engineers or Architects who use Revit can analyze and incorporate sustainable design practices into their designs. This includes performing energy analysis, daylighting studies, and material selection tracking. For anyone interested in creating an environmentally friendly structure, Revit training is a great resource.

Non-professionals also benefit from Revit skills because this training can help with home renovation projects. Revit helps homeowners create 3D virtual tours of various room layouts and visualize how an interior space will transform during renovation. This can provide valuable insights into optimizing different room layouts and spaces. It also can offer accurate cost estimates so that homeowners can budget for the materials required during renovations.

Who Benefits from Enrolling in a Revit Bootcamp?

Revit bootcamps provide learners with an immersive and engaging pedagogical environment in which they can focus entirely on learning Revit without other distractions. However, bootcamp study isn’t necessarily for everyone. 

Those who benefit most from Revit bootcamps are serious students interested in hands-on training. Learners should be motivated to attend classes that meet regularly in real time and complete the assigned work. This ensures that the skills being covered in live instruction can be reinforced with practice and that the learner will be more likely to remember them and apply them in the real world. Bootcamp participants will have to be able to carve out the time from their schedule to attend courses that meet at regularly scheduled intervals, often multiple times a week. Additionally, those who get the most out of their training will need to invest additional time into their studies during this time.

Generally speaking, bootcamp participants either use Revit at their current job and want to take their skills to the next level or hope to apply their training to fill a skills gap. Some may even want to pursue an entirely new career path in architecture or civil engineering. For these individuals, bootcamp training is a sound investment because it can help them qualify for career promotions, be a more well-rounded job applicant to recruiters, or break into an exciting new professional role. 

Although most bootcamp programs don’t require prerequisites, Revit learners who opt for this training route will find that they will benefit from having prior knowledge of basic architectural concepts and design principles. This includes familiarity with floor plans and elevations. Additionally, they should have basic computer literacy to navigate this software’s interface. 

One of the incentives of bootcamps over other forms of Revit study is that it often includes much more than hands-on, in-class training. Some bootcamps, such as those offered by Noble Desktop, also provide professional development training as part of tuition. Students who attend bootcamps often enjoy 1-on-1 mentoring outside of class in which they can hone in on specific Revit topics or explore professional paths that involve Revit training. Depending on the provider, coursework may include career counseling, access to networking events, mock interview sessions, resume and LinkedIn profile critiques, or internships. Unlike short skills classes or college study, which provide only in-class training, bootcamps are designed with professionals in mind and were created to ensure that graduates are as job-ready as possible the day they leave training.

Who May Want to Consider Other Options?

Revit training is an asset to many individuals, especially professionals in fields like interior design, urban planning, construction, engineering, or architecture. However, bootcamp training is not necessarily for all learners. For example, individuals who are only interested in learning basic Revit skills, such as how to navigate the software’s interface or create basic room visualizations, may instead choose other training resources. These individuals can opt instead for free online material like YouTube channels, written tutorials, or blogs. Because no monetary investment is involved with these materials, they provide a low-stakes way to get started using Revit.

Non-professionals involved with home renovation projects also may prefer to learn Revit with self-taught materials rather than formal bootcamp study. Homeowners can learn Revit basics through free resources or self-paced coursework. This may be sufficient to help them with home improvement projects, including visualizing the way a bedroom will transform once a window is added and the furniture arrangement changes. These individuals may wish to use this software simply to get a feel for different furniture layouts or interior design options. They can also work with its 3D modeling features to experiment on their own with design ideas before investing in a Contractor or Architect. 

Revit bootcamps may also not be a great match for those who have busy work or personal schedules and cannot commit to attending live coursework. Because most bootcamp are taught in the live environment, either in-person at a designated training facility or online, they require carving out the time needed for training. Those who work full-time or who have busy personal lives outside of work hours may instead prefer the flexibility of on-demand classes. This type of study is asynchronous; content is recorded at an earlier time and placed online. It’s up to the learner when they wish to study Revit and how long they wish to devote to training.

Although Revit is widely used in fields like architecture (it’s estimated that nearly half of Architects use this tool as their primary BIM software), not all career paths in construction, engineering, or architecture require Revit knowledge. Some employers prefer that employees work with AutoCAD instead, or other BIM software like Vectorworks. Before embarking on bootcamp study and investing in this form of training, students should consider their professional aspirations, their career path and professional focus, and their ultimate goals for learning this software. While Revit mastery is attainable to all, it’s not necessary for some individuals to acquire it in a bootcamp environment.

Learn Revit Skills with Noble Desktop

VDCI's BIM Certificate program offers comprehensive training in Building Information Modeling through intensive, small-group classes led by industry expert instructors. Students master essential skills through hands-on experience with real-world commercial construction projects, learning everything from 3D modeling in Revit Architecture to creating detailed construction documentation and specializing in MEP or structural design. The program stands out for its practical approach and student-friendly policies, including free course retake options to ensure mastery of the material.

Noble Desktop, an educational provider based in Manhattan, offers a range of hands-on classes intended for those who want to learn AutoCAD. Its AutoCAD Level 1 is a short skills course in which participants learn how to work with AutoCAD to make drawings of architectural and mechanical objects. Coursework covers topics like how to create or edit drawings, work with tracking and object snaps, and insert blocks.

Noble also offers an AutoCAD Bootcamp that provides learners with in-depth training on basic techniques for drawing and modifying technical drawings, as well as how to use this software to make 2D drawings. In this bootcamp, participants design and edit a basic drawing to practice with AutoCAD tools. Learners should be aware that this course was designed for PC users; Mac users can attend this program live online.

Noble also offers an AutoCAD Masterclass for those interested in upgrading their existing skills. This intensive program provides small-group instruction and hands-on training on topics like navigating the software’s interface, making basic drawings, and working with essential editing commands. Students then receive intermediate-level training that includes lessons on using layouts, templates, and styles. The final course component covers advanced AutoCAD skills like using dynamic blocks, attributes, and tables.

In addition, those who want to sit for the Autodesk Certified Professional in AutoCAD for Design & Drafting exam can sign up for Noble’s AutoCAD Certification. This intensive program class provides learners with a combination of private tutoring and live AutoCAD training. 

All Noble courses are taught by expert instructors with industry experience. They each include a free retake option for up to one year. Participants can complete their training live online or in New York City.