Are Revit Classes Worth It?

Weigh the pros and cons of Revit classes. Determine if they’re the right fit and investment for your career goals.

Learning Revit through bootcamp study is an excellent way to acquire hands-on training in a short timeframe. Students who enroll in in-person or online Revit skills bootcamps have the opportunity to explore this software in a condensed and supportive learning environment that provides them the time and space to fully immerse in this skill. This condensed form of training is a great way for students to focus entirely on Revit without other coursework or distractions. 

Revit bootcamps generally require only a few weeks (or less) of study and offer small-class training in a range of useful Revit skills. These programs typically cost much less than college coursework or certificate programs. Bootcamp graduates can put their skills to use immediately in the workplace in their current careers or use their training to pursue an entirely new professional path. Read on to find out more about the benefits of enrolling in a Revit bootcamp, as well as how this type of training compares to other study options. 

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 users rely on this software to help them create accurate models of systems, shapes, and structures in 3D, then 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 who’s involved in a building project can make use of the most current information and updates. Revit also has tools for integrated analysis and can unify different datasets and file types. 

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What Can You Do With Revit?

Knowledge of Revit is an essential type of training for any professional who wants to create 3D models of small or large design or construction projects. It can generate unified, integrated design models in which engineering, mechanical, and plumbing elements work together seamlessly. The 3D models created in Revit can be shared with others involved in the project. Revit users can also receive automatically generated schedules and drawings that are based on the models they design, which are useful for documentation purposes. This essential tool also improves accuracy and promotes real-time project collaboration among those who work in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. 

Revit training is an essential skill for those who work in a range of industries and trades. Construction Managers use Revit to anticipate any potential construction issues as early on as possible so they can be addressed in a timely manner and save costs down the road. Architects work with this tool to make intricate 3D models for buildings. In fact, an estimated 45% of Architects work with Revit as their main BIM tool. Structural Engineers use Revit’s add-ons and plugins to make 3D reinforcement designs. Urban Planners turn to Revit to assist with tasks like creating 3D models of cities or neighborhoods. Even non-professionals work with Revit for home renovation projects because it can help them visualize how their interior spaces will change through renovations and experiment with various uses for rooms and spaces. Revit can even create 3D virtual tours of room layouts and cost estimations for the materials the project will require.

Why Learn Revit in a Bootcamp or Class?

Those looking to learn Revit can enroll in a skills bootcamp to learn the basics of this software, as well as to take their existing knowledge base even further. Bootcamps are available in person and online from many top providers in the US. These immersive programs typically include access to a live instructor who has real-world experience working with Revit to create detailed 3D models. Those who attend benefit from learning in the small class environment and connecting with other students on a similar learning path. This supportive pedagogical environment is a great way for aspiring professionals to form connections with other learners and even network with those in their cohort. It’s also a good way to gain real-world training through guided lessons and activities that are intended to help learners practice with Revit features and functions they’ll one day use at the workplace.

Those who attend in-person bootcamps can ask questions on the spot and receive immediate clarification. Participants who enroll in live online courses can also receive real-time support when studying Revit. They can even grant the instructor permission to share their screen for more individualized guidance. 

Rather than having to wait many months (or even years) to apply the training gained from study, bootcamps afford learners the opportunity to use their knowledge as soon as they graduate. Revit training not only teaches 3D modeling techniques, collaboration tools, project management, and methods for documentation, but it also provides students with incentives that extend beyond the classroom into the professional realm. Many bootcamps include professional development incentives like career support services, 1-on-1 mentoring sessions, resume critiques, professional portfolio development, or help with LinkedIn profiles as part of tuition. These features are in place to ensure that bootcamp graduates can apply for Revit-related careers upon graduation or use their knowledge to become a more well-rounded and valuable employee in their current career path.

Bootcamps Compared to College

If you’re trying to decide whether to study Revit in a bootcamp or college environment, there are several key factors to weigh. College or university study typically takes four or more years to complete. Of the colleges that offer Revit training (such as Broward College, the University of Houston-Downtown, Santa Fe College, and UC San Diego Extended Studies), this topic is not a stand-alone major. Instead, as students learn Revit in individual courses, they must also complete a range of other general education requirements and courses unrelated to Revit as a requirement to graduate. This means that a significant portion of the time involved with study is devoted to courses that may not have direct relevance to the student’s ultimate career goals. 

Bootcamps, on the other hand, provide a short time frame of study (usually several weeks or months) and focus exclusively on one skill: Revit. Graduates can immediately put their training to use the day they graduate rather than wait four or more years to do so. 

In terms of cost, college is a much more expensive learning option than Revit bootcamps. In 2023, university study cost an average of $38,000 a year in the US (or $153,000 for four years). Many students leave university with six figures of debt when they graduate. Bootcamps generally provide a more cost-effective approach to study and cost just a fraction of one year of college tuition (several thousand dollars, on average).

Bootcamps Compared to Self-Paced Courses

On-demand Revit training is one popular alternative to attending live bootcamps. This type of study usually is a combination of video content, online training tutorials, and other resources, which are pre-recorded and placed online. Each student can access the content on their own time, as their schedule permits. Self-paced classes afford each learner the power to dictate their own learning speed and pause or rewind as often as needed to ensure they understand the content. 

Whereas most Revit bootcamps are taught live in real time, self-paced coursework is asynchronous. This means that participants don’t have access to a live instructor. Cost-wise, self-paced training is usually a more affordable study alternative to live bootcamps for this reason. However, on-demand training can pose challenges for those just getting started with BIM or who have specific questions pertaining to Revit. Learners interested in studying Revit for professional purposes, such as for their current career or to plug a skills gap, will likely find bootcamps a more effective alternative to self-paced training because they include access to a live instructor.

Bootcamps Compared to Free Training Options

For learners who want to explore Revit or other BIM software but don’t want to invest hundreds or thousands of dollars into training, free online study options are available. Resources like YouTube channels, online tutorials, and free product trials are just a few alternatives available for Revit learners. These provide a low-stakes way to get started with Revit before committing to structured training:

  • Those interested in exploring basic Revit and AutoCAD concepts can read well-researched articles from Noble Desktop. Noble has a hub of AutoCAD tutorials, articles, and resources that are intended to help learners get started and learn the basics, including what AutoCAD is and its professional applications. 
  • In addition to Noble, other top educators offer free beginner-level Revit classes and resources. Autodesk has free online tutorials and webinars on its site. These cover basic concepts, including tips, tricks, and best practices.
  • Udemy has a free self-paced course, How-To-Revit (Beginner Course) that includes two hours of self-paced Revit instruction on topics like how to create 3D models from 2D drawings. 
  • Coursera offers BIM Fundamentals, a free, self-paced program that teaches students how to retrieve information from Revit models and use essential modeling tools.
  • Pluralsight offers Revit videos and courses that can be accessed for free for ten days before a monthly subscription is required. In its class, Collaboration in Revit, students explore how to set up worksets and work with Revit’s management utilities for collaboration.
  • YouTube is a rich resource for Revit-related content. Students can find useful content from Skills Factory, which provides short Revit videos that take ten minutes or less to watch. CAD in Black also has YouTube several hours of content on Revit that’s intended for beginners.
  • Autodesk offers a free Revit trial for those who want to explore this software before paying for a monthly or yearly subscription plan. 

While free resources can be a good place to get started learning Revit, there are some important considerations to weigh when using them. Because of the sheer amount of content posted online, it can quickly become dated. Learners should research the provider to ensure the material they select is current before they use it for training. Additionally, since no instructor is present, those who self-teach through free online material cannot ask questions. This is why most learners, particularly those who intend to use Revit for professional reasons, will eventually benefit more from live bootcamp training. While it involves a financial commitment, the cost is well worth the investment because it provides participants with a supportive, interactive learning environment with professional development incentives that are not available through free online content.

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.

How to Learn Revit

Master Revit, the industry-leading Building Information Modeling (BIM) software, to create precise architectural and structural designs with hands-on training.

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