Autodesk Revit is a building information modeling software that professionals like Engineers, Architects, and Contractors rely on to complete both large and small-scale projects. This tool has features that allow users to create accurate 3D models of systems and structuDres, as well as visualize a building’s structural elements in 3D and annotate the model with 2D drafting tools. The number of options for learning Revit might seem overwhelming at first glance. There are books, video tutorials, classes, and more to choose from; deciding which is best for you is largely subjective and depends on your learning style and personal preferences.
Here, we’ll discuss the various methods of learning Revit so you can make an informed decision about how you’d like to get started.
What is Revit?
Autodesk Revit is popular building information modeling (BIM) software that professionals like Contractors, Engineers, and Architects use to perform a range of essential building-related tasks. This tool can easily and accurately model structures, systems, and shapes in 3D. It also helps users create the structural elements of a building in 3D and then annotate them using 2D drafting tools. Revit users can make instant revisions to plans, visualizations, schedules, sheets, or elevations, which are updated in real time so that all team members are working with the most current information.
One of the main benefits of using Revit is that it can unite team members working on multidisciplinary projects, leading to better collaborative practices and higher overall efficiency.
This software provides users with tools for annotating, visualizing, sketching, scheduling, and sharing work. Revit offers users tools for integrated analysis and features for uniting multiple file types and datasets, which allows them to create designs with accuracy and confidence. It also has tools for fabrication, cost analysis, and quantity takeoffs.
Read more about what Revit is and why you should learn it.
What Can You Do with Revit?
Revit training has applications for construction projects of all sizes and types. This commercial BIM software helps professionals like Structural Engineers, Designers, Mechanical Engineers, Architects, and Contractors design, edit, review, and share detailed 3D models. Revit users can place building elements like doors, walls, and windows into their drawings, which helps their drawings be precise and exact. It helps generate floor plans, sections, details, and schedules. Before the advent of this BIM software, the design process was much more tedious and time-consuming.
Revit offers advanced analysis engines and can access performance data. It can also run extremely accurate cost estimates and help professionals monitor a building or project’s performance throughout its lifecycle. This tool’s 3D visualization capabilities can be used to create construction project documentation that features stereo panoramas, 3D views, and cutaways. Those who work with Autodesk’s 3Ds Max software and Revit Interoperability can even view their building in virtual reality.
Revit is a multidisciplinary platform that allows different team members who are involved with a construction project to share their work in real time. Architects can share the models they create in Revit with Structural Engineers and other team members as they’re updated. This not only significantly expedites the design process but also helps create a more accurate and affordable final product.
Learn Revit
- Nationally accredited
- Create your own portfolio
- Free student software
- Learn at your convenience
- Career placement assistance
- Authorized Autodesk training center
In-Person Revit Training
Most learners will find that in-person training is an effective and engaging way to learn Revit or project management. Students attend courses at a designated training facility located in or near a major US city. These facilities include computers that have the most current BIM software already installed and ready to use. In addition to benefiting from real-time instruction from an expert instructor, participants also receive support from other students in their cohort. It’s important for students interested in in-person Revit training to keep in mind that they will have to attend classes that take place regularly at training facilities. This type of study can pose challenges for students who live far from training centers or who don’t have access to a reliable form of transportation.
Top educators around the country offer in-person courses in Revit, AutoCAD, and project management. Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool is an excellent way to search for Revit training options close to home. Those who want to study AutoCAD can receive in-person training in New York City by enrolling in Noble’s AutoCAD Masterclass, a hands-on program that provides students with in-depth instruction on how to work with this popular computer-aided design software to create drawings and advanced layouts. Noble also offers an AutoCAD Certification, a rigorous course that combines live AutoCAD training with private tutoring. This class is intended to prepare learners to pass the Autodesk Certified Professional in AutoCAD for Design & Drafting exam.
In-person Revit training is also available from The Knowledge Academy in its Revit Architecture Masterclass. This program teaches students how to design their own intricate architectural models using this software. Those who live in or near New York City can receive introductory-level AutoCAD instruction in NYIM Training’s Beginner AutoCAD. This short program covers the basic techniques needed to create and modify technical drawings, scale them, and print work.
Live Online Revit Training
One popular alternative to in-person Revit training is live online coursework. Similar to in-person classes, live online study provides learners with real-time access to an instructor with expertise and professional experience with BIM software. Instead of requiring that students commute to attend classes, all training can be completed remotely from the comfort of their own space using a live teleconferencing platform. Participants can ask questions as they arise and receive immediate support and clarification. They can even grant the instructor permission to share their screen for additional help with Revit. One point to consider with live online training is that it requires that students have a flexible enough schedule to attend classes that meet regularly, often multiple times a week. Therefore, this training format can pose challenges for those who have busy professional or personal lives.
Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool is a great way to search for live online Revit courses. Noble’s AutoCAD Bootcamp is available for those who want to acquire training in technical drawing and the advanced skills needed to create 2D AutoCAD drawings. Noble also has AutoCAD Level 1, an introductory-level program that covers the basics of how to work with AutoCAD to design and edit drawings, work with tracking and object snaps, and insert blocks. Noble’s AutoCAD Level 2 is also offered by Noble for those looking to build on their foundational AutoCAD skills and explore topics like advanced styling, layering, and blocking techniques. All Noble classes include a free retake option for up to a year.
In addition to Noble’s classes, D3 Technologies offers Revit Details and Keynotes, which is available for those who want to learn how to use Revit to import details, use title block revisions, and work with this app’s Keynote and Details features. This provider also offers Revit Annotation Families, which is available for learners interested in learning how to use Revit for annotation-related tasks. Those enrolled create custom annotation families like tags, title blocks, and symbols. In Kelar Pacific’s REVIT Architecture Essentials 2022, students explore how to read, create, and edit design elements like sections or floor plans, then transform them into 3D renders and views. NYIM Training also offers a Project Management Bootcamp for those interested in learning the five phases of construction management.
Free Online Courses & Tutorials
If you want to learn Revit basics but aren’t ready to dive into a full course, you can start learning Revit for free online. Noble Desktop has a hub of AutoCAD tutorials, resources, and articles that contain relevant information to help you get started.
Other providers also have introductory-level coursework in Revit available for no cost. Autodesk has free online webinars and tutorials on its website that teach basic Revit concepts, best practices, and tips and tricks. Udemy offers a free class, How-To-Revit (Beginner Course), that provides learners with more than two hours of self-paced instruction on how to use this software’s basic drafting capabilities and tools, as well as how to transform 2D drawings into 3D models. Those who want to explore how to retrieve information from a Revit model and work with common modeling tools can learn to do so in Coursera’s BIM Fundamentals.
In addition to live and on-demand Revit training, educators like Noble Desktop offer free seminars on Revit and a range of related topics.
Read about more free Revit videos and online tutorials.
On-Demand Revit Classes
On-demand Revit training is the most flexible way to learn this popular BIM software. Unlike live training, which requires attending classes in real-time, on-demand study is pre-recorded and loaded online. This asynchronous study format affords all learners the power to decide how much time, and when, they wish to devote to their training. They can pause, rewind, or rewatch entire lessons to ensure they’re fully grasping the material. On-demand training is available in many forms. Students can find free courses from providers like Udemy or Coursera, as well as paid training options from educators like The VCD Institute. Courses are offered for learners at all levels. Those interested in self-paced Revit training should consider that no instructor will be available for training. It is up to each student to find answers to questions on their own. For this reason, on-demand training can be challenging for those who are new to BIM software or learning it for professional purposes.
Those interested in self-paced Revit training can enroll in one of the VCD Institute’s on-demand Revit training options. This fully accredited educator offers self-paced courses for students at all levels. Those who want to explore Revit basics can enroll in Introduction to Revit. This program includes training on how to design 3D models and document their progress. This educator also offers Revit Plumbing, a program that prepares learners to work with Revit to design and manage plumbing systems and then link them to architectural models. Those interested in learning how to set up and manage mechanical systems can do so in Revit Mechanical, which is also offered by this provider. This self-paced course offers training on how to handle system clashes, configure mechanical equipment, and align rooftop systems and ducts.
Coursera offers a free, self-paced class for those interested in using Revit for engineering. In its BIM Applications for Engineers program, students complete six modules that teach them how to create BIM models.
Which Learning Method is Right for Me?
If you’re a beginner who’s new to working with CAD software or using Revit, you may not be certain about which training method is best for you. Each student is unique in terms of their learning style and preferences. Some learners may wish to experiment with multiple learning approaches or resources (such as free tutorials, online articles, and self-paced courses) to find the study path most suited to their needs, whereas others may be more comfortable with enrolling in a certificate course that provides comprehensive training. One of the main benefits of directing your own learning is the opportunity to pick and choose a combination of tools that work best for you rather than being forced to stick with those the teacher selects.
It’s important to consider your current schedule before deciding on a Revit training method. If you work full-time or have family commitments outside of work, you may not be able to carve out the time that’s necessary to complete a structured, live program that takes place at the same time every day. If this sounds like you, video tutorials or on-demand Revit classes may be a better option since these resources are self-paced and can be completed as your schedule permits. On the other hand, if you have a more flexible schedule, you may wish to pursue a more structured approach to learning, such as that which is provided by enrolling in an in-person or live online class. Live study provides learners with individualized support and real-time access to an instructor.
Why Learn Revit?
Those who know how to work with Revit can put their skills to use in creating 3D models for small and large construction or design projects. This industry-standard BIM tool provides users with the tools needed to create integrated, unified design models in which the plumbing, mechanical, and engineering elements seamlessly work together. The detailed, annotated models created in Revit can be shared with other project stakeholders in the form of 3D visualizations. This provides a way for professionals like Architects to identify possible design issues as early on in the process as possible, which can save significant time and money down the line.
Those who work with Revit receive automatically generated drawings and schedules based on the 3D models they create. These are helpful for documenting project work throughout the building lifecycle. Working with Revit not only promotes real-time project collaboration but can also improve work accuracy, communication, and cost-effectiveness across disciplines. Because Revit has become widely used in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, knowledge of this software is a great addition to a resume and can make individuals more competitive job candidates.
Read more about why you should learn Revit.
Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, & Cost
For most learners, studying Revit is a relatively straightforward and easy process when approached in phases. Those who have prior tech training or knowledge of BIM tools or AutoCAD will usually find the process easier and faster than novices. After learning the software’s layout and basic tools, most individuals can start working on small projects. These will be much easier for the average learner than larger, more complex endeavors. The main struggle most encounter when studying Revit is pivoting from working with traditional drafting methods to using 3D parameters.
There are no formal prerequisites for learning Revit. Learners don’t even have to have prior experience with BIM software to get started with this tool. However, knowledge of basic architectural design principles and concepts like elevations and floor plans can help most students effectively apply their Revit skills. Basic computer literacy and access to this software are also a must.
In terms of cost, Revit is available through subscription as well as through flex plans. Subscriptions to Revit are available for one person for $365 a month, $2,910 a year, or $8,730 for three years. Autodesk also offers flex plans, which are pay-as-you-go options in which the user pre-purchases tokens for an Autodesk product like Revit and then can access that product on a daily basis. The flex option requires a minimum $300 purchase. This option is a good alternative for individuals or team members interested in trying the product or who only require periodic access. Additionally, a free Revit trial is also available from Autodesk.
Read about how difficult it is to learn Revit.
Learn Revit with Hands-on Training at 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 offers several hands-on classes for those interested in learning how to work with AutoCAD. The AutoCAD Bootcamp provides learners with comprehensive training on basic techniques for drawing and modifying technical drawings, as well as how to use this software to make 2D drawings. During this program, students design and edit a basic drawing to practice with AutoCAD tools. This bootcamp is designed for PC users, though Mac users can attend this program live online.
Noble also has an AutoCAD Masterclass. This rigorous program provides small class instruction and is a great opportunity for learners to acquire in-depth AutoCAD skills. Coursework begins with an introduction to AutoCAD basics, such as how to navigate its interface, create basic drawings, and use core editing commands. Training then progresses into intermediate-level AutoCAD training that focuses on accurate positioning and effective working methods, such as how to use templates, layouts, and styles. In the final portion of this program, learners explore advanced topics like how to work with attributes, dynamic blocks, and tables. Those interested in sitting for the Autodesk Certified Professional in AutoCAD for Design & Drafting exam can enroll in Noble’s AutoCAD Certification. This rigorous class provides students with a combination of private tutoring and live AutoCAD training.
All Noble courses are taught by expert instructors and include a free retake option for up to one year. Students can complete their training live online or attend classes in New York City.