If you’re just starting to learn a new skill, you can find dozens of tips and resources online; learning Revit is no different. Autodesk Revit is building information modeling (BIM) software that Contractors, Engineers, Architects, and other professionals use to envision, execute, and monitor the stages of a building project’s life cycle. This tool helps them create a 3D model of the building’s components and structural elements, then use 2D drafting tools to create annotations. If you’ve always wanted to learn Revit, there are plenty of options available at your fingertips. From free tutorials to live classes, different study options are outlined here so you can decide how to learn in a way that works best for you.
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.
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Learn Revit
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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.
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.
Free Intro 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.
Comparing Online Methods with In-Person Learning
Before you decide whether to enroll in an in-person or online Revit course, you may wonder which training format is best for you. Each has its own considerations to weigh.
Most learners will find that studying Revit through live coursework is the most interactive, engaging way to fully master this tool. Both in-person and live online training options afford the learner the power to ask questions in the moment and receive immediate guidance and support. In addition to benefiting from the knowledge the expert instructor shares, participants also experience a sense of community and camaraderie from learning alongside others in their cohort. In-person training also often includes additional benefits, such as access to networking events with alumni, as well as the use of a computer lab with the most current BIM software installed and ready to use. Those who opt for live online Revit training don’t even have to leave home to complete their studies; they can connect for classes from the comfort of home using a live teleconferencing platform.
For some students, especially those who have busy schedules, live study may not be possible. On-demand training is a good alternative because it affords each learner the flexibility to decide on their own when to complete classes and how much time to spend on their training. All course content is pre-recorded and students can access it as their schedules permit. Since no instructor is present for asynchronous coursework, it’s often a more cost-effective study method to live training (some classes are even available for free). While self-paced courses can be a good place to start in a longer learning journey, they’re rarely sufficient on their own to prepare learners to use Revit in a professional setting. Some content can quickly become outdated. This is why most individuals will benefit from enrolling in a more structured, live course to fully master this software’s advanced capabilities.
Tips to Succeed when Learning Revit Online
Online Revit training can be an effective and accessible way to learn this industry-standard tool. The following tips are intended to help those who are interested in studying through online resources optimize their training efforts:
- Before you can decide whether to opt for live or on-demand online Revit content, it’s important to determine what kind of learner you are. If you’re an extroverted student who thrives in real-time conversations, live online Revit training may be a better match for you than self-paced study. However, if you’re a self-motivated student who prefers being in charge of your learning path, self-paced training may be a better match. Additionally, those who are interested in learning Revit for personal rather than professional reasons can approach their learning journey differently than professionals who wish to use this software. Casual Revit users may be able to learn the basics of this software through a free Revit trial, online tutorials, and self-paced courses. On the other hand, Architects who will be working with Revit for an upcoming commercial project will benefit more from a structured, live approach to training.
- One of the benefits of opting for online Revit resources is that learners can pick and choose those that work best for them. They may wish to get started by reading online articles on Revit, then progress into free webinars before enrolling in a live online course that meets at regular intervals.
- Online Revit training requires that learners have a stable internet connection at the location where they’ll be studying. Additionally, they should have a comfortable and quiet study area, such as a small office, so that they can fully focus on the instruction being provided rather than other distractors.
- Those interested in live online study can approach their training the same way they would in-person coursework. Students can interact with one another virtually, ask questions in real-time, and forge lasting connections with others in the class.
- Learners interested in exploring free online Revit resources like YouTube channels, tutorials, or blogs should do some research beforehand to ensure the content they’re working with is up to date and reflects the current best practices in building design. Free content can quickly become outdated and isn’t always replaced with newer information. This is why Revit students are encouraged to research the educational provider and read student reviews of their training materials before trusting that source.
- On-demand Revit classes are typically a more cost-effective approach to learning this software than live training. Some providers like Udemy and Coursera even offer free courses on this topic. Before embarking on asynchronous Revit training, it’s important to be familiar with the educational provider’s pricing options. Some educators offer flat-rate tuition to their courses, while others may require signing up for a paid subscription to their platform.
- On-demand classes afford students the flexibility of determining on their own what their learning pace should be. Each student has the power to pause lessons, rewind them as necessary, and even rewatch them in their entirety to ensure they’re fully grasping the material. While this flexibility is appealing to many learners, it also can pose challenges for some. If you’re interested in learning Revit through asynchronous classes, you will get the most out of your training if you’re a self-motivated learner who is able to independently complete coursework without formal deadlines.
- Similarly, since on-demand classes don’t provide students with access to a live instructor, it’s up to the learner to find answers on their own to questions. Therefore, this type of self-directed learning can pose challenges for individuals who are new to working with CAD software or who are trying to master Revit for professional purposes. Often, self-paced resources or free online content can be a good starting point when studying Revit. To fully master this software’s advanced capabilities, however, most learners will benefit more from live training at some point in their educational journey.
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.