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Phase 3 · Months 2–12 (in parallel)

Drawing & Software Skills

Get job-ready skills early. Software skills are how you get hired before you're licensed.

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Technical Drawing & Reading Plans

You must read construction drawings fluently before you can produce them.

0/2
  • Orthographic projection: plan, elevation, section
  • Scales: 1/4" = 1'-0", 1" = 20' (civil), 1:100 (metric)
  • Plan sheet order: G (general), C (civil), S (structural), A, M, E, P
  • Symbols, line types, dimensioning, title blocks, revision clouds

Checklist

practice~4 h
practice~3 h

AutoCAD

The #1 required skill in entry-level civil job postings.

0/3
  • Layers, blocks, xrefs, dimension styles
  • Model space vs paper space, viewports, plotting to scale
  • Precision drawing: object snaps, coordinates, polar tracking

Extra resources

LibreCAD: free 2D CAD (AutoCAD alternative) ↗FREE

Checklist

learn~25 h

Start here

Autodesk Education: AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Revit ↗Free for 1 year (renewable) if you're an enrolled student. Otherwise AutoCAD costs roughly $2,000/yr.FREE FOR STUDENTSLibreCAD: free 2D CAD (AutoCAD alternative) ↗FREE
build~15 h
milestone

Start here

Autodesk certification ↗Exam fee; not required — a portfolio proves the same skill for freePAID

Spreadsheets for Engineers

Most design calcs in real offices live in spreadsheets.

0/1
  • Named ranges, absolute references, data validation
  • IF, LOOKUP/XLOOKUP, Goal Seek, Solver
  • Charts for test data; clean, checkable calculation layout

Checklist

build~5 h

Start here

LibreOffice Calc: free spreadsheet (Excel alternative) ↗Google Sheets also works freeFREE

Civil 3D

The standard for roads, grading, drainage and site design.

0/2
  • Surfaces from survey points, contours
  • Alignments, profiles, corridors
  • Grading, pipe networks, quantity takeoff

Checklist

learn~30 h

Start here

Autodesk Education: AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Revit ↗Free for 1 year (renewable) if you're an enrolled student. Otherwise AutoCAD costs roughly $2,000/yr.FREE FOR STUDENTS
build~15 h

Revit / BIM

Building projects are delivered in BIM. Structural offices use Revit daily.

0/1
  • Families, levels, grids
  • Structural framing, foundations, rebar basics
  • Sheets and schedules

Extra resources

Building Information: BIM fundamentals (free textbook) ↗FREE

Checklist

build~25 h

Start here

Autodesk Education: AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Revit ↗Free for 1 year (renewable) if you're an enrolled student. Otherwise AutoCAD costs roughly $2,000/yr.FREE FOR STUDENTSFreeCAD: free 3D/BIM modeler (Revit alternative) ↗FREE

Structural Analysis Software

Used for any real structure. You must be able to check its output by hand.

0/1
  • Nodes, members, releases, supports
  • Load cases & load combinations (ASCE 7)
  • Always verify software output with a hand calc
  • Commercial tools (SAP2000, ETABS, RISA) are expensive — learn the concepts on free tools; employers provide licenses

Extra resources

OpenSees: free structural/earthquake analysis ↗FREE

Checklist

build~10 h

Start here

Ftool: free 2D frame analysis program ↗FREE

Python & GIS

Automating calcs and working with maps makes you stand out. You already code — use it.

0/2
  • Python: numpy, pandas, matplotlib for engineering data
  • QGIS: layers, DEMs, watershed delineation
  • HEC-RAS / HEC-HMS for hydraulics & hydrology (free from USACE)

Extra resources

USACE HEC-RAS / HEC-HMS (free hydraulics software) ↗FREEProjectLibre: free scheduling (MS Project alternative) ↗FREE

Checklist

build~6 h

Start here

Official Python tutorial ↗FREE
build~6 h

Start here

QGIS: free GIS software ↗FREE
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