Education
Relevant and timely Professional Development for the Mechanical Contracting Industry
We are delivering education and professional development programs that enable high standards of professional practice for mechanical contractors. Through our regional, provincial, national and international network of education partners, we initiate, design, facilitate and deliver educational programming that strengthens core competencies and develops new, leading-edge practices.
MCABC offers seminars and #coffeetalk sessions on timely issues, plus on-demand courses developed for the mechanical contracting industry. The seminars and courses are available to members and non-members; however, members receive significant savings through member-only pricing. #coffeetalk sessions are open to members-only.
If there is a topic you would like to see offered, please contact info@mcabc.org to share your ideas.
IPD Education Session
Thu, April 24 | Virtual | 9 – 10 AM
Help us shape IPD education for the Mechanical Contracting industry!
Do you understand what differentiates IPD from traditional projects? Do you want to learn more about IPD? Are you interested in IPD training for the mechanical contracting industry?
In collaboration with the Integrated Project Delivery Alliance (IPDA), MCABC is inviting members throughout BC to join us virtually for a very important discussion about IPD. Your input and questions will inform development of a customized educational program for Mechanical Contractors in BC.
#coffeetalk Series
MCABC #coffeetalk is a monthly virtual meet-up for the mechanical contracting industry. The one-hour monthly discussion is designed to:
- Connect MCABC members with one another
- Learn from and address subjects of common interest
- Consider emerging issues
- Provide a platform for Associate members to showcase their products and services
- Strengthen connection within our community
#coffeetalk:
A Conversation About Contracts
(Presented by the NextGen Board)
Tue, Apr 29 | Virtual | 8 – 9 AM
The Next Gen Board is pleased to be hosting April’s Coffee Talk, which will provide members, those new and developing in the mechanical contracting industry, with an opportunity to delve into a conversation about contracts.
Leading the Next Gen Month talk is construction lawyer Tyler Galbraith who will focus on:
- Why project contracts are necessary
- Why it’s important to understand contract language (with examples)
- Who needs to know the contract content – from Estimators to Project Managers and Superintendents
On Demand Courses
From leadership development to trade-specific skills programming, there are plenty of options for you to continually expand your know-how, and be the best you can be.
MCABC offers courses and programs developed for the mechanical contracting industry. These courses are designed to support you in your pursuit of a career in project management, estimating, and other office management positions.
Programs are available to members and non-members; however, members receive significant savings through member-only pricing.
Explore our course catalogue below to find courses offered both online and in person. If there is an in person course you would like to see brought to BC, please contact info@mcabc.org to express your interest.
Construction Project Management
1 Gold Seal Credit
More Info
Gain the knowledge and skills to help you successfully plan, manage, and administer projects from start to finish.
- Understand the construction business and your role in it as a construction project manager.
- Know how to effectively communicate through listening, writing, and verbal communication.
- Know how to manage and maintain worksite relationships.
- Understand what happens at the project procurement stage.
- Know your roles and responsibilities at the pre-construction, construction, and close-out stages.
This course uses interactive elements, scenarios, videos, and quizzes to reinforce learning.
National Construction Safety Awareness
1 Gold Seal Credit
More Info
Provider: BuildForce, Online
Offered to: Contractors and anyone involved in procurement and contracting within a construction company.
Description: Understand what you can do to keep yourself, your co-workers, and the environment you work in safe every day.
- Know your rights and responsibilities on any work site, and those of your co-workers and your employer.
- Learn the necessary communications to ensure the work gets done properly and safely.
- Recognize the measures you need to take off the job site to make sure you’re ready for work on the job site.
- Identify the personal protective equipment you’ll use on the job site and how to use it effectively.
- Know the precautions to take when working with workplace chemicals, including understanding the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) and safety data sheets.
- Understand the importance of protecting the environment around your work site, and how to make that happen.
- Recognize the different types of hazards you may encounter on a job site, and how to assess and control them.
- Identify the tools, equipment, and vehicles you’ll use on site, and how to use them safely.
- Know precautions to take when working at heights, excavating and trenching, and working near power lines.
- Understand how regulations differ across Canada and across industries, and the importance of understanding processes and procedures at your own site.
- Recognize hazards that may be present in confined spaces, and how to ensure you work safely under those conditions.
About the Course:
- Uses practical scenarios
- Self-paced, online e-learning, accessible 24/7
- Can be taken on computers, laptops, tablets and smartphone
- Takes about five(5) hours to complete
- Available in English and French
Canadian Construction Contract Essentials
1 Gold Seal Credit
More Info
Provider: BuildForce, Online
On the week of February 28, 2022 BuildForce is releasing a new course; Canadian Construction Contract Essentials.
Offered to: Contactors and anyone involved in procurement and contracting within a construction company.
Description: Gain a basic and practical understanding of Canadian construction contract and subcontract essentials.
- Understand what a contract is from a legal standpoint and what makes it valid and enforceable.
- Know some key legal principles regarding general contracts and construction contracts.
- Understand why contracts are important in the construction process.
- Learn the difference between a “bidding” contract and the actual construction contract.
- Be able to discern the difference between a letter of intent, a purchase order, and a construction contract.
- Learn about a major cause of construction disputes and why standard industry contract forms can reduce the risk of such disputes.
- Know the different types of construction contracts in terms of project delivery and pricing methods.
- Understand the structure, approach, and key provisions in a typical stipulated/fixed-price or lump-sum construction contract and subcontract.
- Know how to read and understand a typical construction contract and subcontract.
About the Course:
- Uses practical scenarios
- Self-paced, online e-learning, accessible 24/7
- Can be taken on computers, laptops, tablets and smartphone
- Takes about five (5) hours to complete
- Available in English and French
Introduction to Mentorship
0 Gold Seal Credits
More Info
Provider: BuildForce, Online
Offered to: The course was designed for onsite mentors and mentees in the construction and maintenance industry.
Description: The course focus is on introducing the skills required to develop effective mentoring training relationships with a focus on communication skills that can be applied on the job with measurable results.
About the Course:
- Uses practical scenarios
- Self-paced, online e-learning, accessible 24/7
- Can be taken on computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones
- Takes about two (2) hours to complete
- Available in English and French
Introduction to Understanding Systemic Racism
1 Gold Seal Credit
More Info
Provider: BuildForce, Online
Offered to: Leaders and Managers
Description: As a BuildForce education distributor, MCABC is proud to announce a recent addition to its core course offering. Even in the mildest forms, unconscious bias within an organization can have profound impacts on Black, Indigenous and People of Colour by limiting their potential for growth and eroding personal wellbeing. A new course offered by BuildForce Canada will help industry leaders and managers gain a better appreciation of the issues around systemic racism, and provide tools to recognize, mitigate and eliminate the influence of unconscious bias on decision making.
Duration: 3 hours
Communication, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution
2 Gold Seal Credits
More Info
Provider: BuildForce, Online
Offered to: Estimators, Superintendents, Project Managers
Description: For supervisors, project managers, and anyone who must deal effectively and professionally with employees, subtrades, owners, clients, engineers, and employers. Improve your written, oral, and negotiating skills and enhance your conflict resolution skills.
- Define a conflict and identify the stages of conflict.
- Appreciate the importance of communication.
- Apply assertiveness techniques to get a point across.
- Deal with difficult people more effectively.
- Recognize what makes an effective negotiator.
- Understand how power can be used or abused in negotiation.
- Determine when to close negotiations.
This course uses interactive elements, scenarios, videos, and quizzes to reinforce learning. The online format allows self-paced, online e-learning, accessible 24/7 on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
Duration: 4 hours
Construction Industry Ethics
3 Gold Seal Credits
More Info
Provider: BuildForce, Online
Offered to: Contractors, Supervisors, Project Managers
Description: For owner/clients, contractors, supervisors, project managers, etc. who must deal effectively and professionally with employees, subtrades, owners, clients, engineers, employers, and the public.
- Understand ethics as it relates to the construction industry and learn how to navigate daily ethical grey areas.
- Understand what is included in “ethical behaviour.”
- Be aware of the importance of ethics in business.
- Know how to make ethical decisions.
- Recognize ethics in the context of the law.
- Understand the direct link between ethics and a company’s success.
This course uses interactive elements, scenarios, videos, and quizzes to reinforce learning.
Duration: 4 hours
Construction Law
1 Gold Seal Credit
More Info
Provider: BuildForce, Online
Offered to: Owners, Managers, Supervisors, Project Managers
Description: Construction Law is designed to teach and familiarize owners, managers, supervisors and project managers with construction contracts and contract law; liabilities and responsibilities of all parties to a Contract, compiling and submitting proper extras and claims, and ways and means for leaders to avoid conflict with contracts, owners, trades, and labour.
- Understand construction contracts and contract law.
- Understand the origins of law.
- Understand what a contract is and what makes it valid or invalid.
- Know the different types of construction contracts.
- Understand roles in the construction industry as they apply to contract law.
- Understand the liabilities and responsibilities of all parties to a contract.
- Be able to interpret contracts.
- Understand what defines a custom contract.
- Understand the principles of surety and different types of bonds.
- Know what type of insurance is required.
- Understand claims, the reasons for claims, and how to compile and submit proper extras and claims.
- Know the acts and regulations that are relevant to the construction industry.
- Develop strategies to avoid conflict with contracts, owners, trades, and labour.
This course uses interactive elements, scenarios, videos, and quizzes to reinforce learning. The online format allows self-paced, online e-learning, accessible 24/7 on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
Duration: 6 hours
First Level Supervisor Training Program
4 Gold Seal Credits
More Info
Provider: BuildForce, Online
Offered to: Supervisors, Foremen, or individuals who want to become a First Level Supervisor
Description: Develop the critical skills and learn the concepts required to supervise a construction crew, maximize productivity and quality, and ensure a job gets done on time, on budget, and safely.
- Build supervisory skills.
- Understand the difference between leadership and management.
- Communicate effectively.
- Lead a work crew.
- Plan and schedule.
- Manage effective meetings.
- Understand the supervisor’s role in safety and due diligence.
- Develop and motivate teams.
- Handle disagreements and problems.
- Address personal problems and performance issues.
This course uses interactive elements, scenarios, videos, and quizzes to reinforce learning. The online format allows self-paced, online e-learning, accessible 24/7 on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
Duration: 14 hours
Health & Safety Manual Orientation (Customized)
0 Gold Seal Credits
More Info
Provider: MCABC & BCCSA, In Person
Offered to: Teams in the mechanical contracting industry
Course Schedule: Email info@mcabc.org for more info
MCABC has partnered with BCCSA to develop a program geared toward creating a COR-compliant customized safety manual for each attendees’ own company. This workshop is exclusive to MCABC members and is designed to help you ensure your own Safety Program becomes a method to minimize injury in the workplace, engage workers AND show compliance.
Introduction to Construction Estimating
2 Gold Seal Credits
More Info
Provider: BuildForce, Online
Offered to: Estimators or individuals interested in becoming Estimators
Description: Gain the knowledge and skills required to visualize the scope and magnitude of a construction project and produce accurate and reliable estimates. Course work includes reviewing drawings through various phases of a project with the aim of determining the quantity and type of materials required for the project.
- Have a good understanding of estimating practices.
- Know site-specific conditions and regulatory requirements.
- Know how to handle purchasing and logistics, and how to manage materials on site.
- Organize cost data in a clear and logical manner.
- Be able to manage historical information related to costs and know how and when to update this information.
- Know how to assemble bids and meet bid closure deadlines.
- Provide on-site solutions to work-related problems in relation to equipment and material placement.
This course uses interactive elements, scenarios, videos, and quizzes to reinforce learning. The online format allows self-paced, online e-learning, accessible 24/7 on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
Duration: 4 hours
Pipeline Construction Safety Training
2 Gold Seal Credit
More Info
Provider: BuildForce, Online
Offered to: People working in the oil and gas pipeline industry
Description: This course has been designed and developed by the construction industry to address health and safety issues specific to pipeline construction in the oil and gas industry.
Construction safety is not to be taken lightly, and it is something that the pipeline construction industry takes very seriously. This course is intended to familiarize you, the worker, with how to recognize, assess and control hazards on the work site. It has been designed to complement other safety-related courses offered by the industry.
Objectives
After completing this course, you will:
- Know how to recognize hazards
- Know how to assess hazards
- Know how to control hazards
- Know how to operate a vehicle safely
- Know how to operate equipment safely
- Know how to respond to emergencies
The online format allows self-paced, online e-learning, accessible 24/7 on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
Duration: 4 hours
Certification Expiry Period: 5 years
Introduction to Construction Estimating
2 Gold Seal Credits
More Info
Provider: BuildForce, Online
Offered to: Estimators or individuals interested in becoming Estimators
Description: Gain the knowledge and skills required to visualize the scope and magnitude of a construction project and produce accurate and reliable estimates. Course work includes reviewing drawings through various phases of a project with the aim of determining the quantity and type of materials required for the project.
- Have a good understanding of estimating practices.
- Know site-specific conditions and regulatory requirements.
- Know how to handle purchasing and logistics, and how to manage materials on site.
- Organize cost data in a clear and logical manner.
- Be able to manage historical information related to costs and know how and when to update this information.
- Know how to assemble bids and meet bid closure deadlines.
- Provide on-site solutions to work-related problems in relation to equipment and material placement.
This course uses interactive elements, scenarios, videos, and quizzes to reinforce learning. The online format allows self-paced, online e-learning, accessible 24/7 on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
Duration: 4 hours
Associate-ED: Members Teaching Members
Calling all Associate members who have something to teach our members related to your products and/or services! Associate-ED is a forum to deliver a product demo, present solutions, tips and tricks, best practices, industry or regulatory updates, etc. These virtual events are quick 20-minute presentations followed by ten minutes of Q&A. Timely information will be prioritized (i.e. electrification). Sessions will be created and recorded on Zoom and members attend for free. The recording will be placed in the Member Hub, in a new resource section that showcases Associate members. While there is no cost for you to take part, you’ll need to be a current MCABC member.
Do you have a training video? If you already have training videos (of various lengths) we can post them in our library.
Contact the Manager of Membership and Events (cbasco@mcabc.org) with a link to the video and say that you would like to have it considered for our Associate-ED library.