The Home Builders Association Charitable Foundation recently authorized $31,000 in financial aid for HBA Members who pursue professional designations between now and the end of 2012. That will fund approximately 295 scholarships of 50% tuition for members who take designation courses locally in 2011 and 2012. A number of HBA members took advantage of the first round of scholarships at last week’s Business Management and Green Building for Building Professionals courses.
The next round of scholarships has been officially announced and scheduled. In addition to two more classes in May that will offer twenty 50% scholarships, the HBACF also is providing unprecedented scholarship amounts of more than 75% of the cost of taking the Builders Assessment Review (BAR) and/or Professional Remodeler Experience Profile (PREP) exams on April 15. The fund will cover $150 of the $195 cost to take either exam in 2011. It will cover only $50 of the $195 for those who take the exam locally in 2012, and has no plans to offer financial assistance for the exams beyond 2012.
To learn more about the NAHB University of Housing professional designations program, download the full pdf of NAHB’s official designation catalog here. Or browse course summaries by clicking here. The HBA of Greater Springfield will release a full course catalog and schedule for 2011 and 2012 by the first week of April 2011.
Here are HBA members’ next opportunities:
- BAR & PREP Exams – April 15
- Necessary to pursue CGB or CGR designations
- COST: $195
- Members who take this in 2011 receive a $150 HBACF scholarship (so it will only cost you $45 to take it this year).
- That scholarship will be down to only $50 in 2012 (so it will cost $145), and will be gone in 2013 and beyond… so take it now!
- Basics of Building – May 5 (8am to 5pm)
- Non-Members: $295
- Members: $205 (plus 50% scholarships available)
- Instructor: Jim Carr
- Description:
Become a better industry partner by learning about the residential construction process from the builder/remodeler’s point of view. Associate members, builder/remodeler company staff, REALTOR®s and others will learn what it takes to build or remodel a home. With that knowledge, you will be able to see how your own interests, requirements and processes affect—and are affected by—those of the builder/remodeler. As a graduate of this course, you will be able to:
Describe product types, current trends and stakeholders in the residential construction industry;
Contrast and elaborate on the sales and marketing functions of the residential construction industry;
Articulate the criticality and complexity of land acquisition and development;
Outline types of financial tools available to support building and remodeling projects;
Assess strategies to strengthen the relationship between suppliers and builders/remodelers;
Explain the critical path of steps in the residential construction process; and
Describe the importance of post-construction activities: closing, customer care and after-the-sale service
- Designations: CGA, CGP, Master CSP
- Continuing Education Credits (6.0 hrs): CAPS, CGA, CGB, CGR, GMB, CSP, Master CSP, CMP, MIRM
- Project Management – May 6 (8am to 5pm)
- Non-Members: $295
- Members: $205 (plus 50% scholarships available)
- Instructor: Jim Carr
- Description:
Develop the skills you need for successful on or off-site production operations management. This hands-on course covers the three phases of a successful venture: planning, implementation and evaluation. Owners, project managers, superintendents, sales managers and anyone involved in the pre-construction and construction process will benefit from this introductory course. As a graduate of this course, you will be able to:
Explain the basics of successful project management;
Execute the pre-construction project management functions and responsibilities;
Implement the tools available for efficient project management;
Manage trade contractors effectively;
Perform project management duties during the project; and
Complete the duties and responsibilities of post-project management
- Designations: CGA,CGB,CGR
- Continuing Education Credits (6.0 hrs): CAPS, CGA, CGB, CGR, GMB, CSP, Master CSP, CMP, MIRM