How Do I Choose the Best Bricklaying Courses?

To find the best bricklaying courses, it's important to look at your current skills as a bricklayer and determine what you need to learn. Some people looking for bricklaying classes will be starting from scratch, whereas others will already have some experience. Depending on where you live, it's also important to know what's required for employment or advancement, such as a bricklaying certification or a technical degree in masonry. Which schools or programs are nearby and what your schedule is like are other relevant factors.

In most places, you can start work as a bricklayer without much formal training. On-the-job experience or a very short, several-day class in basic bricklaying techniques might be all you need to start. Also available are apprenticeships that develop your skills while you're employed. For more advanced training, there are different bricklaying courses in different places, some more involved than others; however, most courses are only a few months long and can be completed while you're still working.

If you are looking for short, introductory bricklaying courses, look for courses that are only a couple days and offer potential job placement. These might be day or evening classes, and sometimes they're offered by companies hiring new bricklayers. Short online courses are also available, and there are even free tutorials that can be found on the Internet, which might be enough to get you started on a project. Since bricklaying is very physical work, you'll obviously need to be fit enough to function effectively in the work environment.

More advanced bricklaying courses are available on their own or at local technical schools and universities, usually as part of continuing education programs that don't require full enrollment. When seeking out these classes, look for things you need or want to learn, or for certifications you might require. Also look for courses that sound like they will cover the most important lessons needed for advancement.

Courses might cover topics such as appropriate equipment and clothing, working with tools, and the best procedures for using, cleaning, and storing tools. They might address strategies for beginning projects, safety procedures and protocols, and how to construct and take apart working platforms. Topics might include learning about brick and block construction, spreading mortar and joining, brick bonding, cornering, detailing, and efficient work practices.

If you have already been working as a bricklayer for some time, the bricklaying courses you choose might already cover things you know, but they might also offer strategies for improvement. You might learn more about load lifting techniques, hoists, signaling for load movement, and how to use dolly blocks and wall ties. You might enroll in a one-year program that includes other masonry classes like paving, landscaping, and hardscaping courses. Some classes might cover welding, blueprint reading, estimation and supply, or even branch out into other disciplines or information about the construction industry.

A career in bricklaying and masonry has no single path, but the right bricklaying courses will always help you advance. If there are no nearby schools that offer a program that works for you, consider online classes. This might seem counter intuitive since bricklaying is very hands-on work, but video instruction is at your own pace and can be quite helpful. Make sure you inquire about enrollment and registration schedules and whether refunds are available if you need to drop your class.