Lesson Plan
9 Video Lessons · 2H 9M
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1. Course Overview
A blueprint is the fundamental plan for the construction of any structure. In this lesson, Jordan provides a basic overview of the class, outlining the objectives and skills mastered in this online course.
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2. Scales & Measurement
Using a simple plan for the shed in his backyard as a guide, Jordan shares how to use an architect's ruler to make reading scales easy.
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3. Title Sheets & Site Plans
A title sheet gives you information about the property, a building's location on that property, the team involved in the project, and how to navigate the whole set of residential blueprints.
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4. Floor Plans
Part of the architectural drawings within your set of residential blueprints, the floor plans provide a bird's eye view of the interior plan for a house.
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5. Elevations & Sectional Views
Elevations and sections are two-dimensional views of the vertical interior and exterior surfaces of a house.
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6. Details & Schedules
Rounding out the architectural drawings within your set of residential blueprints, details are just what they sound like: specific looks at detailed components of the building. Schedules are tables that help you accurately order and use doors, windows, and more.
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7. Structural Drawings
Structural drawings show how the design for a building can maintain the structural integrity of the home in normal and hazardous weather conditions. Jordan shows you how to understand the key components of a house's structure from the perspective of a builder and an engineer.
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8. Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (MEP)
No modern home is complete without the systems that make it function: HVAC (mechanical), electrical, and plumbing. As a builder or framer, it’s important to know where those systems will be routed so you can leave space for them to be laid in. Learn how.
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9. Putting It All Together
Learn how to put what you've learned to practice by reading a title page and navigating a complete set of residential blueprints.
Who it's for: This course is for those beginning in the trades, or anyone who wants to brush up on reading blueprints.
Key Topics
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How to use architect’s ruler
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How to read site and floor plans
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How to read elevations and sections
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How to read details and schedules
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How to read structural drawings
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How to read mep drawings
5 stars
Overall rating of 137 students
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5 out of 5
John M.,
Aug 02, 2022
I found this very informative & straight to the point. Helpful for me in taking N.C. state Residential Building Contractors exam. I've been in construction for 37 years, 27 years as a custom home...
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5 out of 5
James Boddy.,
Apr 01, 2022
The course was very informative and I highly recommend it for anyon...
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5 out of 5
Elkin Vallejo.,
Mar 30, 2022
It is very interesting and pleasant, I would like to take another m...
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5 out of 5
Sol Farahmand.,
Mar 14, 2022
Good course! I enjoyed it.
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5 out of 5
Travis Swain.,
Mar 14, 2022
Helpful in looking at the plans holistically and guides the student...
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5 out of 5
Tanner Mullaly.,
Mar 13, 2022
Clear and concise introduction.
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5 out of 5
Guadalupe Ontiveros.,
Mar 07, 2022
Awesome
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5 out of 5
Edwin Charry.,
Mar 07, 2022
The course is easy and clear, it explains in a good way all what I ...
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5 out of 5
Nicholas Garbarino.,
Feb 23, 2022
Very helpful
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5 out of 5
reese landenberger.,
Feb 20, 2022
great break down and structure to the course, lots of good informat...
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5 out of 5
Guillermo Ammirata.,
Feb 19, 2022
excellent
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5 out of 5
Ricardo Castaneda.,
Feb 16, 2022
5 stars
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5 out of 5
Joseph George.,
Feb 15, 2022
This course was well informative and give me the extra knowledge th...
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5 out of 5
Edward weaver.,
Feb 10, 2022
This course was a great way to familiarize myself with reading blue...
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5 out of 5
Martin Rochowiak.,
Feb 04, 2022
Enjoyed the course. Will take more courses on MTCopeland
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5 out of 5
Brandon Kiff.,
Jan 20, 2022
This was a great course for refreshing the old skills.
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5 out of 5
Miguel A Frias Aquino.,
Jan 17, 2022
Thanks for the opportunity. I learned a lot in the course. thank y...
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5 out of 5
Ovidio Alvarez.,
Jan 03, 2022
A good basic over look on how to read blueprints. Learned a lot tha...
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5 out of 5
Lauren Nelson.,
Dec 11, 2021
This course was great for first timers. It was easy to follow along...
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5 out of 5
Mallory Foxx.,
Dec 08, 2021
Insightful!
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5 out of 5
Ali Buelow.,
Dec 08, 2021
Informative and helpful!
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5 out of 5
bruce Olofson.,
Dec 07, 2021
It was very informative
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5 out of 5
Gerald Butler.,
Dec 06, 2021
Gerald
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5 out of 5
Katie Hubler.,
Dec 03, 2021
Great course with perfect level of explanation and detail
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5 out of 5
Eric Spond.,
Dec 03, 2021
Well put together with a great teacher.
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5 out of 5
Kevin Gonzalez.,
Nov 29, 2021
basic training expected a bit more.
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5 out of 5
Donna Hutson.,
Nov 23, 2021
Would recommend this to anyone wanting to learn how to read bluepri...
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5 out of 5
Lane White.,
Nov 04, 2021
Jordan is informative and detail oriented. You can definitely tell ...
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5 out of 5
Gary Masters.,
Nov 04, 2021
Good job.
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5 out of 5
Jodi Balderrama.,
Nov 03, 2021
Really w
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5 out of 5
Eric Thomas.,
Nov 01, 2021
Great Course
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5 out of 5
Jordan Camara.,
Oct 24, 2021
good
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5 out of 5
Joe Waltz.,
Oct 19, 2021
course was great for getting understanding on blueprints, if you ha...
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5 out of 5
Travis Bench.,
Oct 16, 2021
The course walked me through the blueprints, and with my perspectiv...
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5 out of 5
Marvin Rodriguez.,
Oct 15, 2021
plans
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5 out of 5
Austin Sprague.,
Oct 08, 2021
the class was easy to follow for the most part, however I think a r...
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5 out of 5
Thomas Crane.,
Oct 03, 2021
Very good course covered alot
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5 out of 5
Terrence Mays.,
Sep 30, 2021
Excellent refresher course for those that may have been away from t...
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5 out of 5
Chris Gaston.,
Sep 26, 2021
Ok
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5 out of 5
Nettie Dokes.,
Sep 23, 2021
Hi Ms Copeland would like to provide some feedback on this course. ...
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5 out of 5
Justin Anguiano.,
Sep 20, 2021
Really enjoyed the lass and how easy it was to view material.
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5 out of 5
Gerson Campos.,
Sep 07, 2021
very good course .!! i learnt a lot from it
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5 out of 5
Nelson Lopez.,
Sep 01, 2021
perferct
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5 out of 5
Thomas Brennan.,
Aug 30, 2021
This course was super helpful. Thank you!
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5 out of 5
Jo Hardwick.,
Aug 14, 2021
This is a must take course for any contractors to be or real estate...
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5 out of 5
Ismael Rosario.,
Aug 12, 2021
Easy, self paced program with a lot to learn!!!
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5 out of 5
Luis pineda.,
Aug 07, 2021
very good
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5 out of 5
Nicole Sachs.,
Aug 05, 2021
Thanks for this course! I'm interested in professional development ...
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5 out of 5
Bianca Balderas.,
Jul 30, 2021
knew nothing about blueprints and this was a good course to get som...
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5 out of 5
Marc Jones.,
Jul 28, 2021
Got some blueprints to a Restarunt remodel and needed to freshen up...
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5 out of 5
Jerrett Demski.,
Jul 23, 2021
Overall a great introduction to blueprint reading for any and all t...
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5 out of 5
Marisol Calderon.,
Jul 19, 2021
Great
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5 out of 5
Mayro Martinez.,
Jul 13, 2021
Excellent course, learned so much congrats
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5 out of 5
Sofia Morales.,
Jul 06, 2021
Jordan did a really good job of explaining everything that I needed...
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5 out of 5
Breyner Sevilla.,
Jul 05, 2021
I guess it is still missing a bit more information, but overall it ...
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5 out of 5
Dave Miller.,
Jun 29, 2021
Class was very helpful, just wish they would have touched on readin...
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5 out of 5
Edgar Camargo.,
Jun 21, 2021
Amazing teaching and easy to learn
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5 out of 5
Jamie Clark.,
Jun 09, 2021
The course was great review and a refresher.
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5 out of 5
Dustin Hsiao.,
Jun 04, 2021
I bought this course as the homeowner of a new construction home th...
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5 out of 5
Francisco Lopez.,
May 29, 2021
Francisco Lopez
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5 out of 5
Colt Woodruff.,
May 27, 2021
This was a great introduction to reading blueprints!
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5 out of 5
Shea Smiskey.,
May 27, 2021
Very informative
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5 out of 5
Nathanael Goyne.,
May 01, 2021
The teacher did a great job at covering so much of blueprint readin...
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5 out of 5
Ed Hurley.,
Apr 23, 2021
Easy to follow.
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5 out of 5
Tristan Bohart.,
Apr 21, 2021
I had never looked at a blueprint before this, now I have some idea...
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5 out of 5
Andres Diaz.,
Apr 12, 2021
Excellent
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5 out of 5
Nathan Dilas.,
Apr 02, 2021
Very good class and well taught. It was very helpful and informativ...
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5 out of 5
Nate M.,
Feb 23, 2021
Was extremely helpful to someone who is starting out reading blue prints! Hands on learning
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5 out of 5
Adam C.,
Dec 08, 2020
Very well organized and clear !
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5 out of 5
Zachary G.,
Feb 09, 2021
Very thorough, clear, and understandable explanation of how to read blueprints.
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5 out of 5
Lorenzo T.,
Oct 29, 2020
Very informative and well taught.
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5 out of 5
Alisha V.,
Dec 15, 2020
Very informational to beginners
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5 out of 5
Robert M.,
Dec 28, 2020
very helpful
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5 out of 5
Brent A.,
Aug 31, 2020
Very educational for a me as a novice when it comes to construction and blueprints.
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5 out of 5
Ramon P.,
Feb 12, 2021
Very detailed.
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5 out of 5
Ryan A.,
Jan 02, 2021
This course provides a great foundation for someone who has never looked at prints and wants to learn the basics. It's great for someone in residential maintenance who really doesn't need to be an...
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5 out of 5
Stephen R.,
Jul 02, 2020
This class was broken down and made very simple
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5 out of 5
Jorge M.,
Oct 25, 2020
The reason I will recommend this class is because Jordan explained in a way that I was able to understand.
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5 out of 5
Christopher B.,
Feb 18, 2021
The information Jordan delivers is communicated with expressed passion to the listener. His delivery and step-by-step illustrations, can permeate simple knowledge to a novice on the basic...
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5 out of 5
Stephen K.,
Mar 07, 2021
The handouts along with the speaker pointing out details that were on them were very helpful. The examples were real life situations.
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5 out of 5
Brian M.,
Jan 14, 2021
The course explained "the why" to blueprints, which is much better than trying to read them without any formal knowledge.
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5 out of 5
Eduardo V.,
Dec 31, 2020
The class is well put together and hits on all the little things that most of my past instructors missed.
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5 out of 5
Billy T.,
Feb 12, 2021
The class is simple and easy to understand
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5 out of 5
Phil L.,
Jan 28, 2021
Precise, to the point. Accurate and clear. Very useful, and great presentation. Knowledge and experience from Jordan was excellent.
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5 out of 5
Justin s.,
Feb 26, 2021
liked how he goes step through step through the plans
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5 out of 5
Robert S.,
Jan 13, 2021
Josh was excellent. He explained things in a way that was understandable
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5 out of 5
Robert M.,
Jan 27, 2021
Jordan did a stellar job communicating the details and in/outs of blueprints very effectively. Coming from a surveying back ground where civil drawings are used more then anything else I now have...
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5 out of 5
Sarah E.,
Jul 14, 2020
Its very educative and practical
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5 out of 5
Paul T.,
Feb 12, 2021
It's straightforward and realistic.
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5 out of 5
Polo r.,
Jan 12, 2021
It's a good introducion about bluprints.
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5 out of 5
Robert C.,
Feb 12, 2021
It was organized well and was very informative
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5 out of 5
Kathy J.,
Sep 22, 2020
It is very thorough and in depth
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5 out of 5
Danis A.,
Oct 03, 2020
It is really simple and easy
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5 out of 5
Salvatore M.,
Mar 06, 2021
I would recommend this course due to the excellent explanation on how to read residential blue prints. The teacher is very good at communicating information and makes it simple to understand.
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5 out of 5
Andrew T.,
Mar 06, 2021
I would recommend this course because I felt like it was the right amount of information needed and was a true introduction course that laid out the fundamentals clearly.
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5 out of 5
Ronald B.,
Feb 15, 2021
I would recommend this class . The simplicity and his ability to describe in detail what he is talking about to us novices was key. I was extremely satisfied and plan on recommending it to others.
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5 out of 5
Josh D.,
Feb 11, 2021
I would most definitely recommend this course to business colleagues as well as friends, simply because Jordan Smith explains things briefly yet clearly. The information given is just enough to...
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5 out of 5
Jason R.,
Feb 26, 2021
I would definitely recommend this to a friend actually already did. I am in the construction field and taught I knew how to perfectly read blueprints but this course opened mind to many things I...
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5 out of 5
Lizabeth H.,
Jun 26, 2020
I really enjoy learning how to read blueprints. It was a great beginner course. I do wish you had an in depth training so I can be a greater asset to my company.
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5 out of 5
Chris S.,
Jan 05, 2021
I learned
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5 out of 5
Marlon O.,
Sep 16, 2020
I am a general building contractor that just started. I think these lessons are great because they make you feel like its a one on one lesson. It's clear and simple, I think that is the best ways to...
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5 out of 5
Brian w.,
Jan 10, 2021
Helpful
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5 out of 5
joseph .,
Jan 14, 2021
Great class to showcase what reading blueprints is like
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5 out of 5
Everardo R.,
Feb 23, 2021
Ggg
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5 out of 5
Felicity M.,
Jan 05, 2021
Fast, Simple, & Easy to Follow Along with. I would Definitely Recommend this Class to all my Friends & Co Workers.
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5 out of 5
Muhammad A.,
Dec 31, 2020
everything explain is good i like it
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5 out of 5
Calvin s.,
Feb 18, 2021
easy to understand, id work for his company in a heartbeat
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5 out of 5
Sergio C.,
Feb 23, 2021
Easy to navigate. Instructor was well organized explaining videos and navigating blue print.
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5 out of 5
Joseph .,
Oct 27, 2020
Concise, good information
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5 out of 5
Walter N.,
Jun 13, 2020
The quality of the course and the price is great comparing to other internet advertised course.
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4 out of 5
Madison Murray.,
Feb 16, 2022
very good session including lots of information for anybody willing...
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4 out of 5
Ben Repasky.,
Feb 01, 2022
N/A
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4 out of 5
Willis Benyshek.,
Jan 19, 2022
Would be nice to know before hand what would be needed to help with...
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4 out of 5
Zachary Pereira.,
Jan 04, 2022
Great course
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4 out of 5
Dustin Trudeau.,
Nov 11, 2021
Good course, but needs more in-depth training o...
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4 out of 5
Steve Hobson.,
Sep 25, 2021
I enjoyed the good sound and quality video. The MEP section could b...
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4 out of 5
Austin Hill.,
Sep 18, 2021
Using to learn additional information about plans and M.E.Ps. I wou...
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4 out of 5
Edwin Castro.,
Aug 29, 2021
Easy to understand and the video shows every detail.
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4 out of 5
jorge serna.,
Jul 12, 2021
very good thanks until nex time
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4 out of 5
Ben Mayer.,
Jun 25, 2021
good
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4 out of 5
Omer Bilivogui.,
Jun 10, 2021
all were good
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4 out of 5
Timothy Fernan.,
May 25, 2021
How to Read Blueprints Copeland May 24, 2021 • Overall the class...
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4 out of 5
Jeremy K.,
Feb 20, 2021
Would recommend this to anyone looking to gain a basic, but not in-depth, understanding of blueprints.
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4 out of 5
Heather H.,
Dec 10, 2020
Very informative. I would definitely recommend this.
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4 out of 5
Chris F.,
Sep 15, 2020
Very informative and not over loading for a beginner blueprint reader.
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4 out of 5
Huiyu L.,
Jan 31, 2021
Very friendly, clear and easy to comprehend.
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4 out of 5
Sanjil K.,
Oct 28, 2020
This was a great class. i would recommend it.
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4 out of 5
Jon C.,
Jan 06, 2021
Long maybe some different plans for ground utilities.
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4 out of 5
Paul K.,
Mar 09, 2021
Jordan did a good job explaining blueprints in a simple manner. He was approachable in the videos.
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4 out of 5
Zaza C.,
Dec 03, 2020
Its over priced for the amount of information available
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4 out of 5
Nathan N.,
Oct 07, 2020
It's very informative but as a drywaller and insulator and fininsher and painter there is no informtion, or on finish details.
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4 out of 5
Brian S.,
Sep 02, 2020
It's a great start to understanding the basics.
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4 out of 5
Katrina A.,
Jul 15, 2020
It's a good class
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4 out of 5
Hayden J.,
Dec 04, 2020
It was a great overview of the basics in how to read and interpret a set of plans.
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4 out of 5
Gina C.,
Jan 18, 2021
It is very informative
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4 out of 5
Elgin C.,
Jan 27, 2021
It a good course to give you a good understanding of blue prints
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4 out of 5
Eloy I.,
Jan 20, 2021
I would recommend to someone who is looking for a great basis on blueprint reading. I felt there were some areas that could have used more detail. This is my first class I took so there might be more...
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4 out of 5
Robert M.,
Jan 04, 2021
i would recommend this not many people know how to read blueprints
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4 out of 5
Josã© Q.,
Nov 08, 2020
I would recommend this course because you learn at your own pace also because you can watch the videos over and over again. Not to mention the price being affordable.
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4 out of 5
Bob P.,
Dec 23, 2020
I would recommend this class to a friend who is wanting to get into the construction field and how to read and interpret construction drawings. The class material was spot on in getting a good...
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4 out of 5
Andrew J.,
Jan 07, 2021
I would recommend this class because of the simple and direct explanation of the general highlights of understanding a set of blueprints.
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4 out of 5
Dominick C.,
Jan 01, 2021
I would reccomend because I feel like i really did get a foundation of basic understanding of blue prints. This is important to me because I am in the transition of going from laborer to super at...
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4 out of 5
Colby G.,
Mar 01, 2021
I think it is good for entry level blueprint reading and would recommend
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4 out of 5
Michael S.,
Mar 09, 2021
I think it is a good starting block for someone interested in joining the construction trades.
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4 out of 5
Ryan D.,
Jan 04, 2021
Great knowledge of plans for a beginner
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4 out of 5
Erik R.,
Oct 27, 2020
Easy to follow and well laid out lessons
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4 out of 5
Sara K.,
Jul 26, 2020
Because its very educational and interesting.
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3 out of 5
jerome golafaie.,
Aug 08, 2021
Good
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3 out of 5
Jonathan m.,
Feb 24, 2021
Too short of a class. Not as in depth as I expected
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3 out of 5
Eric R.,
Aug 16, 2020
There is helpful information in the lesson plan and its priced fair
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3 out of 5
William L.,
Mar 09, 2021
I would recommend to friend but my knowledge in the area if very minimal
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3 out of 5
Edward H.,
Oct 30, 2020
I think you as a instructor are very knowledgeable the way you explained it was easy to comprehend it I like that you did the zoom in and zoom out with the during the class I learned a lot
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3 out of 5
Drandy Y.,
Oct 29, 2020
Enjoyed the videos
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3 out of 5
Courtenay G.,
Nov 19, 2020
Clear, concise, kind. Please consider pronouns when speaking of the trades in general and include women rather than speaking generally of tradespeople as "guys" or "him. " There are many talented...
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1 out of 5
Stephany Santos.,
Feb 21, 2022
awesome
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1 out of 5
Martin Montes.,
Feb 16, 2022
GOOD
Jordan Smith
CEO of Smith House Company

Your Instructor
Jordan Smith is the CEO and Founder of Smith House Company, a design+build firm based in Austin, Texas. He learned to build and weld while working on the farm with his grandad, and after earning a degree in Welding and Materials Engineering, he spent the next 10 years working in the heavy construction building everything from robots to ships to offshore oil rigs before transitioning to residential construction. After spending a couple of years working with industry leading builders in Austin, Jordan and his wife Veronica struck out on their own to form Smith House Co.
Smith House Co. strives to build more beautiful, functional and resilient spaces which are self sustaining and harmonize with their natural surroundings.
Become Job Ready
This course will increase your knowledge for jobs like:
Carpenter
Apprentice Carpenter
Construction Laborer
Carpenter's Assistant
Carpenter Helper
Remodeler
For more information on these roles, visit our career page.
Search for these jobs at:
Common Questions
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What is MT Copeland?
MT Copeland helps you further your career in the building industry with expert-led online education that will make you a better, smarter tradesperson.
Our training courses give you a foundation in construction fundamentals and trade skills with real-world applications and best practices to help you grow on the job. -
What do courses include?
Online courses include professionally produced videos taught by leaders in the trades and supplementary learning material such as quizzes, assessments and downloadable materials to help you acquire new skills. Watch anywhere, always at your own pace. We keep lesson videos short so they’re easy to watch after work or on your lunch break. You can finish a course in one sitting, or space it out over a week or two.
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How does the 30-day guarantee work?
If you’re not happy with a course, let us know within 30 days for a full refund. Our goal is to provide maximum value for your career. If we haven’t delivered on that promise, let us know.
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Can you learn with MT Copeland outside of the u.s.?
Yes! You can take MT Copeland courses from anywhere in the world. Our courses are online, so if you have access to the Internet, you can watch our training videos. Courses are taught in English, with English captions and Spanish subtitles available.
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Where did the name MT Copeland come from?
MT Copeland was named after a legendary educator who promoted the idea that training in a specific trade paired with a knowledge of general business principles opens up a whole new world of career possibilities. We believe in the same powerful combination of skills and knowledge.