Industry, Manufacturing, Construction and Transportation Pathway • Lake Worth, Florida • Mostly Online (Live Online) or Campus • $101/Credit (In-State, incl. fees)
Palm Beach State College offers 2 construction management pathways:
- Building Construction Specialist Certificate (CCC)
- Building Construction Management A.S.
Program Pathways Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | $1.8K in-state / $6.5K out-of-state | 1 year (2 semesters) | 18 |
| A.S. | $6.1K in-state / $21.8K out-of-state | 2 years (5 terms incl. summer) | 60 |
Tuition estimates use Palm Beach State College’s current per-credit tuition plus mandatory fees.
Palm Beach State College runs its construction management courses in two modes: live online sessions that meet at scheduled times, or in person on the Lake Worth campus. None of the 12 required construction courses carries a lab (“C”) suffix, so the delivery choice does not force a commuter onto campus for labs. All five construction courses in the 18-credit certificate are also required A.S. courses, so the certificate counts in full toward the degree.
The biggest trade-off is the top of the ladder. PBSC’s own bachelor’s option is a B.A.S. in Supervision and Management with a project management concentration, not a construction management bachelor’s. The A.S. has no named transfer agreement into a construction-specific B.S., no programmatic accreditation, and an internship that students can swap for Introduction to Business.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Credentials Offered | College Credit Certificate (18 credits); A.S. (60 credits) |
| Format | Live online (scheduled class times) or in person |
| Campus Location | Lake Worth campus (in-person sections) |
| Credit Hours | 18 (certificate); 60 (A.S.) |
| Internship | Optional 3-credit summer internship; alternative is Introduction to Business |
| Programmatic Accreditation | None listed |
| Software Taught | Not clearly stated; BIM named in outcomes, no BIM course |
| Industry Certifications | None stated; PBSC issues its own course badges |
| Transfer Pathway | PBSC B.A.S. in Supervision and Management (project management concentration available) |
| Start Terms | Fall and spring |
| Tuition | $101/credit in-state; $363/credit out-of-state (incl. fees) |
Building Construction Specialist Certificate
The estimated tuition for the Building Construction Specialist certificate at Palm Beach State College is approximately $1,818 (18 credits at $101/credit).
The program can generally be completed in about 1 year (2 semesters), derived from the A.S. pathway map, where all six courses fall in the first fall and spring terms.
The Building Construction Specialist College Credit Certificate (program 6223B) is the first 18 credits of the A.S.
Certificate Curriculum
- BCN 1001 Introduction to Building Construction
- BCN 1230 Building Construction Materials and Methods
- BCN 1251 Construction Drawings 1
- BCT 1770 Construction Estimating
- BCT 2720 Construction Scheduling and Planning
- MAC 1105 College Algebra
Two of the five construction courses are estimating and scheduling, the core of an entry-level management role. The other three cover building basics, materials, and drawing reading. There is no codes, safety, or contracts course at this level; those sit in the A.S. More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- ⚠️ The math requirement conflicts across PBSC sources. The certificate catalog lists only MAC 1105 College Algebra. The A.S. pathway map says MGF 1106 or MAC 1105 earns the certificate, yet it offers MGF 1130, not MGF 1106, as the A.S. alternative. Take MAC 1105 to protect both credentials.
- PBSC markets the certificate to associate or bachelor’s holders in project management who want a construction specialty.
Certificate Internship and Field Experience
The certificate has no internship or field experience requirement. Field work at PBSC starts with the optional A.S. summer internship.
Certificate Admissions
- Open admission: high school diploma or GED
- Apply under program code 6223B
- Live online and in-person options at Lake Worth, per PBSC’s program page
Building Construction Management A.S.
The estimated tuition for the Building Construction Management A.S. at Palm Beach State College is approximately $6,060 (60 credits at $101/credit).
The program can generally be completed in about 2 years full-time, or 3 years part-time.
The Building Construction Management A.S. (program 2198B) splits into 36 core credits, 18 general education credits, a 3-credit elective, and a 3-credit technical elective.
A.S. Curriculum
Management and project controls (4 courses):
- BCT 1770 Construction Estimating
- BCT 2720 Construction Scheduling and Planning
- BCT 1706 Construction Documents
- MNA 2100 Human Relations in Business
Technical, codes, and site (8 courses):
- BCN 1001 Introduction to Building Construction and BCN 1230 Materials and Methods
- BCN 1251 and BCT 2253 Construction Drawings 1 and 2
- BCN 1760 Building Codes and Ordinances and ETI 1701 Environmental Health and Safety
- BCT 2040 Sustainable Construction
- BCT 2054 Construction Surveying Methods
General education and electives: MAC 1105 College Algebra or MGF 1130 Mathematical Reasoning, English Composition 1, speech, American Government, a humanities course, and Earth Science or Environmental Science. The elective is Introduction to the College Experience or Microcomputer Applications.
The core leans technical: 8 of 12 courses cover drawings, codes, safety, materials, surveying, and sustainability, against 4 management courses. There are no drafting, CAD, or out-of-field courses. College Algebra is the math ceiling, with a lower-level option allowed. More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- PBSC’s program description and outcomes name building information modeling, site logistics, and mobilization, but no required course carries those titles. Ask how BIM is taught and with which software.
- No construction accounting, finance, or contract law course is required.
- Students choosing MGF 1130 over College Algebra may not earn the embedded certificate and may need more math for a four-year transfer.
- The catalog lists the program at the Lake Worth campus only. PBSC’s program page adds live online sections. Whether every course runs live online each term is not clearly stated.
A.S. Internship and Field Experience
- BCN 2942 Building Construction Internship, 3 credits, summer of year one
- Elective: students may take GEB 1011 Introduction to Business instead
- Hours, pay status, and placement support: not clearly stated
- Employer partners: not named; PBSC cites industry partnerships through its federal construction grant
The internship sits in the first summer, after estimating, scheduling, codes, and drawings. That timing gives students enough coursework to be useful on a jobsite before year two. Because it is optional, a graduate can finish with no field experience at all. Students without construction work history should treat the internship as required.
A.S. Admissions
- Open admission: high school diploma or GED
- Fall and spring starts
- Apply under program code 2198B; PBSC asks applicants to attend an information session
Tuition
Palm Beach State College charges $101.00 per credit in-state for associate and certificate courses: $76.92 tuition plus $24.08 in fees. Out-of-state students pay $363.00 per credit: $303.57 tuition plus $59.43 in fees.
| Component (per credit) | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Matriculation/Tuition | $76.92 | $303.57 |
| Student Financial Aid Fee | $3.84 | $15.15 |
| Student Activity Fee | $5.78 | $5.78 |
| Capital Improvement Fee | $10.62 | $23.35 |
| Technology Fee | $3.84 | $15.15 |
| Total | $101.00 | $363.00 |
- Certificate: 18 × $101 = $1,818 in-state; 18 × $363 = $6,534 out-of-state
- A.S.: 60 × $101 = $6,060 in-state; 60 × $363 = $21,780 out-of-state
Be aware that:
- Application fee: $40, one time
- ID services fee: $5 per term
- Live online sections add $12 per course. Taking all 20 A.S. courses live online adds $240; all 6 certificate courses adds $72.
- Parking is $5 per term for in-person students.
- Course material fees may apply; PBSC lists them in Appendix A of its fee schedule. None were confirmed for these courses.
- The B.A.S. in Supervision and Management bills at $122.85 per credit in-state, a higher tier than the A.S.
- Fees may change with legislative or board action.
A Florida resident taking the full A.S. live online pays about $6,365 in tuition and required fees: $6,060 in tuition, $240 in live online fees, $40 to apply, and $25 in ID fees across five terms. Books and any course material fees come on top. Out-of-state students pay more than three times the in-state rate. View PBSC tuition and fees.
Why Choose This Construction Management Program?
Best suited for Palm Beach County students who want a low-cost construction management A.S. and need to choose between scheduled online classes and campus attendance.
Versus Broward College: Broward College runs a weekday-evening schedule in downtown Fort Lauderdale, with up to 12 of 21 A.S. courses available online. Palm Beach State offers live online sections across the program, which suits students who cannot reach a campus on weeknights. Broward offers two A.S. tracks, including one for registered apprentices with articulated credit; PBSC has one A.S. and no published apprenticeship credit.
Where PBSC falls short: students set on a construction management bachelor’s should confirm transfer credit with the target university before enrolling. PBSC’s in-house B.A.S. teaches general project management, and PBSC says graduates meet the education requirements for Project Management Institute credentials. That fits supervisors moving into management, but it is not a construction-specific degree.
Support while the grant lasts: PBSC ties the program to its U.S. Department of Labor Strengthening Community Colleges grant, which funds career coaches and industry partnerships through June 2028. Students starting later should ask what support continues after the grant ends.
Accreditation and Credentials
Palm Beach State College is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. SACSCOC accreditation makes students eligible for federal financial aid and supports credit transfer to other regionally accredited schools.
No programmatic accreditation is listed for the A.S. or certificate. The American Council for Construction Education’s associate-degree list (revision dated March 20, 2025) does not include PBSC. Programmatic accreditation is uncommon for two-year programs, so its absence is not unusual at this level.
PBSC does not state that the A.S. prepares students for an industry certification or credits toward a Florida contractor’s license. Certificate courses earn PBSC’s own completion badges, which are not third-party credentials. Students targeting PMI certifications would get that preparation in the B.A.S., not the A.S.