3D Visualization has revolutionized the way buildings and spaces are designed, constructed, operated and maintained. Evaluating how and where to employ it efficiently and successfully is an emerging in-demand skill set. The 3D Visualization for the Built Environment microcredential will provide you with skills development in Building Information Modeling (BIM), 3D Rendering Tools, GIS, Digital Twins and Virtual Reality/3D Printing applications for design, presentation, construction and ongoing operations and maintenance of buildings and spaces.
This three-day course introduces the core principles of building science, emphasizing how residential buildings function as integrated systems. Participants will explore heat transfer, air leakage, moisture control, and strategies to protect the building envelope through theory, case studies, and practical examples. Topics include air and vapor barriers, condensation, energy performance, and the role of integrated design in creating high-performance, low-carbon housing. Designed for professionals in construction, renovation, and retrofitting, the training provides a strong foundation for building durable, energy-efficient homes suited to the Canadian climate.
Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program.
The Essentials of Community Energy and Emissions Management microcredential offers a comprehensive and practical approach to understanding and implementing energy-efficient and clean energy solutions in communities. On-site renewable energy, zero-emission energy-efficient buildings, and zero-carbon transportation are the key themes of this program. This microcredential centers on learning how to create a Community Energy and Emissions Management Plan (CEEP), providing the foundational knowledge and skills needed to address the challenges of energy use and emissions in community planning and management.
This microcredential is ideal for professionals in the fields of urban planning, engineering, environmental science, and public administration. It is also beneficial for individuals looking to enhance their expertise in sustainable community development and energy management.
The Essentials Net-Zero and Passive House Construction microcredential is for individuals who want to gain the skills and knowledge to construct high-performance buildings to meet the BC Energy Step Code, Net-Zero Energy, and Passive House standards. Every industry practitioner will benefit from an applied understanding of the unique requirements of Net-Zero and Passive House design and construction.
The microcredential contains the essentials needed for understanding building enclosures, electrical and mechanical systems, and processes and considerations for these new codes and standards. The microcredential consists of four courses using practical examples of wood- framed construction from seasoned industry leaders. An optional hands-on lab course is available for those interested. This program is delivered online and is offered on a course-by-course basis.
Upon completion, learners will have:
The Improving Your Home’s Energy Efficiency microcredential introduces participants to building science fundamentals, focusing on heat, air, and moisture flow. Learners explore insulation and air-sealing techniques, material selection, and the performance of energy-efficient windows, doors, and basic HVAC systems, along with an overview of National Building Code requirements. Training is offered in two formats: a 15-hour online asynchronous course for up to 20 participants, and a 15-hour, two-day in-person workshop at Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Prince Albert campus, offered four times for up to 80 total participants. The in-person option emphasizes hands-on experience, interaction, collaboration, and real-time feedback in a structured learning environment using carpentry facilities. The program targets trades professionals, particularly HVAC technicians and carpenters, seeking to enhance their energy-efficiency and building science skills.
Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program.
This microcredential introduces participants to the construction trades sector, focusing on the essential principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Participants will learn to value the varied backgrounds and perspectives that team members bring to the job site and develop skills to identify and mitigate biases that can affect team performance. Through self-reflection and the examination of real-world examples and EDI initiatives, participants will gain the tools necessary to lead by example and cultivate a culture of belonging and allyship. This course combines face-to-face and online learning in a blended model.
This training supports learners in all trades to prevent, analyze, and fix issues with the building envelope that affect energy efficiency. Collaborative communication and respectful work are essential to the concept of house as a system, where all trades work together during the construction of a home to create the most energy-efficient product. The training will introduce solid building science with the intent of making tradespeople more informed about the importance of their work and how that work affects the other trades and impacts the performance of the home as a whole.
Employees in trades such as construction, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing, will gain skills and knowledge regarding energy efficiency in residential and commercial buildings. This upskilling opportunity will ensure employees have the necessary skills and abilities to perform their duties in an energy efficient and net zero environment.
In this course, you will learn to develop an effective framework for monitoring and evaluating construction projects using widely accepted industry methodologies, along with sustainable and equitable management practices. While the course is designed for individuals with experience in the construction sector who wish to expand their skills, prior experience is not a requirement. However, for optimal success, it is recommended but not mandatory, that participants have one of the following: three to five years of experience in the construction sector; a Red Seal in a construction-related field; or a certificate or diploma from a recognized construction-related program.
Canada’s residential, commercial, and institutional buildings account for 18% of our national greenhouse gas emissions. The adoption of zero-emission energy sources such as solar photovoltaic (PV), as an alternative to fossil fuels, represents a key part of Canada’s 2030 Emission Reduction Plan. This course provides students with foundational theory on solar photovoltaic technology and systems. Students learn the science behind how the sun’s energy is converted into electricity, the theory behind solar PV system operation, and the characteristics of different solar PV systems, components, and equipment.
This microcredential seeks to introduce students who have construction experience to the mass timber industry, and explore some of the fundamental features and tools associated with mass timber construction. The 5.0-credit microcredential is designed to provide students who have a background in construction with an introduction to the burgeoning more specialized field of mass timber construction. It will be of interest to carpenters, ironworkers, quantity surveyors, estimators, construction managers, 3-D modelers, developers, manufacturers, and designers. Virtually anyone within the construction field with an interest in expanding their expertise to mass timber.
This microcredential is relevant for tradespeople, such as Carpenters and Ironworkers, as well as those who design construction projects, such as Architects, Estimators, Digital Modelers and Engineers. It is relevant for those who plan projects (owners, developers, construction managers) and those who have other related connections like Building Officials. The connecting thread is construction, and the application is across the spectrum of roles.
In this 30-hour online course, Mass Timber Products and Systems, you’ll explore the fundamentals of mass timber manufacturing, building systems, and their real-world applications. This instructor-guided course is ideal if you work in forestry, manufacturing, construction, skilled trades, project management, or engineering and design, and want to expand your understanding of mass timber to help you identify, select and integrate various mass timber products and systems into current or future projects. Complete this prerequisite course, the second Sustainable Mass Timber Construction course, and the third Technology in Mass Timber Design and Construction course to earn SAIT’s Sustainable Mass Timber Construction and Design Certificate of Completion. Receive a SAITMicro digital badge if you meet the earning criteria for this microcredential.
Residential Building Science Fundamentals introduces professionals to essential building science principles and the “House as a System” approach, showing how water, air, heat, and vapour interact to affect home performance. This microcredential course explores material selection for climate-resilient construction, strategies for passive heating and cooling, indoor environmental quality, and methods for measuring and reducing operational and embodied carbon. Building a strong foundation in residential performance is the first step toward successful deep energy retrofits.
Learners will engage in 24 hours of learning over three weeks, combining instructor-led virtual sessions with online self-study. Interactive discussions, assignments, and practical exercises help you connect technical knowledge to real-world residential projects.
The Supervising Net-Zero and Passive House Construction microcredential is for individuals in the construction industry, or those who have recently completed a related construction program, who are seeking to gain the skills, knowledge, and tools unique to supervising construction on Net-Zero, Net-Zero-Ready, or Passive House construction projects.
Whether they want to coordinate and supervise smaller teams and sub-trades on smaller projects (Part 9 buildings) or work with larger teams on complex projects (larger Part 9 or Part 3 wood-frame buildings), learners will develop their ability to manage compliance with the performance requirements of BC Energy Step Code and Net-Zero Energy and Passive House standards and prepare for the upcoming changes to the National Building Code.
The microcredential consists of five courses that build upon each other in knowledge and focus on practical examples in wood-frame buildings. Upon completion, learners will have:
In this 30-hour online course, Sustainable Mass Timber Construction, you’ll explore sustainable forestry practices, mass timber production, and the supply chain. Learn to assess environmental impacts through life cycle analysis and manage every phase of a mass timber project—from design to close-out—with a focus on project management and safety. Instructor-supported, this course is for professionals in construction, project management, sustainability, or building compliance who want to adopt sustainable mass timber practices. Complete prerequisite course, Mass Timber Products and Systems, this course, and the third course, Technology in Mass Timber Design and Construction, to earn SAIT’s Sustainable Mass Timber Construction and Design Certificate of Completion. Receive a SAITMicro digital badge if you meet the earning criteria for this microcredential.
In this 45-hour online course, Technology in Mass Timber Design and Construction, you’ll explore mass timber design and construction principles, including biophilic design, industrialized construction methods, and Building Information Modeling (BIM). Learn to analyze designs, estimate material costs, and manage project stages and team dynamics for successful outcomes. This course is ideal for professionals in architecture, engineering, design, BIM, cost estimating, or project management, equipping you to integrate modular and prefabricated elements into sustainable designs. Complete this course and prerequisite courses—Mass Timber Products and Systems and Sustainable Mass Timber Construction—to earn SAIT’s Sustainable Mass Timber Construction and Design Certificate of Completion. Receive a SAITMicro digital badge if you meet the earning criteria for this microcredential.
The Whole-Building Life Cycle Assessment Professional microcredential provides the knowledge and skills needed to effectively use LCA in design decisions for works of construction. Developed in partnership with the Athena Sustainable Materials Institute, this microcredential consists of four courses delivered online by experienced LCA professionals through a combination of self-paced work and virtual live lectures.
Learners will gain foundational knowledge of life cycle thinking, embodied carbon, and LCA standards and methods that they will apply as they conduct whole-building LCAs and calculate the carbon impact of building materials using Athena’s free LCA software. Learners will complete the microcredential with a final project where they will undertake a thorough whole-building LCA and produce a comprehensive report in compliance with the national guidelines on whole-building LCA.
