BUDDING builders have been warned to steer clear of dodgy online courses in a bid to avoid faulty building work.
Master Builders training and licensing manager Adam Profke said in recent years there had been a proliferation of cheap, fast online courses which threatened the reputation of the industry’s quality builders.
“Cheaper and quicker is not always better,” Mr Profke said.
“The fundamental issue is that we need to protect the future of builders and consumers. More needs to be done to protect the industry. Builders need to be protected from going broke – the consequences of carrying out dodgy building work, and consumers need to be protected so that they can enjoy quality workmanship.
“The levels of depth needed to become a builder cannot be afforded with just a quick online course. Nothing beats the knowledge that can be acquired with in-person training.”
Mr Profke said there had been a number of students who had approached Master Builders because they were disgruntled with online training.
“Downloading a pdf and then uploading assessments does not make for a properly trained builder – but this is what happens with most online courses,” Mr Profke said.
“In the long-run, if builders don’t know what they are talking about then it will kill off the SME build industry and consumer confidence.”
