NAHB Education Courses
Take NAHB Courses Before the Show Begins
Make more of your Builders’ Show experience and register for pre-show education*.
These courses, offered by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), give participants the chance to increase their skill sets by delving deep into industry topics, all while earning NAHB CEUs.
When you register to attend an NAHB Course, you receive a free IBS Expo Pass** to access 1,700+ IBS Exhibitors, live demos and more on the IBS 2027 show floor. Continue your industry learning throughout the show by upgrading to an Expo+Education Pass.
*Requires a separate registration fee.
**Good for new online registrations. Cannot be applied retroactively to an existing registration.
NAHB Education is sponsored by Lowe's.
Enhance Your Expertise with One-Day Courses
Twenty-one pre-show courses will be held before the start of IBS 2027 at the Encore Hotel in Las Vegas.
Course instructors encourage student collaboration and participation, as they know industry experience that is shared plays a crucial role in the classroom and retaining the knowledge learned.
Check out the list of 2027 pre-show courses*
*Information subject to change.
Saturday, Jan 30
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Encore Hotel
Grow your aging-in-place business with the communication and marketing skills today's homeowners need. In this interactive live course, learn how to attract more clients, build trust with older adults and conduct consultations that lead to better project outcomes. Gain practical strategies you can use immediately while earning credit toward your CAPS credential.
All ages can benefit from more usable and accessible home features, whether they're in a multi-generational setting, accommodating visitors, recovering from a temporary illness or injury, or providing caregiving.
Most homeowners will need to revitalize their home environment to achieve these goals. Identifying this burgeoning opportunity and then developing the skills to interact with this market can help you grow your business dramatically.
This course equips participants with the knowledge and tools to effectively market and sell services to the aging-in-place (AIP) market.
Course Fees
- Council - $269
- NAHB Member - $279
- Non-Member - $379
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Encore Hotel
This course is designed for building industry professionals who wish to teach NAHB’s instructor-led classroom courses; industry experts or experienced teachers who have had no formal education in training; and any trainers who want a refresher to improve their classroom training skills. You'll learn the skills needed to effectively teach in the NAHB Education curriculum.
Course Fees
- Council - $399
- NAHB Member - $399
- Non-Member - $599
Sunday, Jan 31
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Encore Hotel
Create safer, more comfortable homes that support aging in place while growing your business. In this interactive live course, learn practical design strategies, project planning considerations and construction solutions for livable homes and aging-in-place clients. Gain the skills needed to modify existing homes, design new construction solutions and earn credit toward your NAHB Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) credential.
Course Fees
- Council - $269
- NAHB Member - $279
- Non-Member - $379
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Encore Hotel
Turn estimating from guesswork into a precision instrument. In this course, you’ll learn how to move from scope definition to quantity takeoffs to fully developed costs with clarity and confidence. Walk away with a structured approach you can use immediately to build accurate, reliable estimates that support smarter bids and stronger project outcomes.
Course Fees
- Council - $169
- NAHB Member - $199
- Non-Member - $279
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Encore Hotel
Becoming a land developer is not for the meek. But successful land development can substantially increase revenue and profit for smaller builders. This course will introduce participants to the land acquisition and development process and explore the crucial first steps to becoming a successful developer. You will develop strategies for finding land development opportunities for small projects (2 – 50 lots) and discuss which business structure is best for your business. Participants will get a balanced perspective on what it takes to develop land and, more importantly, learn approaches to limit risk and maximize profits. The level of content in this course is for the novice learner.
Course Fees
- Council - $169
- NAHB Member - $199
- Non-Member - $279
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Encore Hotel
This course is designed for professionals seeking to navigate the evolving landscape of land development with cutting-edge tools and strategies. Participants will explore the impact of market disruptors, leverage emerging technologies for smart acquisition, and master planning and zoning in complex environments. The course also delves into innovative financial structuring, risk management and execution strategies, culminating in real-world case studies that illustrate successful development from concept to completion. Ideal for developers, planners and real estate professionals, this course equips participants to lead with innovation, resilience and strategic foresight.
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Analyze market disruptors—including affordability, migration, climate change, and remote work—and assess their implications for land development.
- Utilize advanced digital tools such as AI-powered scouting, GIS analysis and blockchain to evaluate land feasibility and acquisition opportunities.
- Navigate planning and zoning complexities, including environmental constraints and public engagement strategies, to optimize entitlement processes.
- Design innovative financial structures using tools like pro forma modeling, ESG bonds and smart contracts while managing legal and regulatory risks.
- Implement effective execution strategies through construction management platforms, infrastructure coordination and phased development planning.
- Develop branding and exit strategies tailored to various disposition models such as Build-to-Rent (BTR), joint ventures and pad sales.
Course Fees
- Council - $169
- NAHB Member - $199
- Non-Member - $279
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Encore Hotel
A strong marketing foundation is the basis of a successful marketing program, much like a well-built foundation ensures a home stands the test of time. Designed for home builders, this course focuses on building a strong marketing foundation — your website, branding and content — and how to use marketing strategy and tactics to engage potential home buyers and turn them into leads. Learn how public relations, social media, video, design, email marketing, photography and graphic design capture and engage today’s consumers. Additional advice on crafting an effective marketing budget is also covered.
Course Fees
- Council - $169
- NAHB Member - $199
- Non-Member - $279
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Encore Hotel
Turn your numbers into a profit engine instead of a post-mortem report. In this course, you’ll learn how to connect estimates, budgets and accounting into a clear job costing system that exposes real costs, protects margins and keeps every project financially on track from start to finish.
Course Fees
- Council - $169
- NAHB Member - $199
- Non-Member - $279
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Encore Hotel
Elevate your digital presence and drive more new home sales. Designed specifically for the home building industry, this overview course will guide you through the essentials of creating a website optimized for lead capture. Learn how to make key technology selections, build trust, and develop compelling calls to action that engage and convert potential home buyers. The course also touches on effective strategies for driving targeted traffic to your site, including SEO, paid search and social media. Whether you're looking to fine-tune your existing website or embarking on a new digital journey, this course offers valuable insights to help you maximize lead generation and turn prospects into home buyers.
Course Fees
- Council - $169
- NAHB Member - $199
- Non-Member - $279
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Encore Hotel
Learn the management skills that give building professionals the edge.
This course will give you a solid foundation for managing employees in small- to medium-sized building/home remodeling and construction service companies. Work closely with industry professionals to learn critical elements, from planning to evaluating progress, and receive practical tips and tools for building a business successfully.
You’ll get a solid grasp of industry best practices and gain knowledge of practical tools of value whether you are a new or experienced owner.
Course Fees
- Council - $269
- NAHB Member - $279
- Non-Member - $379
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Encore Hotel
A quality home is more than great design or energy efficiency. Learn how to evaluate residential construction through a balanced approach that combines durability, livability, sustainability, efficiency and affordability. Discover how to deliver lasting value to homeowners while confidently communicating quality to buyers, lenders, insurers and other industry professionals.
What makes a truly quality home? Is it energy efficiency? Durability? Affordability? While each plays an important role, exceptional homes balance all these elements to create lasting value for homeowners.
In this course, explore NAHB’s framework for defining and evaluating quality in residential construction. Rather than focusing on a single feature or code requirement, learn how efficiency, sustainability, durability, livability and affordability work together to create homes that perform better and meet homeowners' long-term needs.
Examine how perceptions of quality differ among builders, home buyers, lenders, insurers, appraisers and regulators. Learn practical strategies for communicating the value of a well-designed, well-built home.
Through real-world examples, discover how thoughtful design and construction decisions can improve performance while balancing upfront construction costs with long-term ownership costs.
Leave able to evaluate homes using a comprehensive quality framework, identify opportunities to enhance performance and affordability and confidently demonstrate the lasting value of quality residential construction.
Course Fees
- Council - $269
- NAHB Member - $279
- Non-Member - $379
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Encore Hotel
Turn residential construction project chaos into a well-orchestrated build. In this course, you’ll learn how to manage projects from first concept to final walkthrough using proven project management principles, practical tools and modern workflows, including how AI and evolving Google search behaviors are reshaping how project information is found, tracked and communicated. Walk away with systems you can use immediately to keep projects aligned, on budget and on schedule.
Course Fees
- Council - $269
- NAHB Member - $279
- Non-Member - $379
Monday, Feb 1
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Encore Hotel
Transform aging-in-place concepts into practical design solutions that improve safety, comfort and independence for homeowners. In this interactive live course, learn how to evaluate client needs, select appropriate products, develop whole-house strategies and create cost-conscious solutions for aging-in-place projects. Gain hands-on skills you can apply immediately while earning credit toward your NAHB Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) credential. curve in this ever-expanding market.
Course Fees
- Council - $269
- NAHB Member - $279
- Non-Member - $379
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Encore Hotel
Turn scheduling from a daily headache into your project’s control tower. In this course, you’ll learn how to build clear, realistic timelines that keep trades aligned, prevent delays and keep jobs moving from kickoff to closeout. Walk away with practical tools you can use immediately to plan smarter, track progress with confidence and deliver projects on time.
Course Fees
- Council - $169
- NAHB Member - $199
- Non-Member - $279
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Encore Hotel
Run your residential construction projects like a well-tuned machine. In this course, you’ll learn how to use project controls as your daily command system to anticipate issues, keep teams aligned and guide every home from preconstruction to warranty with clarity and control. Walk away with practical tools you can use immediately to track progress, document decisions and deliver consistent, high-quality outcomes.
Course Fees
- Council - $169
- NAHB Member - $199
- Non-Member - $279
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Encore Hotel
Take the next step to becoming a small volume land developer by exploring actual site planning and preliminary platting. In this course, you will learn about the typical approval and final platting process through a governing authority. We will also discuss construction of improvements and getting the property ready to sell or develop. The level of content in this course is for individuals new to the land development process.
Course Fees
- Council - $169
- NAHB Member - $199
- Non-Member - $279
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Encore Hotel
The financial score card, or measurement of an owner’s or a company’s success, is based on managing your finances effectively. This course provides you with the basics of financial planning, budgeting, construction business accounting, job cost systems, and financing options that will enable you to track and analyze cost of goods, overhead, and individual job costs as well as communicate about them effectively. Topics include accounting terminology, a chart of accounts, types of records and reports to be maintained, and loan products that can provide financing alternatives.
Course Fees
- Council - $169
- NAHB Member - $199
- Non-Member - $279
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Encore Hotel
This course is designed to increase understanding–of oneself, one’s company, the competition (both new and existing), and of course, of the customer. To succeed, you must deconstruct the equation “Demand – Supply = Opportunity.” Emphasis is placed on preparation, the foundation of super-achievement. The entire sales process is presented as a sustainable, repeatable, and achievable method that enhances the customer experience.
After completing this course, participants will be able to:
- Create clear, attainable personal and professional development goals that align with your career trajectory and can be tracked for progress within a defined timeframe.
- Systematically organize and streamline recurring tasks essential to the role of a New Home Sales Professional to enhance efficiency and consistency.
- Utilize competitive analysis tools to regularly assess and benchmark your performance against industry peers and market trends.
- Apply adaptive sales techniques tailored to effectively engage and convert clients with diverse personality types.
Course Fees
- Council - $269
- NAHB Member - $279
- Non-Member - $379
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Encore Hotel
In the construction and remodeling industry, success is not just about craftsmanship—it's about understanding the numbers that drive your business. This course is designed to help small-volume builders and remodelers take control of their financial future by learning how to plan strategically, manage cash flow, and make informed decisions based on real data.
Through the lens of real-world examples and practical tools, including pro formas, income statements, and balance sheets, you’ll learn how to align your business goals with your personal aspirations. Whether you're looking to grow your company, improve profitability, or plan for retirement, this course will give you the financial insight and confidence to lead your business with clarity and purpose.
After completing this course, participants will be able to:
- Develop and analyze a business financial plan that integrates personal and professional goals using SMART criteria.
- Apply financial ratios and break-even analysis to evaluate performance, manage risk, and guide strategic decisions.
- Create and use pro forma budgets to forecast revenue, plan for growth, and test the financial impact of business changes.
- Calculate and manage labor burden to ensure accurate job costing and improve gross profit margins.
- Use variance analysis and job costing tools to identify slippage, improve estimating accuracy, and maintain profitability.
Course Fees
- Council - $269
- NAHB Member - $279
- Non-Member - $379
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Encore Hotel
This course explains building science principles and demonstrates how to cost-effectively apply them to home building practices. It also address construction techniques to increase the efficiency, comfort and durability of a home in each climate zone. You examine how building envelopes can be optimized for each climate zone to maximize home performance in remodeling projects. If you are a builder, remodeler, developer, architect, designer or construction trades and associated industry professional, this could will help you find cost effective, high performance building practices that are applicable to your building zone.
Course Fees
- Council - $269
- NAHB Member - $279
- Non-Member - $379
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Encore Hotel
A quality home is more than great design or energy efficiency. Learn how to evaluate residential construction through a balanced approach that combines durability, livability, sustainability, efficiency and affordability. Discover how to deliver lasting value to homeowners while confidently communicating quality to buyers, lenders, insurers and other industry professionals.
What makes a truly quality home? Is it energy efficiency? Durability? Affordability? While each plays an important role, exceptional homes balance all these elements to create lasting value for homeowners.
In this course, explore NAHB’s framework for defining and evaluating quality in residential construction. Rather than focusing on a single feature or code requirement, learn how efficiency, sustainability, durability, livability and affordability work together to create homes that perform better and meet homeowners' long-term needs.
Course Fees
- Council - $269
- NAHB Member - $279
- Non-Member - $379
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