NAHB Education Courses
Take NAHB Courses Before the Show Begins
The 2026 NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
Registration opens September 2.
Make more of your Builders’ Show experience and register for pre-show education. Pre-show education requires a separate registration fee.
Fifteen pre-show courses were held before the start of IBS 2025 at the Encore Hotel. These courses, offered by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), gave participants the chance to increase their skill sets by delving deep into industry topics, all while earning NAHB CEUs, and in some cases continuing education for AIA and AIBD. Course instructors encouraged student collaboration and participation, as they know that industry experience that is shared plays a crucial role in the classroom and retaining the knowledge learned.
NAHB Education is sponsored by Lowe's for Pros.
| PRE-SHOW FEES AND CANCELLATION POLICIES |
Check out the list of 2026 pre-show courses*.
*Information subject to change.
Saturday, Feb 14
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Hilton, Bayhill 17-18
Millions of Americans are living longer, more active lives and re-examining their assumptions on what growing older looks like. Many are choosing to remain in the home they love.
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
Sunday, Feb 15
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Hilton, Bayhill 17-18
Design Concepts and Methods for Livable Homes and Aging in Place (CAPS II) prepares you to take on the AIP market intentionally by focusing your business to address the unique challenges of providing successful solutions and outcome.
Course Fees
- Council - $269
- NAHB Member - $279
- Non-Member - $379
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Hilton, Bayhill 25-26
This revised (2022) half day course will focus specifically on Estimating. The ability to effectively prepare for a project is vital to your success. Project preparation consists of multiple processes that work together and, when performed effectively, increase your efficiency and profitability, improve client satisfaction and enhance team and vendor relationships. Come away with the knowledge and skills to perform one of of the critical processes in project preparation: estimating costs.
Course Fees
- Council - $169
- NAHB Member - $199
- Non-Member - $279
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Hilton, Bayhill 25-26
The ability to effectively prepare for a project is vital to the success of any business. Project preparation consists of multiple processes that work together and, when performed effectively, enable you to increase your efficiency, achieve greater client satisfaction, enhance team and vendor relationships, and protect profitability. This course provides you with the knowledge base and skills to perform one of the critical processes in project preparation: creating the schedule to complete the project.
Course Fees
- Council - $169
- NAHB Member - $199
- Non-Member - $279
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Hilton, Bayhill 23-24
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
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Hilton, Bayhill 22
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 | Hilton, Bayhill 27
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 | Hilton, Bayhill 19-20
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the project management principles and techniques needed to efficiently complete ambitious goals set out by your organization and clients. You will learn the fundamentals of managing projects successfully, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget and to the satisfaction of stakeholders.
Through this course, you will explore the role of a project manager across all phases of a project: pre-construction, construction and post-construction. Topics include effective project planning, risk management, resource allocation and the management of trade contractors. By the end of the course, you will have a solid foundation in project management strategies, enabling you to oversee projects with confidence.
After completing this course, participants will be able to:
- Develop project management skills specific to the home building industry
- Discuss necessary skills to effectively plan, execute, and deliver successful construction projects
- Evaluate the project manager's role across pre-construction, construction, and post-construction phases
- Explore essential project management tools and techniques for risk management
- Utilize effective strategies for the effective management of trade contractors
Course Fees
- Council - $269
- NAHB Member - $279
- Non-Member - $379
Monday, Feb 16
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Hilton, Bayhill 17-18
Details and Solutions for Livable Homes and Aging in Place (CAPS III) presents detailed discussions about the application and integration of design solutions in a home. It is the final step toward developing comprehensive knowledge and honed skill for staying ahead of the curve in this ever-expanding market.
Course Fees
- Council - $269
- NAHB Member - $279
- Non-Member - $379
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Hilton, Bayhill (TBD)
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 | Hilton, Bayhill 19-20
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
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Hilton, Bayhill 19-20
This three-hour course focuses on Job Costing in residential construction. Job Costing is the process of tracking and analyzing the costs associated with each element in a specific project. Job Costing plays an important role in residential home building and remodeling because it provides builders with accurate information about the costs associated with each project. By understanding the key components and types of costs involved in Job Costing, builders can accurately track and analyze the costs associated with each project. This information can be used to make informed decisions about pricing, resource allocation and profitability.
Course Fees
- Council - $169
- NAHB Member - $199
- Non-Member - $279
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Hilton, Bayhill 25-26
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 | Hilton, Bayhill 25-26
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 | Hilton, Bayhill 22
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 | Hilton, Bayhill 23-24
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 | Hilton, Bayhill 27
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
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