Educational Revit LT licence for self-taught individual?

[Anonymous]

Hello not sure that this is the right forum to ask this question.. but I'll go ahead.

At the job we are in a difficult period right now, facing the transition to Revit (helplessly?). It's happening but it's not happening at all at the same time, the private sector is moving at lightning speed but not the public sector, not the lower branches of it. (which I am in)

Some people including me and the manager are starting to sweat a little because we are so far behind. The budgets are hard to get in order to buy licences as well as budgets for formations --> we currently have literally zero 3D BIM models in use right now. They exist for some of our newer buildings but at a higher level then us. We are told to start the transition anyway and we have 10 years to do it. Including 1 year already gone with zero results, so it's 9 years. 

Bottomline: People are talking a lot about it right now but it's all talk no actions, we  have zero modeling or BIM management experience in this team as far as I know and no money (yet) to go full steam ahead. 

**

I decided to take the matter in my own hands since the process is way too slow, learning Revit modeling for Architecture with the book "Revit 2024 For Architecture - No experience required". I am a 2D AutoCAD drafter right now, maintaining architecture floor plans for our buildings (and many other Autocad related tasks) I do some 2D electrical/mechanical drawing occasionally.

I need to have a Revit licence, most likely Revit LT working for a couple of months to learn. Is there a way to get an educational licence for en extended period without being part of an official school or program? There is a Demo that will work for 30 days but it's not enough time.

Is there a way for us to get a couple of educational licences in Canada for some time?  

Thanks

[tkunsmanWKCCM]

Not sure about Canada, but here in the US the only educational licenses are for students actually enrolled in school. And yes, the trial version as you mentioned is only good for 30 days.

So, if you and your firm are under pressure to switch your firm might have to make a budget to get a license (or two). Talk to your AutoCAD reseller as Autodesk (or your reseller) might be able to offer you some payment plan options. Worth a discussion at least.

As for learning it, the book is a good start, and there are lots of resources on YouTube along with other sites.

[Anonymous]

Hemm ok that is what I thought. I looked at the educational licence download page and they ask for all the school credentials and evidences.

It's not that we have no money really, we don't have access to the budgets for that yet. 

Thanks. 

[RSomppi]

FYI, after the trial period, you still have access to the viewer which is only limited in ability to save or print. 

[Anonymous]

Ok i'll have the viewer after the end of the demo. 

Meanwhile I received an e-mail from the manager telling me that he will ask for budget in about 1 week, i'll have to be patient for a week apparently. 

If this works,  i'll be here often during my learning process of the software. (probably). i can't wait to figure out how this will reshape my job.

[RSomppi]

Use that budget for some formal training. It will give you the groundwork for further self-study or training. I did eight hours of essential training twice because after the first time, we only did one project and it was nearly a year before we started another one and everyone was required to redo the courses.

[Anonymous]

@RSomppi 

Ok I keep your advice for the initial training and keeping some budget for that, yes. It would be better then self-taught for sure. 

Our use of Revit is unclear right now, it's more about the part where we manage our buildings using BIM. We are the client, all the large projects made with BIM, are made by private architectural firms, we are not part of directly building the projects in Revit. 

IMO, our role will be more about the post-construction phase of BIM where we might, update the models, keeping them alive and perhaps using them to manage the buildings. Either way we are not a architect's or engineer's office, actually doing it.