10 Best Online Courses To Upskill as a Highway Engineer in the USA

Why Do Highway Engineers Need to Upskill in 2025

What is highway engineering in 2025? It's no longer just about planning or constructing roads. Today’s engineers must understand data-driven planning, material performance, digital workflows like BIM, environmental resilience, and even traffic automation systems.

Key reasons why you need to explore highway engineering online courses this year:

• Smart Infrastructure Integration: Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), digital twins, and sensor-based maintenance are becoming standard.
  
  
• Green Design Mandates: New climate policies demand awareness of LEED-compliant materials and low-carbon road solutions.
  
  
• Career Boost: The average highway engineer salary in USA ranges from $61,000 to $100,000 depending on experience and specialization.
  
  
• Credential Recognition: Certifications from ASCE, NICET, or Novatr significantly improve job mobility and promotion potential.

The upskilling journey begins with the right training. Let’s explore the leading online highway engineering training in USA.

List of Top 10 Online Courses & Certifications For Highway Engineers in USA

Whether you're a beginner or a licensed professional, these top-rated courses will help you upskill in areas like BIM, geometric design, QA/QC, and traffic operations, aligning with the evolving needs of U.S. highway engineering. 

Best Online Courses & Certifications for Highway Design Engineers

Read through the best highway engineering course programs that would enhance your skills in road planning, road network, and BIM technology. 

1. BIM Professional Course for Civil and Highway Engineers by Novatr

Novatr’s BIM Professional Course for Civil and Highway Engineers stands out as the best course for highway design engineer aiming to lead in BIM-based infrastructure planning. This 7-month program delivers hands-on training in Revit, InfraWorks, Navisworks, and ISO 19650, with real-world U.S. highway project simulations and global BIM standards.

Key USPs:

• Tailored for civil and highway engineers transitioning from CAD to BIM
  
  
• Covers Revit, InfraWorks, Navisworks, and ISO 19650 workflows
  
  
• Project-based learning with live mentorship from industry experts
  
  
• Simulations of U.S.-based highway infrastructure for practical skill-building
  
  
• Helps build a job-ready BIM portfolio aligned with global design standards
  
  
• Ideal for engineers aiming for international roles in infrastructure firms

Compared to inspection and compliance-focused courses, Novatr equips engineers with design, modelling, and coordination expertise, making it the ideal upskilling choice for modern highway professionals.

2. NICET Highway Construction Inspection Certification (Levels I–IV)

NICET’s highway engineering courses with certification are ideal for on-site QA/QC Levels I-IV, which the DOTs have identified as core inspection, safety, and compliance core competencies. They are an essential part of the construction and fieldwork environment for engineers who want to be in supervisory positions in construction work and fieldwork.

3. University of Louisville Graduate Certificate in Transportation Engineering

This online transportation engineering certificate is a 12-credit course that combines traffic design, law, and materials. It is an employer-recognized, flexible program designed to offer academic depth and career advancement in the U.S. infrastructure planning field of highway engineering.

4. Highway Geometry and Pavement Design

As one of the foundational highway engineering training courses, this program teaches cross-section design, geometric planning, and pavement layer composition. Mastery here allows engineers to ensure safe, efficient, and structurally sound routes for both urban and rural networks.

5. Highway Engineering Course – Udemy

One of the most affordable highway engineering courses, this Udemy program focuses on sight distance, road alignment, and pavement design. Great for students and beginners, it includes lifetime access, technical examples, and a completion certificate. It also introduces learners to the highway engineering course syllabus, offering a clear roadmap for further specialization.

6. Transportation Systems Engineering – MIT OpenCourseWare

This is a tough, self-paced course by MIT that delves into the depth of modelling, cost-benefit, and policy of highway infrastructure. Perfect for a truly interested engineer seeking a comprehensive knowledge of transport systems, not limited to road design and construction fundamentals.

7. ASCE Civil Infrastructure Certificate

The certificate issued under the CEU-based civil infrastructural certificate of ASCE provides modules in construction, asset management, and highway design. This upskilling route is ideal for licensed professionals who require PDHs and develop niche experience in civil and highway engineering.

8. Geometric Design for Highways

Highway geometric design concentrates on the practical arrangements of the road, curves, gradients, and widths of the lanes. It is safe and visible to ensure a comfortable movement of vehicles as the design requirements align with driver behaviours and speed regulation principles and regulations.

9. AutoCAD Civil 3D for Highway Engineering – CADD Centre

This course is specific and based on the AutoCAD Civil 3D module of highway work, which would comprise profiles, drainage, and alignments. It is relevant to engineers who develop road designs for municipalities and DOTs in the USA.

10. Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE) Certification – ITE

The PTOE certification is a premier credential for senior traffic engineers. It validates expertise in ITS, traffic signals, and urban mobility essential for professionals handling freeway operations or leading transportation projects in cities.

What Choose Novatr?

• Trusted by Thousands: Join 6,000+ BIM learners from over 45 countries who have successfully graduated from Novatr.
  
  
• Expert-Driven Curriculum: Designed through the analysis of 1,000+ job descriptions and rigorously vetted by 200+ global BIM experts.
  
  
• Globally Recognized Certifications: Earn certifications from both Autodesk and Novatr, showcasing your verified expertise.
  
  
• Proven Career Impact: Learners report an average salary hike of 48% after course completion.
  
  
• Loved by BIM Learners: We have 4.6+ average rating across platforms like Google and Trustpilot.