The Best Engineering Webinar Communities to Join

engineering webinar communities to join Written by: Jordan Ellis, PE
Published: November 20, 2025

I became a licensed Professional Engineer more than 15 years ago. Early in my career, my “professional development” was a lonely, last-minute scramble to get my PDH hours. I’d sit through a boring, pre-recorded webinar, get my certificate, and learn absolutely nothing.

It took me a decade to figure out the secret: learning shouldn’t be a solo activity.

The real value in engineering education isn’t just the content; it’s the community. It’s the Q&A after the presentation, the “hallway track” at a conference, and the shared knowledge of your peers. A webinar is just a video. A webinar community is a strategic resource.

If you’re still just “collecting PDHs” on your own, you’re missing the single best part of your development. You’re not just a professional; you’re part of a profession. It’s time to start acting like it.

Here is my practical, PE-to-PE guide to the best engineering webinar communities to join to advance your skills, build your network, and actually get value out of your required training.

Why a “Community” Is Better Than Just “Webinars”

Think about the last “free” vendor webinar you attended. It was a 60-minute sales pitch for a product you probably don’t need, and you spent the whole time checking your email.

Now, think about the last time you were in a room (or a virtual breakout session) with 20 other engineers all struggling with the same complex structural code provision. That’s where the real learning happens.

A webinar community is different from a simple webinar provider.

A provider sells you content.
A community connects you with people.

In a good online community, the webinar is just the starting point. The real value is the discussion forum, the online library of resources, and the ability to contact other industry professionals who are wrestling with the same technical challenges.

When you join a community, you’re not just buying a course. You’re investing in a network.

1. Your Professional Organization (ASCE, ASME, IEEE, etc.)

This is the most obvious, and most overlooked, community for all engineering professionals.

ASCE’s eLearning Webinars: If you’re a civil engineer, your ASCE membership is your golden ticket. Their ASCE’s eLearning webinars are top-notch. But the real value is in the ASCE Institutes (like the Structural Engineering Institute). When you join an institute, you’re not just a random member; you’re part of a focused technical community. You get access to a webinar series tailored to your exact practice.
ASME (Mechanical) & IEEE (Electrical): It’s the same story. These organizations aren’t just a magazine subscription. They are massive hubs for technical knowledge. Their webinars are taught by the same professionals who write the codes and standards. Your membership gets you access to this high-level community.

My take: Your professional organization should be your first stop. Your dues are already paying for it. Stop ignoring their emails and start participating in their events webinars.

2. ASEE Learning: For the Engineer as Educator

This one is a bit different, but it’s critical for any PE in a leadership role. ASEE is the American Society for Engineering Education.

What it is: The ASEE Learning community is focused on the practice of engineering education itself. Their webinars cover topics like “How to Mentor Young Professionals,” “New Simulation Tools for Training,” and “Effective Technical Communication.”
Who it’s for: This is a must-join for engineering managers, mentors, and any senior PE who is responsible for training the next generation. If you’re trying to build a better team, this is the community that teaches you how.

My take: I’ve learned more about being a good manager from ASEE Learning webinars than from any generic corporate training.

3. Software & Vendor Communities (Dassault, Bentley, etc.)

This is my secret weapon. The companies that make the software you use every day (like Dassault Systèmes, who makes SOLIDWORKS and CATIA, or Bentley, who makes MicroStation and STAAD) run some of the most powerful webinar communities in the world.

What it is: These are massive online community hubs built around their products. Yes, the webinars are about their software, but they’re also about the problems their software solves. You’ll find a webinar series on “Advanced Simulation of Composite Materials” or “BIM for Complex Infrastructure Systems.”
Who it’s for: Every single practicing engineer. If you use a piece of complex engineering software, you must join its user community.

My take: Don’t be a “button-pusher.” These communities teach you the theory behind the software. The technical Q&A forums alone are worth the (usually free) membership. This is where you go from using the tool to mastering it.

4. NCSEA: The Structural Engineering Community

If you’re a structural engineer, the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA) is your tribe.

What it is: NCSEA is the national voice for practicing structural engineers. Their connect webinars are famous for being practical, code-focused, and taught by practicing PEs.
Who it’s for: Any structural engineer, from a new EIT to a 30-year principal.
My take: The structural engineering community is tight-knit. NCSEA is its living room. Their webinar series is where the most important conversations about code changes and best practices happen.

A Practical Strategy for Joining Engineering Webinar Communities

Okay, so how do you do this? Don’t just go and sign up for 10 newsletters. Be strategic.

Pick ONE Professional Organization: This is your “home base.” (e.g., ASCE). Pay the membership, join an Institute, and commit to attending one webinar per quarter.
Pick ONE Software Community: This is your “toolbox.” What software do you use all day? Go to their website and join their user forum.
Pick ONE “Growth” Community: This is your “future.” Are you in management? Join ASEM. Are you in education? Join ASEE.

That’s it. You’ve just built a powerful, three-part professional development ecosystem. You’ll have access to the best engineering webinars and, more importantly, the community of professionals that comes with them.

Your Action Plan: Stop Searching, Start Joining

You don’t need a search tool to find your community. You just need a plan. Stop learning in a silo. Here’s my practical, 3-step process to build your professional webinar network, starting today:

Activate Your “Home Base”: Pick your primary engineering organization (like ASCE or ASME). Pay the membership. This isn’t just for a magazine; it’s for access to their entire library of events webinars and their online community. This is your pipeline for high-level, technical webinars and asce’s elearning webinars.
Join Your “Toolbox”: Identify the one piece of software you can’t live without (like SOLIDWORKS or a specific simulation or systems tool). Go to the company’s website and join their user forum. This is your online community for immediate, peer-to-peer learning.
Join Your “Future”: Where is your career headed? If you’re managing people, join a community specifically for engineering managers. If you’re mentoring young professionals, engage with ASEE Learning.

This simple process connects you to the right industry professionals and turns your engineering education from a chore into a strategic advantage. You’ll get access to the best webinar series and, more importantly, the brilliant peers who watch them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I join in on a webinar? It’s simple. You find a webinar you want to attend (from a provider or community). You’ll go to their website and “register,” which usually just means giving your name and email. They will then email you a unique link.
How do I join a live webinar? At the scheduled time, you click the unique link from your registration email. This will open the webinar software (like Zoom or GoToWebinar) on your computer, and you’ll be able to see the presentation and hear the speaker.
What is needed to attend a webinar? Just three things:
1. A computer or smartphone.
2. A stable internet connection.
3. Speakers or headphones to hear the audio.
How can an engineer help the community? This is a great question. PEs help the community every day by designing the safe and sustainable systems we all rely on (clean water, safe bridges, efficient power). You can also get involved by joining your local professional organization (like your ASCE section) to mentor young professionals, or by volunteering your technical expertise for community projects.