Getting Started with AutoCAD Certificate & Certification Programs
It’s the core skill for many career types, including engineers, architects, and graphic designers. Thankfully, computer-aided design or CAD programs like AutoCAD make job placement easier and improve your career opportunities.
Furthermore, there are multiple AutoCAD certificates, certifications, and training courses available online that can improve your learning process and get you the results that you need. As a result, it’s important to take a deep look at what is available online to ensure you choose a process that makes sense for you. In this article, we’ll not only examine the nature of AutoCAD and the benefits of certificates but also help you find an online training program that works for you.
Over the years, AutoCAD has become the industry-standard software for people looking to get into design. This diverse program lets you create digital 2D and 3D objects for use in a variety of markets. For example, you can use AutoCAD to design buildings, manufacturing processes, product packages, new vehicles, and much more. Interestingly, AutoCAD’s massive success likely ties to its early adoption by a myriad of designers well before the age of Windows.
This program originated in 1982 as one of five products released upon the opening of software designer Autodesk. AutoCAD was an almost immediate hit and is continually the industry’s most popular CAD software. Even in an age before graphical interfaces and mouse inputs, AutoCAD provided next-level design capabilities that made it a must-have for most designers. Though it continually changes with each iteration, its core techniques and operational qualities remain.
Top Live Online AutoCAD Certificate Programs
Learning AutoCAD in a live, online environment is a fun experience and one that can teach you the ins and outs of this software. There are many options available, so please check out the ones listed below. Also note that Noble Desktop provides beginner- and budget-friendly options for training that shouldn’t take up too much of your time. Their courses work well if you don’t have the time or money to learn AutoCAD in a more in-depth, university-level experience.
Virtual Design & Construction Institute (VDCI)
The Virtual Design and Construction Institute (VDCI) offers an immersive AutoCAD Certificate Program that aims to help students become career-ready within only a few weeks of training. This program provides students with hands-on, job-focused training in the use of AutoCAD, and the course is designed with new students in mind, meaning that you’ll move from your first construction draft to a capstone project to add to your professional portfolio over the course of the certificate program. This program also offers students the opportunity to take up to 80 hours of electives to help them specialize in subjects including Revit, SketchUp, and Civil 3D Pro. With this option for specialization and the focus on career development training, this certificate program is an ideal entry point for aspiring designers, architects, and engineers looking to learn how to use AutoCAD in a professional capacity.
Students looking for an accelerated introduction to AutoCAD and computer-aided design generally may be interested in taking this Intro to AutoCAD course offered by VDCI. Students will learn the basics of using AutoCAD and practical skills that they can bring back to their current jobs or use as the baseline for future CAD training (including some of the other advanced classes offered through VDCI). In this class, students will get live, hands-on instruction in the use of AutoCAD, including exercises in which they create drafting symbols, kitchens and bath fixtures, a floor plan, and deliverable file sheets. While you’ll need more training if you want to make a career out of your AutoCAD skills, this course is an excellent introduction to the kinds of projects that AutoCAD professionals will need to utilize.
VDCI also offers a CAD/BIM Certificate Program that combines AutoCAD training with Revit Building Information Modeling (BIM) training. Offering more specialized training for those working in construction and architectural design, this program aims to help students become career-ready designers as soon as they graduate from the program. This program is designed with novice students in mind, so even if you don’t have a background in CAD, you’ll still be able to follow along with the lessons as you move from novice to expert in only a few short weeks of training. This program focuses on practical, hands-on skills training, and students will leave the course with real-world examples of design projects (including an elaborate capstone) that can be added to their job materials to help them demonstrate their proficiency to prospective employers and contractors.
Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop offers a comprehensive version of the AutoCAD Bootcamp aimed specifically at students who are looking to pass a certification exam in AutoCAD. The AutoCAD Certification Program includes all of the training provided in the AutoCAD Bootcamp as well as additional one-on-one mentoring sessions designed to ensure that you leave the class feeling comfortable with your AutoCAD training. As part of the tuition for the course, students will have the option of taking the AutoCAD certification exam at the end of the program or receiving another session of one-on-one mentoring.
AutoCAD Bootcamp is a Noble Desktop course that teaches you the fundamentals of technical drawing to produce 2D designs in this program. Designed for beginners, it covers AutoCAD’s user interface, its unique design, and more advanced skills. By the end of the course, you should feel comfortable working in AutoCAD and producing basic projects. You can take it on weekdays or evenings, depending on your schedule, to attend each live session.
Note that this bootcamp includes two units: AutoCAD Level I and AutoCAD Level II. You can take these two courses separately, if you prefer. However, Noble Desktop provides a discount if you take them together in a package. You can then move on to the more advanced AutoCAD Level III or even 3D Modeling in AutoCAD options, depending on your interests and skills. These extra courses add a further 24 hours to your training, so be prepared for that.
Autodesk
Offered by Autodesk on the Coursera platform, Autodesk Certified Professional: AutoCAD for Design and Drafting Exam Prep is exactly what its mouthful of a name suggests. In this 18-hour course (spread across six hours a week over three weeks), you’ll learn how to draw and organize objects in AutoCAD, use advanced editing functions, integrate the User Coordinate System in your designs, create layouts, manage output, and print your documents.
This course includes four quizzes that, when you pass, earn you a shareable certificate that you can put on your LinkedIn profile. It offers a flexible schedule that you can take at your own pace, meaning you could do all six weekly hours in one day. Financial aid is also available if you can’t afford this class’s one-time fee. Note that this is considered an advanced class, so while you don’t need AutoCAD experience, you should know about drafting and design concepts.
Other Course Providers
Penn Foster is a trusted training school that offers multiple skills diplomas and learning experiences that may work well for many people. Drafting with AutoCAD provides an intensive and hands-on learning experience that can help you master this software. Though this is a self-paced class, there are assistants and teachers standing by to help you if you need it. You’ll learn about the basics of CAD equipment, coordinate systems, and software programs.
This training team provides low-cost tuition with flexible payment plans with no interest. There are no due dates, meaning you can study wherever you want, as quickly as you want. You can also use the online Student Portal to get access to digital textbooks, study guides, and much more. Even better, you can use dedicated student services that streamline your experience and make it easier for you to master AutoCAD and become a skilled designer in no time.
Provided by LinkedIn on their robust training platform, AutoCAD 2022 Essential Training is a six-hour course designed specifically for beginners. You need to have a LinkedIn subscription plan to take this class, which also provides you with access to other learning courses. Once you sign up, you’ll study Autodesk, its AutoCAD platform, and its many uses. You’ll learn about the interface first, which can help make the rest of this learning process easier.
Later lessons focus on drawing, creating objects, transforming your designs, modifying your work, and even rendering and modeling 3D projects. Note that you’ll need a copy of AutoCAD if you plan on taking this or many other online courses. That investment might seem high, but if you learn this software effectively with a training course, the sky's the limit for your career. LinkedIn also provides Learning AutoCAD, a three-hour class with more advanced lessons.
Why Become Certified in AutoCAD?
Though many designers learn AutoCAD through hands-on experience (such as buying and experimenting with the software), certificates and certification provide many major advantages. For example, getting an AutoCAD training certificate teaches you the skills required to master this software. Many people start with this training option to learn about AutoCAD’s unique interface and its many design concepts. Even expert drafters can benefit from a refresher.
Furthermore, getting a certificate can help you progress toward AutoCAD certification. Earning this professional-level designation makes your resume stand out compared to others. That’s because a certification shows that you’ve taken extra steps to ensure your work quality. Few people bother to get these beneficial, next-level additions to their resumes. When you do, you show employers that you’re more serious about your career than others.
Thankfully, there are many AutoCAD learning opportunities available online, each of which provides many benefits. If you’re looking for a remote learning experience that fits easily into your schedule, there are likely dozens of options that might make sense. Before jumping into a program, though, it’s a smart idea to know exactly what you’re going to learn. Doing so can ensure that you get the expert-level support needed to master AutoCAD.
Many fields will also require some amount of certification as a baseline requirement for employment. While this isn’t going to be the case for everyone, professionals working as architects or civil engineers will likely need at least some degree of certification in order to find regular employment.
What You’ll Learn While Becoming AutoCAD Certified
When you get AutoCAD certified, you will learn a myriad of unique skills that make this career path easier and even more enjoyable to start. In fact, we think that a lot of people will have fun learning about AutoCAD and its unique design scope. Before you begin, it’s important to take a deep look at the skills you’ll master in a learning course. Doing so can ensure that you’re prepared for this unique process and give you the hands-on support that you need to succeed.
Design
AutoCAD courses often include specific design lessons that touch on things you may have learned when becoming a drafter. For example, you’ll learn about concepts like design aesthetics, proper stress testing, and other ideas. If you’ve never taken a drafting or engineering class, you may still learn about these concepts in an AutoCAD course. Note, though, that most certificate programs focus on the program entirely, which could limit your learning potential.
Drafting
Drafting is the art of creating technical drawings with various tools. In the past, it consisted of using paper, pencils, erasers, rulers, t-squares, and compasses to produce the shapes necessary for each drawing. In AutoCAD, this process includes greatly simplified steps, like automatic line leveling and curving, that make drafting easier. Note that mastering these skills requires a lot of patience, steady reflexes, and experience with fundamental design concepts.
AutoCAD Interface
Like any computer program, AutoCAD possesses a user interface or UI that lets you create intricate styles, shapes, and designs. Mastering this interface includes learning how to start new documents, save your work, export designs properly, and handle its mechanics. AutoCAD’s many tools may seem daunting at first and can be hard even for experienced drafters to master. With time and training, though, you should feel more comfortable using AutoCAD regularly.
Modeling
AutoCAD modeling includes properly rendering your projects and creating three-dimensional models that give you a realistic look at each of your designs. Rendering will take a 2D or 3D project and provide texture and other features that help it look great. This process doesn’t occur automatically and requires you to carefully tweak your designs to ensure that they look strong. Understanding these ideas can help you create attractive, interesting projects more effectively.
Animation
AutoCAD’s animation program lets you animate and move your designs to see how well they work in real life. For example, you could use this software to automate an assembly line design to see how well it flows. AutoCAD uses a realistic physics engine when creating these animations and even lets you simulate many types of difficult tests. By mastering this process, you can improve your designs and make sure they meet specific design concepts.
AutoCAD Industries
After you master AutoCAD through a certificate training program and certification process, you can start applying for jobs in many fields. These include live, online careers that let you work remotely from anywhere you want, which can greatly improve your earning potential. Furthermore, online and remote work remains a popular model for many businesses and is likely to only increase in the future. Here are a few remote industries that may work for you:
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Architecture: Architecture is a major industry in the United States, with over 300 different businesses operating across the nation. Many of these firms work using a remote model and require you to use AutoCAD to design residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Note that you may also use other software beyond AutoCAD in this field.
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Civil Engineering: American civil engineering firms need people with AutoCAD skills for many reasons. For example, you may use AutoCAD when designing bridges, roads, dams, and other civic structures. Like with most careers related to AutoCAD, you may need a more in-depth, college-level education to qualify for a job in this market.
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Energy: American energy and utility firms may need AutoCAD specialists to design official production facilities, storage buildings, and even offices. You might also use AutoCAD when producing new energy machines or when laying out power or water lines. This software’s 3D rendering option makes it particularly great for this field.
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Graphic Design: There are thousands of graphic design firms in the nation, and many of them may use AutoCAD regularly. For instance, you may use AutoCAD to produce appealing billboards and other marketing tools for your customers. Often, AutoCAD works as a great design base before adapting your projects to other software.
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Marketing: The best US marketing firms may hire employees who’ve mastered AutoCAD and other design software suites. The reasons for this demand are obvious when examining AutoCAD on a deeper level. That’s because this software lets you produce advertisements, marketing materials, and other unique products quickly and efficiently.
AutoCAD Careers
Within the markets above, there are many online career options that might appeal to you. These jobs use AutoCAD regularly and require you to understand various design skills. Just a few that might interest you after you finish your certificate training and certification include:
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Architect: As an Architect, you’re likely to use AutoCAD to produce a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial designs. This job ranges from $81,000 to $101,000, depending on your location in the nation.
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Drafter: Working as a Drafter likely requires you to use AutoCAD to produce technical drawings to specific specs. Nationally, this career can earn between $54,000 and $70,000, with management or senior drafting positions earning more cash.
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CAD Drafter: If you’re interested in becoming a CAD Drafter, you’ll absolutely need to master AutoCAD to ensure that you can handle this career’s unique needs. Expect to get a salary between $42,000 and $58,000 when working in this position.
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CAD Designer: A CAD Designer is someone who uses AutoCAD and similar programs to produce designs in a variety of markets, including graphic production. You’ll have a salary of $54,000 and $70,000, depending on factors like your location.
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Engineer: When you get a job as an Engineer, there’s a real chance that you’ll use AutoCAD pretty frequently to create various products, buildings, and other designs. Compensation ranges between $69,000 and $175,000 nationally.
Should You Pursue a Certificate or Certification
When researching your online training options, it’s critical to understand that certificates and certifications are not the same thing. Yes, the terms sound very similar, but they mean very different things. Let’s start by examining certificates, which you get if you complete an in-depth training program. For example, completing a university AutoCAD learning course comes with a certificate that shows that you’ve earned the skills to use this program successfully.
The biggest differences between certificates and certifications are the experience levels needed and the scope of the course. While earning a certificate focuses on beginner-level knowledge, a certification is an expert-level designation you can only earn after passing an exam. Furthermore, you can’t take a certification test unless you possess a specific level of experience. Thankfully, your certificate training program should qualify you for an Autodesk cert!
What is the Difference Between a Certificate and a Certification?
While both certificates and certifications are used to demonstrate your proficiency with AutoCAD (or any similar professional skill), they test this proficiency in very different ways. A certificate is awarded to students who complete a training course that focuses on practical AutoCAD skills, so you can think of it as akin to a diploma or other indicator of completing some kind of skills program. These programs demonstrate proficiency through the reputability of the program issuing the certificate, but industry-standard training options are generally understood. By contrast, a certification is awarded to professionals who pass a sit-down skills exam proctored by a first-party developer or professional institution. These exams will test your knowledge of the application and your ability to utilize the application in real-world professional situations.
The practical difference here is that certificates and certifications have different target audiences, with certificates aimed at students who have fairly minimal AutoCAD skills and need professional training and development. The training is the main selling point, and the certificate is merely a way to signal to potential employers that your training came from a legitimate provider. Certifications, on the other hand, are targeted at professionals who are comfortable with their AutoCAD training and wish to have a more direct way of demonstrating the validity of that training. These courses rarely include any training (though some offer paid study materials or sample exams), so the assumption underlying them is that test-takers are expected to have substantive AutoCAD skills in advance of taking the exam.
This means that the choice of which of the two to pursue will come down to whether or not you feel confident enough in your AutoCAD skills to pass a sit-down proficiency exam. If you have no prior AutoCAD experience, then you will almost certainly want to take a certificate-granting training program (and really, what does it say about the certification exam if you can pass it sight unseen). If you have been working with AutoCAD professionally and just want to update your credentials, a certification is almost certainly going to be the best option. Students with some AutoCAD training may want to consider a certificate-granting refresher course to help prepare them for a certification exam, but the value of this will vary from student to student, so there is no one-size-fits-all option.
In addition, you should be aware that many certifications regularly expire, forcing professionals to retake the exam at regular intervals to demonstrate that their training is up-to-date and still relevant. This does help ensure that your professional credentials are still useful for demonstrating your proficiency in AutoCAD, but it can add a layer of difficulty to your training process. Certificates never expire, but they hinge heavily on the training provider in question remaining relevant. This isn’t usually an issue over the long term, but it is something to consider when looking at your options for certificate programs.
Why Learn AutoCAD Online?
In recent years, the quality and accessibility of online training have significantly improved, and students should no longer consider online training as inherently less valuable or productive than live, in-person training. In fact, many students prefer the advantages offered by live online training, particularly the degree of flexibility it offers those looking to learn at specific times or from specific training providers.
The biggest advantage to learning online is that you aren’t restricted to the classes that you can physically attend, which can be a pretty narrow list if you don’t live in a major metropolitan area. With online training options, students can learn from service providers all over the country, with time zones being the only substantive barrier to entry. This gives students significant flexibility and the opportunity to find a course that covers the skills that they are looking to learn during a time period that best fits their needs. This training also allows students to learn from the comfort of their own home offices, which is particularly useful if you are planning to spend any amount of time working from home. In addition, there are practical benefits to learning from home, since cutting out a commute will eliminate some of the hidden costs of attending an in-person course.
The major things to consider when enrolling in an online class, at least in terms of unique considerations, are the associated set-up and maintenance “costs” and avoiding becoming distracted or disinterested. Unlike an in-person training course, you will likely need to source the correct technology and software when enrolling in an online AutoCAD class (which, in this case, is usually just access to the AutoCAD software application). In addition, while some programs offer set-up assistance for enrolled students, this isn’t true in all cases, so you may be responsible for ensuring that everything is up and running by the start of the first class. You’ll also be responsible for troubleshooting any tech issues that arise, which can make attending classes slightly more challenging (but no more challenging than with an in-person class, since missing a train and losing internet access are just different issues).
The other issue to consider is how good you are at self-motivating and whether or not you will need to take extra steps to avoid becoming significantly distracted when working from home. For some people, this will mean going so far as to schedule the class during a time period where you are likely to have the house to yourself; for others, it will involve installing browser extensions to limit access to websites during the class. Other students may find that they have no issue learning online and won’t need to do anything differently. This is a case where you will need to make personal assessments of what is best for you, since everyone is going to approach the issue of online training differently.
