AutoCAD Certificates Houston, TX

AutoCAD is one of the world’s most popular computer-aided design (CAD) software applications. It is used by various design professionals, including Architects, engineers, and construction professionals, to create 2D and 3D drawings and models. While a number of different CAD programs exist, AutoCAD is the most popular.

This program was first released in 1982 by Autodesk, a large software corporation. AutoCAD features a wide range of tools that help improve productivity and accuracy, including several industry-specific tools. According to Autodesk, seven studies show that when designers use its specialized toolsets, there is an average productivity gain of up to 63 percent. For instance, it says, “The Architecture toolset saves you time on floor plans, elevations, and other common architecture design tasks.” It estimates that this particular tool can result in a productivity gain of up to 61 percent. In addition to increasing productivity, AutoCAD allows users to view and share files across any device, making collaboration easy.

Why Become Certified in AutoCAD?

AutoCAD is a widely used design program in engineering, architecture, and many other design fields. Becoming certified in this program can improve your chances of getting a job in any role that requires creating and editing 2D and 3D designs. If you’re already employed, certification can be a great way to advance your career. This versatile program is industry-standard software and can speed up your work process, improve your accuracy, and allow you to collaborate easily with others. It is also useful if you’re a freelancer or enjoy pursuing design as a hobby.

Another good reason to get certified in AutoCAD is that job statistics show that professions where this program is commonly used are likely to remain stable in the future. According to data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (the BLS), many of the industries where AutoCAD is utilized are expected to experience above-average job growth over the next ten years. In the United States, the average job growth rate is 3 percent, but the BLS predicts that between 2022 and 2032, civil engineering jobs will increase by 5 percent, electrical and electronic engineering by 5 percent, and mechanical engineering by 10 percent. For interior design, it predicts 4 percent growth, and for Architects, job growth is expected to be about 5 percent.

What You’ll Learn While Becoming AutoCAD Certified

While AutoCAD classes vary widely depending on the school and type of class you choose, there are several fundamental techniques that you’re likely to learn no matter what class you take. For example, all AutoCAD classes cover drawing and editing techniques. Most classes also include using layers, hatching, using blocks, and annotations.

Drawing and Editing Techniques

Working in AutoCAD involves using specific techniques for drawing and editing, and many classes start by teaching you these techniques. For example, you’ll learn how to draw lines in AutoCAD. You’ll also learn how to define the boundaries of an object, erase objects, and move objects.

Using Layers

Layers are one of the fundamental skills you’ll learn in AutoCAD. They are a way to organize the objects that you put in your drawings and can help reduce visual complexity and make drawings easier to read.

Hatching

When you learn to use AutoCAD, you’re likely to learn about hatching. Hatching is where you use different types of patterns to fill in specific areas of your drawing. It can help differentiate these areas from one another and is a popular tool. AutoCAD provides multiple hatching options.

Using Blocks

One fundamental AutoCAD tool is the block, and most courses cover creating, inserting, and modifying blocks. A block is a group of objects that have been combined to form a single object. They can be reused, which can help you save a lot of time. Blocks also help you save time in editing since when you modify one block, all others change too. Another advantage of using blocks is that they can help you maintain consistency.

Annotations

When you get certified in AutoCAD, you’re likely to learn about annotations since these are an essential part of most drawings. Annotations are additions to the drawing that provide more information. For instance, text and dimensions are annotations.

AutoCAD Industries in Houston

As the fourth-largest city in the United States, Houston has a large and busy economy, with a regional GDP of $490 billion. In addition, because of its lack of personal, state, or corporate income tax, it is a popular place to do business. Twenty-four Fortune 500 companies are based there, and the Greater Houston Partnership calls it one of the best places in the United States to do business. The organization says, “Houston offers a well-developed suite of key global industries – including energy, life science, manufacturing, logistics, and aerospace. As these industries digitize, Houston is a hotbed of rapid technological development thanks to our access to customers and expertise.” Houston’s many job opportunities include engineering, architecture, and design, all of which often involve using AutoCAD.

The city is known for its aerospace and aviation industries, which are industries where AutoCAD is commonly used. According to the Greater Houston Partnership, there are more than 500 space and aerospace-related firms and institutions in the area, employing tens of thousands of people. Houston is home to the NASA Johnson Space Center. The Partnership states, “Occupying 1,620 acres southeast of downtown Houston in the Clear Lake area, the Johnson Space Center’s $1.5 billion complex serves as an aerospace hub that continues to play a vital role in powering the U.S. into the 21st century through technological innovations and scientific discoveries.”

Houston is also known for its advanced manufacturing and has been named the number two U.S. metro for manufacturing. The Greater Houston Partnership says, “As one of the most important industrial bases in the world, Houston has access to many global markets thanks to its central location within the U.S. and the Americas. With over 7,000 manufacturers in the region, Houston produces over $75.1 billion in goods annually and is among the most important globally advanced manufacturing and robotics ecosystems.”

AutoCAD Careers in Houston

AutoCAD is frequently used in careers that involve design, drafting, and modeling. It is a very common tool for Drafters, who create technical drawings and plans. Someone who creates drawings and plans with AutoCAD might also be referred to as a CAD Drafter or a CAD Designer. Drafters can be found working in a wide range of industries, including construction, engineering, manufacturing, and architecture. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (the BLS) lists Houston as one of the metropolitan areas with the highest employment levels of Architectural and Civil Drafters, Electrical and Electronics Drafters, and Mechanical Drafters. Glassdoor reports that in Houston, a Drafter earns $53,000 to $81,000 on average per year.

AutoCAD is very popular in engineering and is used by Mechanical, Civil, Industrial, Electrical, and Electronics Engineers. All of these different types of Engineers use it to create and manipulate designs. AutoCAD also allows Engineers to run a simulation of their designs, testing them for functionality, and looking for flaws or mistakes. The BLS finds that Houston ranks in the top ten U.S. metropolitan areas for the highest employment levels of Mechanical Engineers, Electrical Engineers, and Civil Engineers. According to Payscale, a Houston Mechanical Engineer earns $61,000 to $133,000 annually, an Electrical Engineer earns $64,000 to $147,000, and a Civil Engineer earns $58,000 to $119,000.

Architects and Interior Designers use AutoCAD to make detailed blueprints of their designs, including details like floor plans, elevations, roofs, and windows. The program also allows them to test those designs to find potential problems before they actually start construction. For example, using AutoCAD, an Architect can test the strength of a building before it is even built. With AutoCAD, users can also generate realistic renderings to see what their designs will look like. Payscale finds that a Houston Design Architect earns $48,000 to $102,000, and an Interior Designer $42,000 to $83,000.

Finally, AutoCAD is used by a wide range of Product Designers. Like other users, Product Designers use this program to create detailed models and renderings. They also use it to test designs for functionality. Payscale reports that a Product Designer in Houston has an average salary range of $42,000 to $115,000.

Should You Pursue a Certificate or Certification?

Earning a certificate and earning a certification are not the same. If you’re planning to get certified in AutoCAD, it's a good idea to understand the differences between these two qualifications so that you can make sure you pursue the one that’s right for you. You get a certificate by completing an educational program. For example, if you complete Noble Desktop’s AutoCAD Bootcamp, you are awarded a certificate. Every educational institution offers its own unique certificate programs, which vary in length and subject matter. The most common reason to pursue a certificate is to gain the skills and knowledge that you need for an entry-level job. Most AutoCAD certificate programs are designed for beginners and cover a comprehensive range of skills. Many even include career support like help with your resume and portfolio.

In contrast to a certificate, a certification is something you earn by passing an assessment exam. Certifications are standardized, and those standards are set in an industry-wide process, which means that your certification will be the same no matter where you earn it. Some certifications also have an expiration date or ongoing training requirements. Another thing that distinguishes a certification from a certificate is that a certification is generally more appropriate for someone with experience, rather than a beginner. Rather than pursuing certification to prepare for a career, many people do so as a way of staying competitive or advancing within their field.

Top AutoCAD Certificate Programs in Houston

A certificate program can be a great way to gain AutoCAD skills, which are necessary in several different design-related occupations. If you’re looking for a certificate program that you can complete in Houston, you’ll find a variety of both in-person and online options.

If you’re interested in learning AutoCAD, but not quite ready to enroll in a certificate program, you can compare your options by using the Classes Near Me tool, which shows you Auto CAD classes in your area.

AutoCAD Bootcamp

This course runs through New York City-based design and coding school, Noble Desktop. This school was founded in 1990 and offers both in-person and live online classes. The AutoCAD Bootcamp includes 30 hours of instruction. Tuition is $949. After finishing the course, students receive a certificate of completion. In addition, they can do a free course retake within one year. The course is a combination of Noble’s beginner and intermediate AutoCAD classes, with a 10 percent discount. It is designed for PC users.

In this bootcamp, students learn both fundamental and advanced AutoCAD skills. They will learn to create and modify 2D drawings, use advanced object types, use layering, work with tracking points, create tool palettes, and create, edit, and export blocks. The course also covers advanced interface techniques, customizing layers, working with external references, and creating data tables.

AutoCAD Draftsman

The AutoCAD Draftsman course is offered by Houston Community College, which has several different campuses in the Houston area. There are a total of 96 hours of instruction. Tuition is $1,575. The school offers financial aid.

To complete the program, students take three classes: CAD I, CAD II, and CAD III. Overall, they learn about various types of CAD software, and about the compatibility of CAD drawings for different types of CAD drafting. Students also learn fundamental techniques for 2D and 3D CAD drawing, as well as tips and shortcuts.

AutoCAD Draftsman Program

This course is offered by Lone Star College, a community college that serves more than 80,000 students and has multiple campuses. It is a certificate program with a total of 96 credit hours. Tuition at Lone Star College is $103 per credit hour for in-district residents, $231 for out-of-district Texas residents, and $290 for out-of-state residents. Total tuition for this program is estimated to be $1,581.

In order to earn this certificate, students take three classes: AutoCAD Introduction, AutoCAD Intermediate, and AutoCAD Advanced. These classes are offered in-person, and also online. The certification is intended to prepare students for entry-level drafting and design positions.

AutoCAD Level 1: Essentials

AutoCAD Level 1: Essentials is an AutoCAD class offered by Future Media Concepts. This is a digital media training company that offers both in-person and online training, and has been operating since 1994. There are three class sessions, and tuition is $1,495. For this class, there are an average of eight people per session. Students who want to take the class should have AutoCAD installed on their computers. In addition, they need to have a basic knowledge of drafting procedures and terminology.

This course covers a wide range of different skills including drawing, precision, making changes, using layers, inserting blocks, and annotating your drawing. Students also learn about hatching, text, and adding dimensions. In addition, instructors cover advanced editing commands.

AutoCAD Level 1

This is a virtual AutoCAD class, and is offered by the Technical Institute of America, a technology training company that is based in New York City and licensed by the New York State Education Department. Students receive a certificate after completing the three training sessions, and can also keep their textbook. Tuition is $749. In addition, the Technical Institute of America offers a free course retake within one year.

Students who take this course begin by learning about the AutoCAD interface, and then learn basic drawing commands and tools. They also learn basic copying commands. The course also covers many other skills such as modifying objects, annotating, working with layers, and defining settings for layouts. There is also an intro to Paperspace and Modelspace.

Autodesk AutoCAD 501 Bootcamp

Ledet Training is an Autodesk-authorized training center that offers both in-person and online training. This bootcamp is a discounted combination of Ledet Training’s essentials and intermediate AutoCAD courses. It is designed to prepare students to create full designs in AutoCAD. No previous CAD experience is necessary. Experience with drafting, design, or engineering is helpful, but not required. The course takes five days to complete, and tuition is $2,599.

In this bootcamp, students learn many different AutoCAD skills including navigating AutoCAD, using drawing aids, editing, applying basic drawing skills, working with curves, and controlling visibility and appearance. They learn to navigate the AutoCAD user interface, organize drawing objects on layers, insert and create reusable symbols, prepare layers to be plotted, add text and dimensions, and create local and global blocks. The course also covers advanced editing techniques.

Self-guided AutoCAD Programs

Students looking to make a career out of using AutoCAD might also be interested in their options for career-focused, self-guided classes. These courses allow students to learn at their own pace (with guidance and assistance from a professional mentor) and they provide students with career-focused training and job placement support. While many students find it desirable to learn from a live instructor, these self-paced classes are the perfect fit for self-motivated students looking to make a career out of their AutoCAD training.

AutoCAD Certificate Program

The Visual 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 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.

AutoCAD Fundamentals

Students looking for an accelerated introduction to AutoCAD and computer-aided design may be interested in taking this introductory 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.

AutoCAD Professional

If you have already taken the AutoCAD fundamentals program or have experience with AutoCAD from another source, you may be interested in moving toward professional-level training in this advanced AutoCAD program. In this program, students will learn how to create 2D designs for construction documents that meet all the necessary and legal standards. This course offers practical skills training and is designed to ensure that experienced AutoCAD users are able to get the accelerated training that they need to start using the application in more complex professional capacities. This course is built to help students learn at their own pace, and class scheduling is incredibly flexible for professionals looking to develop new skills while still working.