AutoCAD Certificates Los Angeles, CA

When Autodesk debuted in 1982, operating systems like Windows simply didn’t exist, and the computing field was much different. Nevertheless, Autodesk had five programs to offer this more primitive world. Chief among them was AutoCAD, a complex drafting software suite that provided drafters with the first computer-based design interface. Though Autodesk produces many products even now, AutoCAD was by far its most popular and successful.

Put simply, modern AutoCAD provides designers with the hands-on support that they need to produce attractive and engaging design documents. It includes 2D and 3D capabilities, as well as animation and modeling options. These let you create intricate and attractive designs to suit a variety of market needs. Though it’s possible to buy AutoCAD and master it yourself (especially if you have drafting experience), certificates and certifications are immensely helpful.

Why Become Certified in AutoCAD?

Getting certified in AutoCAD is a smart step that can elevate your career. It’s particularly clever if you’re new to the drafting world and have yet to make your mark. Think of certifications as an additional 'seal of approval' on your resume that makes it stand out. The best way to imagine why is to think from an employer’s perspective. When they’re looking through resumes, they try to find things that make each candidate stand out as much as possible.

For example, they’ll toss out resumes that don’t have the necessary work or education experience. Then, they try to seek out candidates who have specialized experience in a field. Someone with a certification will definitely stand out because they’ve taken extra work to get trained enough to take a cert exam. It also shows that you’re more serious about a job than other candidates by highlighting your willingness to go the extra mile to learn a skill.

Critically, taking a certificate training course (which is different from a certification) can help you prepare for the challenge of taking an in-depth exam. It will teach you the essential skills needed to master AutoCAD and its unique operational scope. Getting an in-depth look at the various abilities needed to master AutoCAD can boost your resume and give you the help you need to transition to a great job market. Let’s take a look at some of those important lessons.

What You’ll Learn While Becoming AutoCAD Certified

Even if you’ve studied paper-and-pencil drafting, it’s a smart idea to get certified or trained in AutoCAD before assuming you’re ready to handle its unique demands. Put simply, this skill set is more advanced than it may seem, and many drafters struggle to jump into this environment without help. While you’ll use the same basic techniques as when drafting on paper, mastering these skills will ensure you become a skilled AutoCAD user.

Digital Design

Designing in a digital medium is quite different from working by hand with paper. For example, you’ll have to learn all about automatic line drawing, concepts like fill tools, and much more. It’s something that takes time to adapt to understanding, especially as you won’t be using traditional tools like t-squares, pencils, and compasses. Thankfully, it should be fairly easy to master these ideas if you take an in-depth training program suited for you.

Interface Control

The toughest part of mastering AutoCAD, whether you’re already a skilled Drafter or not, is the interface itself. While Autodesk streamlines their programs and provides a customizable workspace to easily adapt, learning to design digitally can be a tricky process. Thankfully, your learning team can help you fully understand AutoCAD’s unique interface and provide the necessary training to transition to hands-on use quickly and efficiently.

Proper Rendering

AutoCAD rendering is a unique process that allows you to create detailed and highly textured drawings quickly and efficiently. It will use your 2D or 3D design to come up with a realistic look that gives you an idea of what to expect from your product. Even better, it can help you spot errors you might not see in a design normally. For instance, if there’s a flaw in an automobile’s bumper design that makes it arc oddly, rendering may make it more obviously visible.

3D Modeling

AutoCAD innovated the concept of 3D modeling, which has helped revolutionize the drafting industry in many ways. It’s similar to rendering in a sense but includes more in-depth design concepts, like crafting a manufacturing machine in all three dimensions, rather than creating multiple 2D, paper-based blueprints. This greatly streamlines the design process, making it easier to understand, and can make drafting simpler and more effective.

Animation

AutoCAD provides a unique animation program that you can use when designing products and services for your customers. For instance, you can animate a vehicle to see how well it runs and gauge if it’s design makes logical sense. However, you can also create animation for short films using this software, though it’s not as powerful as Hollywood-level options. Instead, it might just be a useful way to create fun and informative animations for your clients’ needs.

AutoCAD Industries in Los Angeles

As you might imagine, AutoCAD is used in a variety of different industries throughout the Los Angeles area. As one of the biggest tech hubs in the nation and a constant leader in innovation, Los Angeles has multiple exciting design industries that might fascinate you and provide a great and rewarding career opportunity. Here are a few that you need to consider:

• Aerospace and Defense: The Los Angeles aerospace and defense industry often needs design specialists who understand programs like AutoCAD. For example, you could use it to design expansive planes, tanks, or other vehicles. Just as importantly, you might use AutoCAD to create airbases and other military designs that keep the country safe.
• Architecture: Though some LA architects may prefer to use more architectural design software, AutoCAD can technically be used to create attractive and effective home blueprints. It’s particularly useful if you’re working in other design fields because you can easily transition to using AutoCAD with other types of projects, like manufacturing.
• Biomedical: The biomedical field in Los Angeles has a strong need for people who understand AutoCAD. For example, you might use it to design new medicine design machines, create manufacturing layouts, and even design better product containers. The demand is surprisingly high in the market, and you can easily take advantage of it.
• Graphic Design: LA is home to over 100 graphic designers (if not close to a 1,000), and you can easily use AutoCAD in this market. For example, you can produce interesting advertisements, various posters, and other graphical designs with AutoCAD. Though more industry-specific software is available, AutoCAD does work here too.
• Marketing: The City of Angeles is a marketing paradise and has thousands of marketing firms that might need an AutocAD specialist. Like with graphic design, you could use AutoCAD to produce unique and appealing advertisements, brochures, and more. That makes learning this program a great option for people interested in this field.

AutoCAD Careers in Los Angeles

Throughout Los Angeles’ diverse and engaging economy, there are many AutoCAD-related fields that might appeal to you. Each of these jobs requires you to perform unique tasks and use AutoCAD in different ways. Here are five careers (with earnings) you might dig:

• Ad Designer: Though working as an Ad Designer in Los Angeles isn’t a high-paying career (between $37,000 and $44,000 in LA), it can be a great entry-level job. It’s a strong way to show off your AutoCAD skills and boost your knowledge base.
• Architect: Working as an Architect in Los Angeles can be very financially rewarding, as you can get between $91,000 and $114,000 in this job. You’ll likely use AutoCAD or other similar products that provide you with the help you need to design homes.
• Drafter: When you get a job as a Drafter, you’ll probably use AutoCAD software or similar products to create technical drawings for your customers. This career can help you earn between $61,000 and $78,000 in Los Angeles.
• CAD Drafter: As a CAD Drafter, you’ll regularly use AutoCAD and other software to create technical drawings of various types for your customers. You’ll earn between $48,000 and $66,000 when you work in this field in Los Angeles.
• CAD Designer: If you’re interested in making between $61,000 and $78,000 or even more in Los Angeles, consider becoming a CAD Designer. You’ll utilize various skills and design concepts to produce fascinating and unique styles.

Should You Pursue a Certificate or Certification

An AutoCAD certificate is something you typically earn after completing a training program through a college, university, or private learning facility. Classes focus on beginner lessons such as how to open AutoCAD, use its tools, and integrate design concepts. Eventually, you can work up to intermediate and advanced capabilities, which can help you when practicing for a certification exam. Note: getting a certificate is not the same as certification.

Instead, certification involves an expansive exam taken after earning expert-level experience with AutoCAD. This experience may include time working with the program professionally or any training you take to master AutoCAD. For example, many people take certificate training courses before taking their certification exam to prepare themselves for its unique demand. As a result, it’s a good idea to pursue both options to enhance your career immeasurably.

Top AutoCAD Certificate Programs in Los Angeles

If you’re interested in an AutoCAD career and thinking a certificate program could help you, there are many options available in Los Angeles that should appeal to you. These include in-person and hands-on classes, as well as online-only or hybrid courses. Note: if you’re not quite ready to commit to months of training in Los Angeles, Noble Desktop provides shorter and more affordable classes that can make your learning experience easier.

Skills Certificate for Architectural Computer-Aided Design AutoCAD

East Los Angeles College provides a great course in AutoCAD for architectural use, one that includes four sessions that total 15 units or credits. In each session, you’ll take two classes that introduce you to using AutoCAD and help you master its unique skills for architectural design. These include classes in design and drafting, architectural labs, and much more. The goal by the end of the program is for you to step away with a complete and coherent skill set.

Each course at this college costs $1,220 per year if you live in-state and $7,746 if you live out of the state. As a result, it’s a great option for people who are interested in learning AutoCAD on a more intensive level. Note that it should take you about two years to finish this program, which might be a little long for some people. That said, you can take your completed certificate and use it to find a job in a variety of markets or transition to higher-learning facilities.

Autodesk AutoCAD 2024: Essentials

Offered by NetCom Learning, this course is a beginner-level class that takes place over three eight-hour days. Costing $1,395, it’s a virtual class offered out of Los Angeles that makes it easier for you to master AutoCAD on an innate level. As you progress through this course, you’ll learn about this program’s unique workspace, master its user interface, practice basic drawing, improve your editing skills, and even start rendering unique designs quickly and efficiently.

Later lessons focus on preparing layout plotting, producing reusable symbols, adding text properly, hatching your designs effectively, producing dimensions for your work, animating designs, and more. This range of unique skills helps you become more professional and produce better work. Just as importantly, you can create a great job portfolio to share with potential employers to show off your work and get the notice and attention that you deserve for it.

Autodesk AutoCAD 101—Beginner

In Autodesk AutoCAD 101—Beginner, provided by Ledet Training, you’ll practice in a hands-on and in-person class with a cast of skilled teachers. This trusted training team has an El Segundo location not far from downtown LA that provides a myriad of unique learning opportunities. Over three days (costing $1,799), you’ll learn about creating and editing 2D drawings, working with layers, producing reusable blocks, and implementing other types of AutoCAD skills.

Note that Ledet Training also offers Autodesk AutoCAD 201 and Autodesk AutoCAD 301, which help you master professional layout concepts and more advanced skills such as implementing proper rendering. If you want to master more advanced techniques, Autodesk AutoCAD 302 introduces you to 3D drawing and modeling to provide the scope that you need to master AutoCAD. Each class lasts between 2 and 3 days and costs between $999 and $1,799 to take.

AutoCAD Certification Training

LACC Extension provides a unique AutoCAD certification course that costs just $2,995 to complete or $146 a month when financed with Affirm. Over this class’ 140 hours, you’ll learn about drafting important symbols, practice integrating bath fixtures, produce attractive floor plans, manage layers throughout your designs, practice with a user-coordinate system, produce title blocks and various drawing components, and much more.

This course carefully walks you through multiple lessons, making it easier to use AutoCAD in architectural projects. That said, you’ll also learn how to add details to your sheets, update all your information smoothly, integrate manufacturer details, and even produce millwork drawings. Try this course if you’re interested in becoming an Architect and think that you’ll regularly use AutoCAD to meet the specific demands of this fascinating career.

AutoCAD Level One

Available from Noble Desktop, AutoCAD Level One introduces you to the basics of this program and makes it easier to transition to mastery. You’ll learn about its basic tools and concepts, as well as progress to more advanced skills. During this 18-hour, $599 class, you’ll get immersed in the unique world of AutoCAD designing, practice with real-world design theories, and move towards mastery with a skilled professor in a small and friendly classroom.

Like other Noble Desktop courses, you’ll get a free retake if you fail this class and free support setting up your learning environment. Note that this is a completely virtual class, as this provider operates their in-person learning out of New York City. That said, they use the same teachers and innovative approach online that they use in their in-person courses to teach AutoCAD skills quickly and efficiently. It’s great if you simply want to get started without taking years of classes.

Self-guided AutoCAD Programs

Students who are 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 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 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.

AutoCAD Fundamentals

Students looking for an accelerated introduction to AutoCAD and computer-aided design generally 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 you have experience with AutoCAD from another source, you may be interested in moving towards 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 of the necessary and legal standards that they are expected to follow. 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.