Join our AutoCAD Bootcamp and learn the fundamentals of technical drawing and develop advanced skills in creating 2D drawings using AutoCAD. This program is open to beginners and covers everything from basic AutoCAD functionalities and skills to advanced drafting techniques.
Learn basic through advanced AutoCAD skills and become an Autodesk Certificated Professional in this program.
Build a solid foundation in AutoCAD and computer-aided design with this comprehensive training bundle. Learn to create precise drafting symbols, detailed floor plans, and professional construction documents while mastering essential AutoCAD tools used in professional design workflows.
Build a solid foundation in AutoCAD and master advanced techniques to design and create professional-grade construction documents. This comprehensive training prepares you for Autodesk CAD certification, covering the skills necessary for a successful career in design and drafting.
Learn 2D drafting skills with AutoCAD and enhance your design capabilities with specialized tools like Revit. This program prepares you for a successful career in construction design, with real-world applications and project-based learning.
Learn how to use AutoCAD to create drawings for real mechanical and architectural objects, starting with basic tools and moving on to more advanced skills. This course will cover topics such as creating and editing drawings, using object snaps and tracking, organizing drawings with layers, and inserting blocks.
AutoCAD is a computer-aided design and drafting software developed by Autodesk that can run on both PCs and Macs. There are both web and mobile versions of AutoCAD. This software is primarily used to draft electrical and plumbing plans and to create technical drawings for complex projects. AutoCAD Designers also use the software, as the niche industry grows, to create complex designs for 3D printed objects. One of AutoCAD’s most useful features is its collaborative tool for designing blueprints and prototypes. AutoCAD integrates with other design and drafting software and supports vertical programs for other specific industries, such as LA’s aerospace and fast-growing tech industries.
Los Angeles is home to a wide range of industries that rely heavily on AutoCAD for drafting, design, and engineering workflows. One of the largest sectors using AutoCAD is architecture and construction, given LA’s constant growth, renovation, and urban development. Architectural firms such as Gensler, Marmol Radziner, and KTGY Architecture + Planning use AutoCAD to create building plans, 3D models, and technical drawings for commercial, residential, and public projects. Construction companies across the region also depend on AutoCAD to coordinate structural, mechanical, and electrical plans, helping ensure accuracy during large-scale builds throughout the city.
AutoCAD is equally essential within Los Angeles’s thriving engineering and manufacturing industries. Companies such as AECOM, Jacobs Engineering, and SpaceX use AutoCAD for designing mechanical components, transportation infrastructure, aerospace systems, and industrial layouts. Engineers working in aerospace—one of LA’s most prominent high-tech sectors—rely on AutoCAD and other CAD tools to prototype parts, run simulations, and develop technical documentation. Manufacturing facilities in the region benefit from CAD-based workflows as well, enabling faster production processes and improved precision in product design.
Another major user of AutoCAD in Los Angeles is the entertainment and set design industry, uniquely tied to the city’s identity. Studios and production companies like Universal Studios, Disney Studios, and Warner Bros. employ DSesigners and Draftspersons who use AutoCAD to create detailed plans for film sets, theme park attractions, props, and studio facilities. AutoCAD helps streamline the creative process by allowing teams to visualize and modify set layouts before construction begins, saving both time and resources.
Jobs that require AutoCAD are expected to grow by 13% in the US over the next several years. In Los Angeles, with one of the world’s most dynamic economies—Hollywood, Silicon Valley, manufacturing, and agriculture—there are many career opportunities for Designers with AutoCAD skills. AutoCAD is used by Engineers, Architects, Interior Designers, and manufacturers to create models, schematics, and blueprints.
Knowledge of AutoCAD also provides opportunities for jobs in 3D design since 3D printing relies on CAD models that are used to guide the printer. This is especially useful in LA’s manufacturing and aerospace industries. AutoCAD is also used in the healthcare industry for biomedical research. Design job salaries vary depending on the industry. However, a beginner CAD Designer in Los Angeles can start around $58,000 per year, while other Designers can earn over 6% more than the national average, starting at $72,000 per year.
Noble Desktop offers several live online AutoCAD courses. Live online classes are similar to in-person classes in that they are interactive, hands-on, instructor-led classes that take place in real-time. Students can participate from anywhere they choose. The instructor can share their screens and answer questions as they come up.
AutoCAD Level I is a 24-hour course in which participants learn to use AutoCAD’s basic drawing and editing tools to create drawings that can be used to build architectural and mechanical objects. In AutoCAD Level II, a 16-hour course, students learn how to create templates by setting units, drawing limits, and scales, and how to use the interface to complete advanced layer and block techniques. The 8-hour AutoCAD Level III advanced course provides students with instruction in annotation, dynamic blocks and attributes, collaboration and publishing, and customization. Students will learn to execute advanced AutoCAD projects from start to finish, as well as how to use the program’s tools to increase efficiency.
Students looking for a more specialized course and who are already familiar with the commands for 2D drawing in AutoCAD might be interested in the 3D Modeling in AutoCAD, in which they learn best practices in 3D modeling and learn to complete drawings of advanced 3D models.
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 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 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, kitchen 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 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 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.
Corporate training can help your employees work better and more efficiently, and investing in your employees promotes company growth as well. Do you have employees who would benefit from learning AutoCAD? Or perhaps your employees are already familiar with AutoCAD basics, but you’d like them to learn more specialized skills, such as creating 3D models. Noble Desktop’s corporate AutoCAD classes are led by experienced instructors who are prepared to adapt their lesson plans to your needs. Noble Desktop also offers companies the option to purchase vouchers for scheduled open enrollment group AutoCAD classes. Discounts are available if you purchase multiple vouchers. Noble Desktop offers free consultations. If you’re interested in offering AutoCAD classes at your company, contact Noble Desktop for more information at corporate@nobledesktop.com.
Those seeking a chance to sharpen their skills in tech, design, business, or data can look no further than the opportunities in Los Angeles. The city is more than just Hollywood; it’s a collection of professional services and companies that stretch from the innovative companies in Silicon Beach to the more corporate areas of downtown L.A. AutoCAD is an industry-standard computer-aided design tool for creating 2D and 3D drawings that are precise and detailed. It's an industry standard software that's used across L.A. in places like architecture, engineering, and manufacturing. For those interested, Noble Desktop’s partner school, VDCI, offers classes taught by industry experts who are passionate, willing, and ready to impart their knowledge to students and professionals alike. They offer insight based on their real-world experience, which makes all the difference when learning a new skill from scratch or while looking to advance in your field.
Los Angeles-based learners can take advantage of the training at 3904 Groton Street, San Diego, California, located directly in the Point Loma neighborhood. Driving from Los Angeles, you’ll take I-5 South all the way. Those who prefer public transportation can hop on the Amtrak and commuter rail services connecting to San Diego from L.A., making it a quick way to access the campus. The facility is designed for interaction, offering students access to top-rated instructors and modern workstations.
With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Deanne Larson has built a reputation as a pioneer in the Los Angeles data science and analytics world. As the founder of Larson & Associates LLC, she has partnered with Fortune 500 companies and FinTech firms to help shape AI strategies and implement solutions through machine learning. She’s worked with global enterprises, particularly in designing their data systems. Her accomplishments go beyond the norm, however, as she’s also been part of projects that serve 225 million customers worldwide and others that require developing cutting-edge data governance frameworks for cloud and blockchain technologies. She’s a seasoned instructor as well, having taught at City University of Seattle, where she mentored doctoral candidates and designed data analytics programs. She holds several doctoral degrees that, paired with her extensive experience, position her to teach subjects like AI, Python, data, machine learning, and project management.
Michael Wilson is a Licensed Architect in the State of California and an Autodesk Certified Platinum Revit Instructor, one of only 20 professionals worldwide to hold this title. With over 25 years of experience in architecture, Michael has contributed to award-winning commercial and municipal projects, including facilities for pharmaceutical companies and landmarks such as the El Cajon Animal Shelter and the Mission Hills Library. Michael teaches and develops Revit courses that emphasize real-world application through project-based learning. Over the past decade, he has trained thousands of students in the Los Angeles AEC community, helping them master workflows. Michael is also an Autodesk Certified AutoCAD and Revit Professional, specializing in Revit certification and interior design software.
John O’Malley is a Registered Architect with more than a decade of experience leading Los Angeles teams through all stages of design and construction. His professional background spans different sectors, where he has earned recognition for his technical precision and leadership. A licensed architect in California, John also holds LEED AP BD+C certification and is an Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI Silver). Most recently, he teaches AutoCAD courses that prepare students to apply drafting and design principles in real-world settings. John is passionate about mentoring the next generation of design professionals, contributing to the ACE Mentor Program.