Use AutoCAD to transform concepts into detailed 2D drawings and 3D models, learning professional drafting and documentation techniques.
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 originated in 1982 and was the first app designed and released by Autodesk. As the first digital design software on the market, AutoCAD quickly took over the field and, in spite of heavy competition, remains a relevant and important tool for Drafters, Auto Designers, Graphic Artists, and Architects.
The best thing you can do with AutoCAD training is start a rewarding career that uses your innate creativity and design skills to make really good money. You can also use AutoCAD in your daily life. For example, if you’re an amateur Web Designer, you can use it to create a simple online portfolio. You might even use it to produce a floor plan for a home upgrade or renovation in your house.
However, AutoCAD is diverse enough to be used in many other fun ways. For example, you could integrate animation (AutoCAD has a robust suite for this purpose) for your work presentations, your child’s school work, and much more. Though AutoCAD is a little high-powered for such simple projects, it works incredibly well for them. That makes it a great investment if you’re looking for smart, all-purpose design software for use at work or at home.
The first thing you’ll study in your class is AutoCAD’s unique interface. It’s not necessarily user-friendly (though Autodesk has streamlined it in recent years), so much of your class will focus on how to use this software smoothly and efficiently. Beyond basic control techniques (such as drawing lines and creating shapes), you’ll practice with more advanced concepts. For example, things like animation are trickier to handle and require special training.
The art of creating technical drawings (drafting) is greatly streamlined using AutoCAD and other design software. While some people still do basic hand-based drawing, most drafting these days is digital. During your course, you should learn more about how to draft, including how to integrate AutoCAD tools into your design process. Though you might need more advanced drafting knowledge to find a job (depending on your field), your AutoCAD class can still help.
Your AutoCAD designs will likely use layers that let you highlight certain information and create attractive and in-depth styles. Mastering layer management helps you handle them properly without running into problems, such as parts of your floor plan disappearing under other layers. Thankfully, your course should cover how to set different layers, change their settings, and integrate them throughout your floor plans in simple and effective ways that make sense.
Creating detailed schematics in AutoCAD can help you work in many careers, depending on your interests. For example, you can focus on wire design, pipe layouts, HVAC systems, and much more. Your class should teach you all you need to know about creating schematics for your projects. With in-depth and hands-on training, you can master these tools and create fascinating designs you can use for your personal or work-related projects.
When learning any design skill (such as using AutoCAD), you’ll practice various creative techniques that can help you in many areas of your life. For example, designing things in AutoCAD can improve your problem-solving skills, which could be useful when working in many careers or when handling different elements of your life (such as planning a trip). The benefits of creativity are limitless, making it an important soft skill to nurture in any way you can.
Learning the basics of AutoCAD might not be too hard (a few days of regular practice should be all most people need to get started), but mastering this software is much more challenging. Mastery takes time, especially for professional-level work. So, you might be able to put together a few designs after a class or two, but creating work for your clients might not be achievable for some time. Don’t feel discouraged if you aren’t a pro right off the bat, but just get practicing.
Actually using AutoCAD’s interface isn’t the most challenging part of mastering it. Instead, synthesizing drafting techniques, animation concepts, and expert-level design concepts is what most people find most difficult about using this application. In other words, you might need outside education to use it for architectural or drafting jobs. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing! Taking those classes could prepare you for a high-earning career in an amazing job. Even if you don’t have that experience, learning AutoCAD can get you started.
Depending on your knowledge, it should take between one month to one year to master AutoCAD. Why such a broad range? Well, if you have no experience with drafting or design, it’s going to take you some time to master those skills. If you already have a degree in a related field but simply haven’t used AutoCAD before, it might just take you a few weeks or months. Remember: mastery goes beyond usage and includes complete software comprehension.
In-person Phoenix classes provide benefits such as real-world projects, hands-on time with your professor, socialization time with your peers, and included software and computers. They also mimic high school and college education, but with far less pressure, which makes them easy to adapt to as learners. That said, it can be hard to find these classes in Phoenix (they’re available but not always open), and driving to this class can be time-consuming.
Online training provides two setups: asynchronous, with independent videos and study lessons you can take at your leisure, and live sessions with real-time education, which typically cost less than in-person training, give you access to far more classes, and include project-based learning. You won’t have to travel, thankfully, but you can be limited by technology. For example, if your internet goes out, you won’t be able to attend your live class, which can set you behind.
While you’re taking AutoCAD classes, it’s not a bad idea to try out graphic design, web design, UI design, and even animation courses. You don’t necessarily have to take separate classes (your AutoCAD course might cover many of these skills), but you may want to anyway. For example, if you go through UI (user interface) design programs, you can learn how to use this software to create user interfaces and other unique designs. Focus your learning based on your career.
Phoenix is easily Arizona’s largest economy and one of the biggest in the region. As a result, much of the southwest portion of the nation either travels to or works out of Phoenix in industries as diverse as web design, architecture, and much more. Many of these tech-based jobs use AutoCAD to design various tools and products. As one of the top 10 tech hubs in the nation, Phoenix has many industries that might appeal to people who learn AutoCAD.
Though Houston, Texas, is likely one of the biggest aviation and aerospace meccas in the nation, Phoenix has more companies of this ilk than you might think. Firms like Aerospace Solutions, Pinnacle Aerospace, Mesa Airlines, Honeywell Aerospace, Able Engineering, MedAire, AeroGuard, and GeoBlu Services all operate out of this city. They need AutoCAD experts to design aircraft and other tools and keep their products safe and stable.
The biomedical or biotech field needs AutoCAD experts to design various products, including safe containers and much more. In Phoenix, companies like Exploragen, OncoMyx Therapeutics, GenoSensor Corporation, Systems Oncology, Amnio Technology, Ordinatrix, and VisionGate may provide you with easy access to many job types. Make sure you carefully research each firm before committing to ensure that you start a career that you’ll love.
Phoenix is a large and modern city that includes multiple utility companies that might need AutoCAD specialists like you to handle various tasks. For example, an electric company may ask you to design wire schematics and layouts for their facilities or larger buildings in the community. Often, these jobs pay very well, particularly if you have real hands-on work in the field. A college degree doesn’t hurt either, especially if it’s in civil engineering.
Though you probably need an engineering degree beyond your AutoCAD training to join this industry, mastering this program can help you find great jobs that you enjoy. In Phoenix, companies like Honeywell, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Belcan, Aerotek, and ASM provide engineering jobs for people who understand AutoCAD and other design programs. Often, they provide very competitive wages, which makes them even more appealing after your training.
Ready to transition to a high-earning career after finishing your AutoCAD training? With the right education (and a college degree for higher-level jobs), you can do just that! Here are a few positions you might qualify for after completing your AutoCAD training program.
As a CAD Designer, you’ll use AutoCAD (and other software) to create designs for various products such as automobiles, homes, and much more. Expect to earn about $96,000 on average at this position in Phoenix.
Your roles as a Design Director include curating the visual elements of products and projects such as video games, websites, magazines, movies, and more. Design Directors make an average of $141,000 in Phoenix.
An entry-level career as a Drafter can help you work your way up to higher-earning jobs. Depending on the job, you’ll likely use AutoCAD to handle engineering, architectural, and 3D modeling steps. Entry-level Drafters make $57,000 on average in Phoenix.
You can make pretty good money as a Digital Designer: about $89,000 annually in Phoenix. Your role includes creating digital products, like logos, page layouts, banners, and even digital databases, utilizing AutoCAD and other unique and powerful design tools.
Noble Desktop provides multiple tech-related courses that can help you advance your career. AutoCAD Bootcamp is a 30-hour course designed for beginners that will teach you the fundamental technical drawing skills you need to produce 2D drawings with AutoCAD. Designed to kickstart your learning, it can help you transition to more advanced classes with Noble.
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, 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.
Trying to train your whole team to use AutoCAD? Noble Desktop provides corporate training with online learning that might appeal to you. With discount bulk vouchers, free setup, and other benefits, it’s a great option for your team. You can contact NOble Desktop by emailing them at corporate@nobledesktop.com to sign up for courses or simply inquire about what’s available.
Phoenix professionals have a lot of opportunities when it comes to expanding their knowledge in fields like tech, design, business, and data. Anchored by major businesses in downtown Phoenix and the surrounding areas, such as Tempe, Mesa, and Scottsdale, the city benefits greatly from a diverse economy that spans industries ranging from local government and education to tech and finance, all while maintaining strong connections to the global market. One skill that's worth exploring in a place like Phoenix is AutoCAD. It's used across fields such as architecture, engineering, and construction, and is one of the most useful tools for drafting and designing various models and floor plans. Through Noble Desktop’s network of professional instructors, students in Phoenix can access high-quality training that helps them meet the industry standard. With decades of combined experience, these instructors go beyond the basics and blend practical guidance with real-world insights. This helps students not only acquire technical skills but also the confidence to make it in their professional careers.
Dr. Deanne Larson is a data science and analytics expert with 20 years of experience and counting. She has worked as an advisor for Fortune 500 companies and FinTech organizations through her firm, Larson & Associates LLC. Throughout her career, she has been drawn to work with AI-driven strategies and initiatives, machine learning implementation, and customer data platforms. Additionally, Dr. Deanne has worked on fraud detection models and managed global personalization platforms that have served hundreds of millions of customers. She is also a knowledgeable instructor, having worked for City University of Seattle, where she mentored doctoral students and developed curricula in data and business analytics. Dr. Deanne currently teaches courses in subjects ranging from data and project management to AI and Python.
After 34 years of federal service, Geno Sexton retired in 2012 and now works as a Phoenix-based project management instructor. Throughout these decades, Geno worked for eight years in the Senior Executive Service, culminating as Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer and HR Director at the U.S. Department of Labor, where he led 120 HR professionals serving 18,000 employees. He was named Deputy CHCO of the Year in 2011 and served as the first HR Officer at the new DHS Headquarters. In his distinguished career, Geno has made a real impact and currently teaches project management courses. He is a Vietnam-era Army veteran, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communications and a Master’s degree in Government from New Mexico State University, and is a proud bilingual and ESL-certified instructor.