AutoCAD Certificates Tampa, FL

AutoCAD is an innovative design program created by Autodesk in 1982. It was one of five apps introduced by this company when they debuted and was by far the most successful of its software options. As the first design program of its type available to designers, it quickly took over the market and holds a 40% share in the industry even today. Users can use it to create detailed blueprints, technical drawings, and three-dimensional designs quickly and efficiently.

AutoCAD includes various tools that help you create attractive and effective projects. You can create straight lines, solid circles, broken lines, and curved surfaces. Then, you can tweak your projects’ designs by adjusting their settings, adding shading and texturing, and producing other unique visual elements. Mastering this skill lets you transition into multiple exciting careers, typically within drafting, designing, and manufacturing industries.

Typically in Tampa, mastering AutoCAD can help you become a Designer or drafting professional. When checking LinkedIn and other sites, you’ll find over 500 drafting jobs in the area that require people with these unique skills. Most of these careers need someone who understands AutoCAD or similar products. Even if your employer uses a different program, knowing AutoCAD can help make transitioning to other software much easier to accomplish.

Thankfully, Tampa provides multiple certificate and certification options that may work well for your learning experience. Rather than buying AutoCAD and trying to learn it yourself, it’s best to work with an educational team that understands AutoCAD, your learning style, and your career interests. Certificates and certifications can also help you qualify for the thousands of CAD jobs in Tampa and make it easier for you to start a new and exciting career in this field.

Why Become Certified in AutoCAD?

Earning a certificate or certification in AutoCAD is a smart personal investment that can take your career to the next level. They are particularly important in technical markets like drafting with AutoCAD because these require specialized skills and focus on very detailed tasks. After all, even a very small error in AutoCAD can ruin a design and cost a company thousands or millions of dollars. Certification ensures you fully understand proper AutoCAD usage.

A certificate program can teach you basic AutoCAD skills that make it easier for you to master more complex tasks. It can help you start your career by working you through the difficult training steps necessary to master AutoCAD. Furthermore, it can help you stand out when applying for Tampa AutoCAD jobs. Here’s an example of just why an AutoCAD certification can give your resume a boost when looking for a job in the Tampa area.

Let’s say you have some experience with AutoCAD, including college training, when you apply for a position. Other applicants have about the same knowledge but also have an AutoCAD training certificate. Who do you think the employer is more likely to choose? That’s right—applicants with certificates and certifications. After all, certificates and certifications show a higher dedication to a skill that almost always impresses a potential employer.

What You’ll Learn While Becoming AutoCAD Certified

Mastering AutoCAD requires you to learn a myriad of skills that make using this software easier and more efficient. During your certificate and certification processes, you’ll not only learn these unique skills but practice them by creating real-world projects. When you’re done, you should feel confident enough to create attractive and unforgettable designs. Here’s what you need to know about this process and the unique ways that it can help your career stand out in Tampa.

General Design Concepts

When taking an AutoCAD training course, you’ll learn important lessons about various design concepts. You’ll practice ideas like proper part design, geometry theories, stress-testing practices, and much more. These skills form the basis of your AutoCAD usage and must be mastered before designing anything. Note that the abilities you learn may vary depending on your career path such as general drafting, architecture, or manufacturing fields.

AutoCAD Interface

As you learn basic and advanced design concepts, you’ll also master AutoCAD’s unique operational interface. Its UI includes various tools that make drawing lines, circles, and other basic shapes easier to master. Over the years, Autodesk has carefully streamlined this UI to make it easier to understand. However, it still requires some technical knowledge, and working through a certification program can help you understand these skills more effectively.

Technical Drawing Knowledge

AutoCAD usage requires you to master various technical drawing concepts and understand how to use them effectively when creating new designs. You need to learn about proper design scale and use it when producing large or small projects. Just as importantly, you must integrate uniform design steps that match industry standards. Thankfully, your teacher can help you understand these concepts and ensure that you use them properly with AutoCAD.

3D Animation

AutoCAD and other drafting software let users create three-dimensional designs that make producing new products easier. You could draft a complete 3D car in AutoCAD to get an idea of its overall look and design efficiency. Though 3D usage isn’t absolutely necessary, mastering it can improve your career opportunities. It makes you a better Drafter and expands your skills to include even more unique and innovative ideas.

Texturing and Shading

AutoCAD provides unique shading and texturing tools that help you produce more attractive and engaging designs. Extra shading can simulate lighting and depth and make your projects look more realistic. Mastering these concepts can help you create better overall work and ensure that it meets industry standards. Just as importantly, it can help you better understand various design theories and improve your overall work quality.

AutoCAD Industries in Tampa

Tampa provides Florida with one of the largest and most fascinating job markets. Its diversity includes various tech-based careers that need people with AutoCAD skills. These include some pretty high-earning roles, depending on your market and employer. Please read through each of the bullet points below to learn more about what these industries have to offer and why they might need someone with real AutoCAD knowledge and experience:

• Aerospace Design: Florida hosts the John F. Kennedy Space Center, one of the most important sites for the nation’s aerospace industry. As a result, many cities in the state have multiple aerospace designers, including Tampa. These firms often need AutoCAD specialists who can produce innovative designs that meet NASA’s high-quality standards.
• Architecture: Though Tampa Architect firms may use more building-based design programs, others may use AutoCAD and other similar apps. Mastering AutoCAD can make learning these other software suites easier and improve your chance of finding a rewarding job. It’s definitely worth getting certified in AutoCAD if architecture interests you.
• Biomedical Manufacturers: Tampa-area biomedical manufacturers often need AutoCAD experts to produce strong and attractive designs for their facilities. For instance, you may use this program to design manufacturing equipment and production-line layouts. You may also use AutoCAD when designing product packaging and other important items.
• Car Design: Tampa isn’t known as a car manufacturing town, but there are several graphics design and installation teams focused on the auto industry. These Tampa companies may need someone with AutoCAD skills to produce attractive and engaging images. Though there aren’t a ton of these businesses in the area, there are several that may interest you.
• Product Manufacturing: Tampa’s many manufacturing firms likely need someone with in-depth and professional-level AutoCAD skills. For example, you may design various product packages, create better manufacturing tools, and produce other important concepts that can streamline and improve production processes and ensure that they go smoothly.

AutoCAD Careers in Tampa

Within the industries mentioned above, there are many AutoCAD-related careers that may interest you. These jobs include unique roles and strong salaries, as well as a high opportunity for advancement. Read through the fascinating opportunities listed below to learn more about which path might be right for your specific interests and capabilities:

• Animator: As an Animator, you’ll likely use AutoCAD and other design software to produce two- and three-dimensional artwork for movies, television shows, advertisements, and YouTube videos. Expect to make between $50,000 and $72,000, with a median of $60,000 in Tampa.
• CAD Designer: A CAD Designer typically uses AutoCAD and other design software to produce attractive and interesting styles for their employer or customers. You’ll earn an average of $61,000 in Tampa, or between $55,000 and $67,000.
• CAD Drafter: How does a CAD Drafter differ from a Designer? Designers have a say in the look and feel of their products, while drafters simply draw what they’re told. It’s an entry-level position that earns between $40,000 and $56,000, with a median salary of $47,000 in Tampa.
• Motion Graphics Designer: A career as a Motion Graphics Designer includes using AutoCAD or other software tools to produce visual effects, animations, and much more. Specialists in this career earn an average wage of $59,000, or between $45,000 and $62,000 annually.
• UI Designer: When you become a User Experience Designer, you’ll use various design software, like AutoCAD, to create digital products that improve your user’s experience. Expect to make between $122,000 and $177,000, with a median of $149,000 in Tampa.

Should You Pursue a Certificate or Certification?

We strongly recommend getting both a certificate and certification when training for your AutoCAD career. Both offer different benefits that make them worth getting—advantages that can help take your career to a higher level. For example, a certificate is something you earn after completing a training program. Getting one not only teaches you proper AutoCAD skills but shows potential employers that you’ve taken the necessary steps to master it.

An AutoCAD certification differs in many ways. First, certification doesn’t include training or educational programs. Instead, it’s an exam you take after developing your skills either on the job or through training and education programs. Once you pass the test, you get a professional-level title you can share on your resume. Does that mean certificates aren’t important? No, because you can use them to get experience for your certification.

Top AutoCAD Certificate Programs in Tampa

By now, you should be ready to start learning about AutoCAD in Tampa. Thankfully, there are many certificate and certification courses you can consider that may improve your career. These include options from community colleges and private educational teams. If you’re not ready for a college-level program or want a faster and more cost-efficient option, Noble Desktop is a good choice because they provide far more efficient learning. Here’s what you need to know.

AutoCAD Foundations

Hillsborough Community College provides a 15-credit AutoCAD Foundations course that teaches you the basic skills needed to use this program. You’ll not only learn about proper AutoCAD operation but master architectural, building construction, and engineering skills. You’ll learn how to read blueprints, follow important building laws and guidelines, and produce attractive and effective styles that make your designs impressive and appealing.

This two-semester course has nine credits in the first semester and six in the second. Classes include Basic Drafting Principles, Blueprint Reading, and Intermediate Computer Aided Design and Drafting. When you’re done with your learning, you’ll know how to use AutoCAD to produce engaging designs and should easily transition into an entry-level career. You can also take electives and earn an associate’s degree by adding an extra year.

Computer-Aided Design and Drafting Certificate

At St. Petersburg College, you can earn a completion certificate in a 24-credit program over eight classes. You’ll work hands-on with professors to learn advanced CAD commands, 3D drawing, solid modeling, digital engineering, and digital modeling concepts. Throughout your eight courses, you’ll slowly improve your skills and become a more advanced CAD expert. All classes require a minimum C grade before you can earn your completion certificate.

Like many community college certificate programs, you can take an extra year and earn an associate degree if you want. Note that you’ll spend more time and money on this learning choice but can transfer your credits elsewhere if you want to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Even if that higher educational option isn’t right for you, earning an associate degree can help you stand out, especially if you get a certification later. The options are limitless for your training.

AutoCAD 3D Modeling & Drawing

Certstaffix Training is a well-known national training team that focuses heavily on tech-related careers. These include courses in end-user design, IT pro skills, online marketing, programming, development, and various business abilities. Their AutoCAD 3D Drawing & Modeling course takes place over three days and teaches you how to use the 3D modeling workspace, the user coordinate system, and other tools to create attractive and unforgettable designs.

This course is often a great option if you’ve already learned important lessons in AutoCAD Advanced (a three-day, $1,730 class) or AutoCAD Essentials (the same schedule and cost as AutoCAD Advanced). These classes help you learn more about two-dimensional design concepts and prepare you for the unique demands of 3D modeling. Many people transition to this more advanced class easily thanks to the high-quality professors.

Beginner AutoCAD

Beginner AutoCAD is a course by NYIM Training, a New York training team that provides affordable and quick-paced learning opportunities. For example, their 18-hour class costs just under $600 and covers multiple unique subjects. You’ll learn about various technical drawing and drafting techniques, plotting layouts and sheets, creating model space and paper space, and scaling drawings through multiple viewpoints to produce accurate overall styles.

Their online training options include a live environment, which makes mastering your lessons easier. You’ll work hands-on with a skilled professor who understands your abilities and how to communicate important topics. By working with a skilled expert in this way, you can improve your overall drafting knowledge and become a better AutoCAD user. Even better, you get a completion certificate that proves you have the ability to handle complex tasks with ease.

AutoCAD Bootcamp

AutoCAD Bootcamp is a Noble Desktop program that covers 2D drawings and much more. This educational provider teaches in-person classes in New York City but specializes in online learning opportunities. As an innovative and forward-thinking provider, they give all users one free class retake, setup assistance for online learning, small class sizes, and an expert instructor who provides real-time, live support that makes learning much easier to handle.

In this 30-hour, $949 course, you’ll start with beginner-level AutoCAD concepts, master intermediate ideas, and perfect more advanced design theories. By the time you’re done, you should feel confident tackling the unique demands of AutoCAD when designing products. Just as importantly, you can streamline your learning experience and get the high-quality support that you deserve to master AutoCAD and become a stronger engineer in many ways.

Note that you can take each AutoCAD Bootcamp class separately if you prefer. These include AutoCAD Level I, AutoCAD Level II, and AutoCAD Level III. This option may make more sense if you already have some AutoCAD knowledge but need more help perfecting your craft. Noble Desktop also provides Introduction to AutoCAD and 3D Modeling in AutoCAD, which include varying subject options that should help you master this software more quickly and efficiently.

Self-guided AutoCAD Programs

Students who are looking to make a career out of using AutoCAD might also be interested in 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 career-focused training and job placement support. While many students find it desirable to learn from a live instructor, these self-paced classes are perfect 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 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 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.