AutoCAD Certificate & Certification Programs in NYC
It’s the core skill for many career types, including engineers, architects, and graphic designers. Thankfully, computer-aided design or CAD programs like AutoCAD make job placement easier and improve your career opportunities.
Furthermore, there are multiple AutoCAD certificates, certifications, and training courses available online that can improve your learning process and get you the results that you need. As a result, it’s important to take a deep look at what is available online to ensure you choose a process that makes sense for you. In this article, we’ll not only examine the nature of AutoCAD and the benefits of certificates but also help you find an online training program that works for you.
Over the years, AutoCAD has become the industry-standard software for people looking to get into design. This diverse program lets you create digital 2D and 3D objects for use in a variety of markets. For example, you can use AutoCAD to design buildings, manufacturing processes, product packages, new vehicles, and much more. Interestingly, AutoCAD’s massive success likely ties to its early adoption by a myriad of designers well before the age of Windows.
This program originated in 1982 as one of five products released upon the opening of software designer Autodesk. AutoCAD was an almost immediate hit and is continually the industry’s most popular CAD software. Even in an age before graphical interfaces and mouse inputs, AutoCAD provided next-level design capabilities that made it a must-have for most designers. Though it continually changes with each iteration, its core techniques and operational qualities remain.
Top AutoCAD Certificate Programs in NYC
Learning AutoCAD in a live, online environment is a fun experience and one that can teach you the ins and outs of this software. There are many options available, so please check out the ones listed below. Also note that Noble Desktop provides beginner- and budget-friendly options for training that shouldn’t take up too much of your time. Their courses work well if you don’t have the time or money to learn AutoCAD in a more in-depth, university-level experience.
AutoCAD Level I
Noble Desktop is an NYC-based Facility That Offers In-person Training at Their Office, As Well As Virtual Learning If You Prefer That Option. As a Tech-based School, They Provide Many Benefits Like Small Class Sizes, One-on-one Training, a Virtual Learning Setup, and a Free Retake If You Need to Take the Course Again. in AutoCAD Level I, You’ll Learn All About the Ins and Outs of This Program, Including How to Create Drawings Using Its Basic Tools in a Completely Digital Environment.
Then, You’ll Progress to Topics Like Creating and Editing Drawings, Using Object Snaps, Mastering Tracking Options, Organizing Your Drawings Properly, Creating Layers, Inserting Blocks, and Learning About Various 3D Modeling Options. Taking Place over 18 Hours, This $599 Class Gives You the Insightful Help You Need to Master AutoCAD. Note That There Are Other More Advanced Courses That You Can Take, Each of Which Comes with a Unique and Personalized Certificate.
Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop offers a comprehensive version of the AutoCAD Bootcamp aimed specifically at students who are looking to pass a certification exam in AutoCAD. The AutoCAD Certification Program includes all of the training provided in the AutoCAD Bootcamp as well as additional one-on-one mentoring sessions designed to ensure that you leave the class feeling comfortable with your AutoCAD training. As part of the tuition for the course, students will have the option of taking the AutoCAD certification exam at the end of the program or receiving another session of one-on-one mentoring.
AutoCAD Bootcamp is a Noble Desktop course that teaches you the fundamentals of technical drawing to produce 2D designs in this program. Designed for beginners, it covers AutoCAD’s user interface, its unique design, and more advanced skills. By the end of the course, you should feel comfortable working in AutoCAD and producing basic projects. You can take it on weekdays or evenings, depending on your schedule, to attend each live session.
Note that this bootcamp includes two units: AutoCAD Level I and AutoCAD Level II. You can take these two courses separately, if you prefer. However, Noble Desktop provides a discount if you take them together in a package. You can then move on to the more advanced AutoCAD Level III or even 3D Modeling in AutoCAD options, depending on your interests and skills. These extra courses add a further 24 hours to your training, so be prepared for that.
Self-Paced AutoCAD Training
Virtual Design & Construction Institute (VDCI)
The Virtual 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.
Students looking for an accelerated introduction to AutoCAD and computer-aided design generally may be interested in taking this Intro to AutoCAD 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.
VDCI also offers a CAD/BIM Certificate Program that combines AutoCAD training with Revit Building Information Modeling (BIM) training. Offering more specialized training for those working in construction and architectural design, this program aims to help students become career-ready designers as soon as they graduate from the program. This program is designed with novice students in mind, so even if you don’t have a background in CAD, you’ll still be able to follow along with the lessons as you move from novice to expert in only a few short weeks of training. This program focuses on practical, hands-on skills training, and students will leave the course with real-world examples of design projects (including an elaborate capstone) that can be added to their job materials to help them demonstrate their proficiency to prospective employers and contractors.
Autodesk
Offered by Autodesk on the Coursera platform, Autodesk Certified Professional: AutoCAD for Design and Drafting Exam Prep is exactly what its mouthful of a name suggests. In this 18-hour course (spread across six hours a week over three weeks), you’ll learn how to draw and organize objects in AutoCAD, use advanced editing functions, integrate the User Coordinate System in your designs, create layouts, manage output, and print your documents.
This course includes four quizzes that, when you pass, earn you a shareable certificate that you can put on your LinkedIn profile. It offers a flexible schedule that you can take at your own pace, meaning you could do all six weekly hours in one day. Financial aid is also available if you can’t afford this class’s one-time fee. Note that this is considered an advanced class, so while you don’t need AutoCAD experience, you should know about drafting and design concepts.
What You’ll Learn While Becoming AutoCAD Certified
When you get AutoCAD certified, you will learn a myriad of unique skills that make this career path easier and even more enjoyable to start. In fact, we think that a lot of people will have fun learning about AutoCAD and its unique design scope. Before you begin, it’s important to take a deep look at the skills you’ll master in a learning course. Doing so can ensure that you’re prepared for this unique process and give you the hands-on support that you need to succeed.
Design
AutoCAD courses often include specific design lessons that touch on things you may have learned when becoming a drafter. For example, you’ll learn about concepts like design aesthetics, proper stress testing, and other ideas. If you’ve never taken a drafting or engineering class, you may still learn about these concepts in an AutoCAD course. Note, though, that most certificate programs focus on the program entirely, which could limit your learning potential.
Drafting
Drafting is the art of creating technical drawings with various tools. In the past, it consisted of using paper, pencils, erasers, rulers, t-squares, and compasses to produce the shapes necessary for each drawing. In AutoCAD, this process includes greatly simplified steps, like automatic line leveling and curving, that make drafting easier. Note that mastering these skills requires a lot of patience, steady reflexes, and experience with fundamental design concepts.
AutoCAD Interface
Like any computer program, AutoCAD possesses a user interface or UI that lets you create intricate styles, shapes, and designs. Mastering this interface includes learning how to start new documents, save your work, export designs properly, and handle its mechanics. AutoCAD’s many tools may seem daunting at first and can be hard even for experienced drafters to master. With time and training, though, you should feel more comfortable using AutoCAD regularly.
Modeling
AutoCAD modeling includes properly rendering your projects and creating three-dimensional models that give you a realistic look at each of your designs. Rendering will take a 2D or 3D project and provide texture and other features that help it look great. This process doesn’t occur automatically and requires you to carefully tweak your designs to ensure that they look strong. Understanding these ideas can help you create attractive, interesting projects more effectively.
Animation
AutoCAD’s animation program lets you animate and move your designs to see how well they work in real life. For example, you could use this software to automate an assembly line design to see how well it flows. AutoCAD uses a realistic physics engine when creating these animations and even lets you simulate many types of difficult tests. By mastering this process, you can improve your designs and make sure they meet specific design concepts.
AutoCAD Industries in NYC
As the Largest City in the Nation, It Shouldn’t Be Surprising That New York City Has a Diverse and Engaging Economy. for Instance, There Are Many Drafting Industries Throughout the City That Need Specialists Who Can Create Detailed and Accurate Technical Drawings. While Hands-on Drafting Skills Are Important Even Now, Most Drafting is Done with Programs Like AutoCAD. This Software Lets You Create Designs Quickly and Automates Many of the Most Challenging Tasks.
New York City’s Diverse Market Includes Many Unique Industries That Frequently Hire People with AutoCAD Skills. These Include Some Pretty Obvious Ones That Shouldn’t Surprise You and a Few That Might Be a Little Shocking. Some of These Fields Might Require You to Get More Specialized Training Based on That Industry, so Be Prepared for That Possibility. Some Might Even Provide Extra Education for You If Your AutoCAD Skills Are Strong. Just a Few to Consider Include:
- Aerospace Engineering: New York City’s Aerospace Industry is a Surprisingly Diverse and Fascinating Field That Includes Myriad Companies for You to Try Out. This Field Typically Needs AutoCAD Specialists to Design Airplanes, Rockets, and Other Types of Vehicles. Note That These Skills Also Translate to Automotive Industries, Though There Are Few of Those in NYC.
- Biomedical: It Might Be Surprising to Know but Many of New York’s Top Biomedical Firms Need AutoCAD Specialists. for Example, You Might Use AutoCAD When Designing Software Programs for Drug Testing or Even Facilities for Safe Drug Manufacturing. You Might Even Design New Products and Machines for Diagnosing and Treating Various Conditions.
- Energy: There Are Currently over 200 Different Energy and Utility Companies in New York City. These Firms Often Need AutoCAD Specialists to Design Blueprints for Power Plants. You Might Also Design New Energy Systems and Products. As a Result, You’ll Need Working Knowledge of These Concepts and the Ability to Translate Them in Your Drawings.
- Civil Engineering: Civil Engineering Companies in New York City Often Need People with AutoCAD Skills to Design Unique Projects. for Example, You Might Produce Roadways, Bridges, Rail Systems, Sewage Designs, Airports, and Other Public Buildings. Getting This Kind of Work Often Involves Working Directly with NYC City Officials, Improving Your Earning Potential.
- Architecture: Architects in New York City Often Use AutoCAD and Other Similar Software Products to Design Intricate Buildings and Ensure That They Look Great and Provide Strong Structural Support. the Sheer Number of Employers in This Field in New York Should Make It Easier for You to Find a Career That Suits Your Personal Skills and Unique Interests.
AutoCAD Careers in NYC
If You’re Interested in a Career That Uses AutoCAD, Here Are a Few to Consider:
- Drafter: As a Drafter, You’ll Make Between $63,000 and $82,000 a Year in New York City or an Average of $72,000. You’ll Likely Use Primarily Physical Drafting Tools but May Also Use CAD Software to Help Improve Your Drafting Process.
- CAD Drafter: When You Get a Job As a CAD Drafter, You’ll Use CAD Software to Produce a Myriad of Designs for Your Customers. You’ll Earn Between $50,000 and $69,000 in New York City, with an Average Salary of About $58,000 Annually.
- CAD Designer: You Can Make Between $63,000 and $82,000 As a CAD Designer in New York City. This Career Covers a Broad Array of Different Skills, Including Integrating Various Drafting Processes in a Three-dimensional Environment to Improve Your Design Accuracy.
- Graphic Designer: the Graphic Designer Field May Use AutoCAD When Creating Various Products Due to This Program’s Potent Power and Adaptability. Expect to Get About $56,000 to $66,000 in This Field in New York City or an Average of $62,000.
- Architect: Being an Architect in New York City is a Very Rewarding Career, As You Can Earn Between $96,000 and $119,000 in This Field. You Will Potentially Use AutoCAD Regularly When Designing Commercial Buildings and Other Unique Facilities.
Should You Pursue a Certificate or Certification
When researching your online training options, it’s critical to understand that certificates and certifications are not the same thing. Yes, the terms sound very similar, but they mean very different things. Let’s start by examining certificates, which you get if you complete an in-depth training program. For example, completing a university AutoCAD learning course comes with a certificate that shows that you’ve earned the skills to use this program successfully.
The biggest differences between certificates and certifications are the experience levels needed and the scope of the course. While earning a certificate focuses on beginner-level knowledge, a certification is an expert-level designation you can only earn after passing an exam. Furthermore, you can’t take a certification test unless you possess a specific level of experience. Thankfully, your certificate training program should qualify you for an Autodesk cert!
What is the Difference Between a Certificate and a Certification?
While both certificates and certifications are used to demonstrate your proficiency with AutoCAD (or any similar professional skill), they test this proficiency in very different ways. A certificate is awarded to students who complete a training course that focuses on practical AutoCAD skills, so you can think of it as akin to a diploma or other indicator of completing some kind of skills program. These programs demonstrate proficiency through the reputability of the program issuing the certificate, but industry-standard training options are generally understood. By contrast, a certification is awarded to professionals who pass a sit-down skills exam proctored by a first-party developer or professional institution. These exams will test your knowledge of the application and your ability to utilize the application in real-world professional situations.
The practical difference here is that certificates and certifications have different target audiences, with certificates aimed at students who have fairly minimal AutoCAD skills and need professional training and development. The training is the main selling point, and the certificate is merely a way to signal to potential employers that your training came from a legitimate provider. Certifications, on the other hand, are targeted at professionals who are comfortable with their AutoCAD training and wish to have a more direct way of demonstrating the validity of that training. These courses rarely include any training (though some offer paid study materials or sample exams), so the assumption underlying them is that test-takers are expected to have substantive AutoCAD skills in advance of taking the exam.
This means that the choice of which of the two to pursue will come down to whether or not you feel confident enough in your AutoCAD skills to pass a sit-down proficiency exam. If you have no prior AutoCAD experience, then you will almost certainly want to take a certificate-granting training program (and really, what does it say about the certification exam if you can pass it sight unseen). If you have been working with AutoCAD professionally and just want to update your credentials, a certification is almost certainly going to be the best option. Students with some AutoCAD training may want to consider a certificate-granting refresher course to help prepare them for a certification exam, but the value of this will vary from student to student, so there is no one-size-fits-all option.
In addition, you should be aware that many certifications regularly expire, forcing professionals to retake the exam at regular intervals to demonstrate that their training is up-to-date and still relevant. This does help ensure that your professional credentials are still useful for demonstrating your proficiency in AutoCAD, but it can add a layer of difficulty to your training process. Certificates never expire, but they hinge heavily on the training provider in question remaining relevant. This isn’t usually an issue over the long term, but it is something to consider when looking at your options for certificate programs.
Why Become Certified in AutoCAD?
AutoCAD certification provides you with a next-level addition to your resume. Simply put, professional certifications and training certificates make you a more appealing job candidate. To understand why, let’s break down a typical employee search process from the employer’s perspective. The first thing they do is toss out any resumes that don’t have the qualifications they need. Then, they find ones that stand out in some unique and interesting way.
For example, they might look at work experience first and narrow down their options based on who they think can best satisfy a job’s demands. Once they’ve selected a handful of candidates based on this factor, they will look at anything else that stands out. Many will scroll to the bottom of the resume and look for certifications and certificates. Therefore, people with an AutoCAD certification will immediately stand out and are more likely to get pulled for future interviews.
Furthermore, certification requires you to have a high level of skill, meaning you typically need to take training courses to master various AutoCAD abilities. While some general drafting capabilities may transfer easily to AutoCAD, there are unique things you need to learn when mastering this software. In the next section, we’ll highlight some of the most critical things you’ll practice and master in your certificate and certification training for AutoCAD use.
