Looking to up-level your skills? Want to advance your career? AutoCAD certification can help! Here are four things you need to know about certification—and some may surprise you.
#1: Why Certification Will Help You and Your Career
Earning your certification has a myriad of benefits. First off, it helps you stand out from the competition with the positive proof of your proficiency and expertise with a comprehensive skill set. It’s also a nice badge of honor among your peers.
And then there’s the bottom line that we all care about: salary. According to Burning Glass, certifications can both open doors and grow careers, helping professionals earn salary premiums of 18% on average.
“There are multiple industries where literally if you can just master a single software, you can find yourself gainfully employed for the next several decades,” said Ian Siegel, CEO of ZipRecruiter. AutoCAD, a program used to create 2D and 3D drawings, is always in high demand, according to Siegel.
CNBC, “Mastering just one of these software programs will lead to decades of employment“
#2: Requirements for AutoCAD Certification
Getting certified in AutoCAD is easier than you think with the Autodesk Certified Professional in AutoCAD for Design and Drafting. It’s developed for those with advanced skills and can solve complex challenges in workflow and design. Certification is valid for three years.
You typically need approximately 400 (minimum) to 1200 (recommended) hours of real-world AutoCAD software experience and a general understanding of the following topics:
- Drawing and organizing objects
- Drawing with accuracy
- Advanced editing functions
- Advanced layouts, printing, and alternative outputs
- Annotation techniques
- Reusable content and drawing management
#3: How to Get Ready for the Exam
The Autodesk Certification program has all the test prep you need.
The AutoCAD certification prep is self-paced and takes about 10 hours to complete. A pre-test helps to gauge where you stand. Then the easy-to-use learning modules keep track of each unit completed so you’re always on the right track. A practice test at the end ensures you’re ready for the real deal!
Not quite ready to go for the full certification? The Learning Pathways hub provides unlimited, free access to skill-builder and certification prep courses. You can get ready or simply enhance your skill set with additional courses to learn at your own pace and track your progress. Each of the following take anywhere from two to four hours to complete depending on the course.
- Technical Drawing for Design and Drafting
- Drawing Management for Design and Drafting
- Annotating and Dimensioning for Design and Drafting
- Creating and Modifying Objects with Accuracy for Design and Drafting
- Layout and Output Drawings for Design and Drafting
#4: Details for the Exam
What does the exam actually entail? Here’s the breakdown of what you can expect from the Pearson VUE-hosted certification exams:
- 120-minute exam time
- 45-60 questions, including multiple choice, drag-and-drop, active screen, “hot area,” and graphic interpretation
- Exam and proctor available in English
- Scored with pass/fail
- Online or in-person testing options. In-person may be limited at this time.
- $150 fee
You can also see the breakdown of topics in the document available here. Upon successful completion of your certification, you’ll receive both a digital badge and personalized certificate for download. Get started today!
50% Discount for a Limited Time
And there’s a special bonus right now! This year, Autodesk University 2021 attendees are eligible to receive 50% off the standard retail price of 150 USD towards any Autodesk Associate, Professional, or Expert Certification exam. Individuals must visit this site to submit their information in order to receive their offer code via email. Offer is good for an Autodesk Certification exam purchased through PearsonVUE scheduled and taken by October 31, 2021.
“I think it’s a good thing to recommend to people to get certified. It’s a standard and it gives you legitimacy in the workplace. Our company does pay for professional development. They make sure that all of us are up to date on current software and industry trends. An Autodesk certification is a good validation in your career. It clearly says that you know what you’re doing. It’s not just me telling you that I know what I’m doing, it’s verified.”
Brian Kish, Architect
