If you are looking to invest in yourself and up-skill your competencies in engineering or construction fields, then you likely already find yourself somewhere in the decision process, considering whether Autodesk Civil 3D specialist is an appropriate next step for you.

Well, if you either already find yourself in this career path or envision yourself working in this sector in the not-so-distant future then attaining the certification will go a long way in enhancing your productive capacity in the workplace.

The certification will ensure that you are capable of making an impact from the moment you start your career or help propel your current career in the trajectory of your desired role.

The aim of this article is to walk through the various steps that are involved in becoming an Autodesk Civil 3D Specialist so that you can make a more informed decision about whether or not it’s the right fit for your goals and how you can go about adding this impressive credential to your resume.

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Understanding AutoCAD and Civil 3D Certification

The purpose of taking any course is to gain knowledge in the subject area so you are better equipped to perform in either your academic or professional pursuits. However, when it comes to the workplace, having a certification in AutoCAD can also go a long way in communicating to your current or potential employers that you're skilled and knowledgeable in your work.

In a competitive job market, it’s important that you do everything you can in order to set yourself apart from other applicants gunning for the same position, and there’s no better way to accomplish that than adding valuable qualifications and credentials related to your line of work to your resume.

If you were to knuckle down and earn the Autodesk Civil 3D Specialist certification, you would inherently make yourself a more attractive candidate for roles in civil engineering and infrastructure design industries.

Two engineer going over plans that have been constructed through CAD
Many of the skills that you will learn throughout the course will help you craft intricate designs for the like for construction projects. Photo from Thisisengineering

If you find yourself wondering what the course would entail, you’ll be glad to learn that it involves an expansive range of practical learnings that you’ll be able to take with you into your future roles, as opposed to never needing the information once you put down the pen after the exam.

Throughout your time on the course, you can expect to delve into handling tools, survey techniques, surfacing methods, production processes and efficient data management techniques, all of which are vital skills that are sought after in the contemporary engineering and construction industries.

What Are the Benefits?

🪪 Certificate of Completion

🖥️ Enhanced Skills

đź’µ Higher Potential Earnings

Upon completion of the course, you’ll receive a badge and a customized certificate that you can proudly flash on your resume and professional networking accounts. 

While having the certification down on your resume will certainly draw the attention of employers for any related roles that you apply for in the future, the benefits of taking the course go far beyond this.

Getting certified as an Autodesk Civil 3D Specialist (ACS) will help you stay ahead in your field and present a host of new pathways and fresh career prospects along with it! 

There are few incentives as enticing as those that promise a financial return. When you consider that those who hold this certification often see a sizable bump in their earnings with a raise of around 18%, your hard work and the time you put into pursuing the ACS qualification will certainly be rewarded.

What Do You Need?

If you think that this sounds like something that you’d be interested in and feel like it might be an appropriate next step for whatever career path you envision yourself in, then you might be wondering what you need to enroll in the course.

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Course Prerequisites

This course is on the advanced level of AutoCAD, so you will need to have developed a solid foundation in AutoCAD and Civil 3D software if you are going to complete the course with confidence that you will be capable of passing the exams without any complications.

Boost your AutoCAD skills and kickstart your design career with the Certiport ACU Certification.

What Jobs Require ACS Certification?

⚙️ Mechanical Engineer

🖥️ AutoCAD Drafter

⚡️ Electrical Engineer

👷‍♀️ Civil Engineer

There are plenty of roles that seek fresh graduates and experienced professionals who possess the learnings that surface over the course of the ACS qualification.

Throughout your learning, you can expect to develop crucial technical drawing, drawing management, creating and modifying objects accurately, and layout and output drawings.

There are countless jobs that either outright seek candidates who have ACS qualifications or the skills that are developed throughout the course.

Two engineer conversing over the designs for a building sight
If you browse any job listing website, there is a high likelihood that the requirements for any civil engineering role will require the certification. Photo from Thisisengineering

Mechanical Engineers might use it to create manufacturing processes and design motor parts, robots, and other innovative objects.

Electrical Engineers could use it to map out electrical systems, while Civil Engineers might use it to help design bridges and roads. Other jobs that utilize AutoCAD are Architects, Interior Designers, and Fine Artists. 

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Salary for Jobs That Require an ACU Cert

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a Mechanical Engineer is $96,000, while an Electrical Engineer makes around $103,000 and a Civil Engineer makes $89,000.

If you lack the education or experience for these higher-level roles, you could become an AutoCAD Designer and make approximately $66,000 starting out. Similarly, an AutoCAD Drafter can make around $61,000, with the potential to earn upwards of $85,000 with a few years of experience. 

The jobs that require or prefer ACS certification include civil engineers, infrastructure designers, land surveyors, and construction project managers.

These are the jobs that most typically seek employees capable of using Civil 3D to create detailed 3D models for infrastructure projects, perform site analysis, and generate construction documentation, but the list is by no means confined to these examples. 

Navigate the job market with confidence when you find a suitable AutoCAD certification tailored to your aspirations.

Autodesk Civil 3D Specialist Training Courses

🎓 Autodesk University

🖥️ LinkedIn Learning

📚 Learning Partners

đź“– Pearson VUE

There is no shortage of avenues that you can go down if you’ve got your sights set on becoming an Autodesk Civil 3D specialist. You’ll have your fair share of training platforms to choose from, each with its own unique set of offerings and a common curriculum that will prepare you for the exam.

If you think that you’d benefit most from an instructor-led course, then you probably would be best off heading over to an ONLC Training Center. 

Hear first-hand from a Civil 3D product manager.

If you’re juggling your study with work or study commitments or just have a preference for more flexible learning options, then you may be better suited to the on-demand courses provided by various learning platforms.

Here, you will be able to go about your learning at your own pace by advancing through the course’s video tutorials and practical exercises until you feel comfortable answering the subsequent assessments.

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Autodesk University

When looking to get your hands on the Autodesk Civil 3D specialist certification, you don’t have to go all that far at all. 

Autodesk itself offers the associated course through Autodesk University.

The course structure covers everything you’ll need for the assessment and covers topics such as the Civil 3D interface, alignments for road layout designs, object and label styles, and existing conditions modelling for civil projects.

A look at the Autodesk Civil 3D Course.

Of course, when you're choosing a learning platform to prepare with, exam preparation is going to be at the forefront of your search criteria. 

However, this course will also allow you to develop all of the practical skills that you need for a career once you’ve got your certification under your belt, covering valuable skills such as roadway and bridge modeling, pipe networks, and creating surfaces from point clouds.

The ACI Certification opens doors to a rewarding career as an Autodesk Certified Instructor.

LinkedIn Learning

There are few platforms that are turned to as often as LinkedIn Learning when it comes to learning any skill or taking a professional development course.

The professional networking platform has garnered a reputation for providing top-notch educational services and has become a favorite option for those looking to attain AutoCAD qualifications.

When it comes to the course that the platform provides for those looking to become an Autodesk Civil 3D specialist, it provides a well-rounded learning journey that is tailored for the exam you’ll be faced with in order to attain your cert.

A look at one of LinkedIn Learning's lessons on Civil 3D.

Throughout your time working through the various components of the course, you’ll learn about crucial subjects such as data management, profile alignments, pipe networks and plan production.

Autodesk Learning Partners

If you feel like you would benefit more from learning in person, then you may decide that learning from one of Autodesk’s learning partners would be the best choice for you. 

What stands out about this learning option is that you actually have some choice in how you approach the learning experience.

It also provides the opportunity to engage with the course through online and hybrid options.

The courses are also provided by Autodesk Certified Instructors, so you can be sure that you are getting a top-notch learning experience and that no stone goes unturned in your preparation.

Through the curriculum’s effective mix of hands-on practice, theory and project-based learning, you’ll be well able to succeed in the exam and perform in your career thereafter!

Master AutoCAD and stand out in your field with the industry-recognized Autodesk Certified Professional credential.

Pearson VUE

Many professionals and students alike who set themselves the task of becoming an Autodesk Civil 3D specialist choose to do so with Pearson VUE. 

What to expect from a Pearson testing centre.

Pearson VUE offers preparation for the associated course as well as both in-person and online testing centers via the Pearson OnVue platform.

Once you’ve refined your knowledge of the associated material and feel confident about taking the exam, you’ll also want to know about how the assessment looks.

Well, you will be assessed through a series of multiple-choice questions and actually won’t need to use any software at all!

A civil engineer designing plans for a project on his laptop
The Autodesk Civil 3D course is particularly valuable to those looking to pursue a career in construction or civil engineering. Photo from Ivan Samkov

Preparing for the Civil 3D Specialist Exam

Given the wide-spanning curriculum associated with preparing for the Civil 3D Specialist Exam, there is a need to adopt a strategic approach to your exam preparations.

There are certain components of the Civil 3D Specialist Exam that there’s simply no getting around if you are looking to achieve a passing grade and get your hands on the certification.

For starters, you’ll want to cover road design in great detail as it’s a critical component of the exam, where you'll need to showcase your expertise in creating alignments and profiles, which form the backbone of any road project. 

Another valuable learning that comes from taking the course is proficiency in planning production workflows and your ability to interpret and present engineering drawings to a professional standard. So, there is an inherent need to show all of this off when you sit your exam to show that you are worthy of being awarded the certification.

You’re really killing two birds with one stone, as by preparing for the subsequent assessment, you’ll earn a higher grade while also developing core skills that will aid you over the course of your career!

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Samuel

University teaching Assistant in Business Strategy, Statistics, Economics and Project management. My interests include reading, live music, chess and travel.