If you are looking to enter or advance your career in Computer-Aided Design (CAD), then there is certainly no shortage of avenues to go about improving your skills right here in the US.
Taking an AutoCAD course and learning all about the respective material is a great way to further your development in a specific area. Getting the certification for your resume will also go a long way in enhancing your employment prospects in the space.
It can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to selecting from the array of AutoCAD certifications you have at your disposal. However, through reflection and asking yourself tough questions, you can arrive at a more vivid image of where exactly you wish to take your career.
With an understanding of your tangible career goals, you’ll be able to find a certification that helps you steer your professional development in the right direction.
Understanding AutoCAD and Its Importance
🧑💻 Job Opportunities
🖥️ Enhanced Efficiency
🎨 Creative Control
In order to arrive at the perfect certification for you, you’ll need to look inward and gain an understanding of what your learning preferences are, along with which certification would facilitate development in your current role or aid your transition into a new line of work.
There is also a need to look outward and gain an understanding of exactly what AutoCAD involves and what the respective certifications offer as a means of preparing you for various specializations and levels.
So, AutoCAD is a computer-aided design software made by Autodesk, one of the most reputable names when in the software space as a whole. It’s used by professionals to create and modify two and three-dimensional designs.
The tool saves companies and professionals a great deal of time and effort when you compare its process to the manual efforts that would have had to be employed not too long ago.
Its application enables companies to operate more efficiently and have more creative control over the designs that are made using the software; it’s no wonder why the software has gained such rampant traction across the world.
Types of AutoCAD Certifications
💾 ACU
🖥️ ACA
🖥️ ACI
👷♀️ ACS
👩🏫 ACP
🧑💻 ACS
In order for you to land on an AutoCAD certification that speaks to you and the trajectory you envision your career going over the years to become, you’ll need to be aware of the options that are out there.
Autodesk provides a variety of certification options to verify your expertise in AutoCAD and help you get an edge over the many software users.
Let’s take a look at some of the options available here in the US for various proficiency levels and career paths.
The Autodesk Certified User (ACU)
If you find yourself in one of the elementary stages of the learning process and looking to get your toes wet with AutoCAD, you might want to shift your gaze towards the Autodesk Certified User training course.
If you are looking for a course that would help you secure employment in the AutoCAD space, then you won’t be disappointed with the opportunities that come your way once you complete your learning.
If you have the certificate and around 150 hours of hands-on experience with software in your arsenal, you could land roles like CAD drafter or architectural designer!
If you feel like you might be interested in pursuing further qualifications in AutoCAD, having the ACU certification also provides an effective means of expressing your competency for enrollment in some of the more advanced courses. It provides an important stepping stone that unlocks further options for professional development and learning.
Elevate your design prowess and launch a promising career with the industry-recognized Certiport ACU Certification.
The Autodesk Certified Associate
Another certification that is well-suited for those looking to get some skin in the game when it comes to AutoCAD would be the ACA certification.
If you are looking for a building block to beef up your resume and gain an entry-level credential that will help you establish your proficiency in using these tools, then this is worth investigating.
It will demonstrate that you possess a basic understanding of Autodesk software, such as AutoCAD, Revit, or Inventor.
This cert is definitely worth shortlisting to your prospect training courses as it provides an effective means of learning about the software and entering a fresh career avenue.
You’ll find that it opens a number of doors for you in roles as a junior drafter, design assistant, or intern in architecture and engineering firms.
If you are in any way unsure about what first steps you should take to get stuck into AutoCAD, this certification provides the perfect avenue!
Learn more with CAD courses online on Superprof!
Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI) Certification
Perhaps you are more drawn to working with people, have a passion for the software or enjoy educating. If any of these are true, then you will want to carefully consider the Autodesk Certified Instructor cert.
This means that you will be recognized by Autodesk Learning Partners and acknowledged for your proficiency in the product and your teaching abilities.
If the idea of becoming a technical trainer, corporate training specialist or CAD manager resonates with you, then you may very well have stumbled upon the perfect course for you.
This is, however, a more advanced course that comes with greater requirements than other courses, so your current level with the software will also be a determining factor on whether or not it’s the right fit for you at this current moment.
The steps to acquiring an ACI certification are a little longer than many of the other Autodesk certifications. For starters, becoming an Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI) involves following a process that involves showcasing your proficiency in Autodesk products and teaching skills effectively.
So before you get to the stage of enrolling in a course, you’ll need to make sure that you already have prior certification in AutoCAD under your belt.
Embark on a gratifying professional journey with the ACI Certification, your key to becoming an Autodesk Certified Instructor.
Autodesk Certified Professional (ACP) Certification
If you are looking for a course that will help further your knowledge in CAD and help further your career in the area, then the more advanced Autodesk Certified Professional (ACP) certification should be right up your street.
This cert is provided by Autodesk and is extremely sought-after as a means of showcasing proficiency with the software, particularly across important subject areas such as advanced 3D modeling, precise drawing techniques, annotation skills, and drawing organization.
One aspect of this course that tends to draw the attention of AutoCAD professionals is the practical learning it presents, which is applicable across a multitude of design-oriented roles.
Given the number of sophisticated projects and practical tasks that you’ll engage with over the course of your learning, the course isn’t suitable for those who still find themselves at the beginner level.
The ACP certification is primarily for those who already have significant experience with AutoCAD under their belt, typically requiring around 400 to 1200 hours of hands-on practice!
It provides a great catalyst for embarking on careers that require high-level proficiency, such as senior designers and engineers, specialists and consultants.
Take your AutoCAD expertise to new heights by earning the esteemed Autodesk Certified Professional certification.
The Autodesk Civil 3D Specialist (ACS) Certification
If you are looking for a course that allows you to steer your career in the direction of construction and civil engineering, then the Autodesk Civil 3D Specialist (ACS) certification is going to be of interest to you.
By working your way through the material associated with the certification, you’ll learn all about handling tools, survey techniques, surfacing methods, planning production processes and efficient data management techniques.
This makes for an attractive route for those looking to learn CAD under a more refined scope for construction-oriented professions.
If you are interested in engaging in a diverse range of projects and validating your proficiency in key tools in the Autodesk software, then look no further than the ACS certification!
Unlock a world of engineering and construction possibilities by earning your Autodesk Civil 3D Specialist (ACS) certification.
Jobs that need Autocad certifications
Developing your skills in AutoCAD is a pursuit that is rewarded tenfold through the career prospects that unfold as a result of attaining certifications to demonstrate your proficiency across various design tools.
According to Burning Glass data, certified professionals typically enjoy a salary increase of 18%, making it a valuable long-term investment in your career development.
AutoCAD skills are also heavily relied upon here in the US, so they present great job security. Let’s take a look at some of the roles that you can enter with some of these certifications down on your resume.
Architectural Drafter
You’ll certainly have the right qualifications if you want a career as an architectural drafter, as you’ll be required to draw on a wide range of your CAD learnings when creating drawings and blueprints for various buildings and structures.
As of 2023, there are approximately 112,300 architectural and civil drafter jobs in the United States.
If this is a path that you want to go down, then you’re going to want to set your sights on attaining the Autodesk Certified Professional (ACP) certification.
This credential would go a long way in highlighting your ability to tackle design obstacles with ease and help your resume stand out among the crowd of applicants.
Civil Engineer
Many professionals who study AutoCAD preparation courses here in the US do so with a career in civil engineering in mind.
As of 2023, there are approximately 341,800 civil engineer roles in the United States.
Equipped with what you learned from your Autodesk Certified Professional (ACP) certification, you’ll be well prepared to carry out many of the tasks across civil engineering roles, such as designing and planning infrastructure projects and crafting site blueprints.
Urban Planner
Another job that typically requires AutoCAD qualifications here in the US is urban planners.
This requirement tells of the extent of the tool's involvement in many of the roles’s day-to-day tasks, such as the crafting and presenting of plans related to land usage, transportation networks and community building.
As of 2023, there are approximately 45,200 urban and regional planner jobs in the United States.
This role relies quite heavily on the ability to draft site layouts and envision future projects, which is vital in this profession and, thankfully, is covered in length across many of the AutoCAD certification courses.
Ready to learn? Find AutoCAD classes Los Angeles or wherever you're located with Superprof!
Landscape Architect
If you browse on any job listing websites or LinkedIn for roles in landscape architecture, you’ll notice that many of the advertised roles are seeking graduates with AutoCAD qualifications.
As of 2023, there are approximately 24,700 landscape architect roles in the United States.
This is because the tools are often used in the planning of environments and to craft intricate layouts for parks and gardens along with other lush settings.
The employment of landscape architects is projected to grow by 5% from 2023 to 2033, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations.
In order for your entry into this sort of profession to be smooth sailing, you might want to work towards acquiring the Autodesk Civil 3D Specialist (ACS) certification, as you’ll need to be comfortable constructing 3D models of landscape structures!
Learn AutoCAD with Superprof
Deciding on what type of AutoCAD certification course works best for you becomes a lot easier with an understanding of what field you wish to learn about and what level you are currently at.
Hopefully, after your reading, you will have a better sense of what options are available to you here in the US and the opportunities that are presented to those who earn the various certifications.
If any of the courses mentioned throughout this article captured your interest, then you can gain an introduction or a helping hand to guide you throughout your time preparing for the subsequent assessment on Superprof.
It can be challenging to familiarize yourself with the various software tools as a beginner and equally frustrating when you’re not getting the results you had hoped for in sample exams. Having an experienced mentor from Superprof by your side will ensure that you leave chance out of the equation and prepare effectively for the certification exam.
One of the advantages of reaching out to one of the tutors listed on the Superof tutoring platform is that they’ll be able to assess your competency so that you can find out what level you are at with your learning.
Think of your AutoCAD learning journey as building a house. You’re going to need to begin by laying the foundation before you get around to adding the more flashy features.
They will also be able to guide you on what certification would be the best fit to help steer your professional development in line with your desired career path.
Find AutoCAD training near me easily when you search for a private tutor on Superprof!
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
