Best Online CAD Certificate Programs

Instructors design CAD certificates to teach the technical skills and knowledge needed to help design and visualize engineering and architecture projects. As a CAD student, you'll receive lessons on one or more specialty software packages, three-dimensional design, and parametric modeling. Programs may be 18-30 credit hours long and typically last two terms, which can take 9-12 months.

There are two main types of CAD programs:

As a computer-based discipline, CAD translates well to online learning. Most courses are asynchronous, without set class times. You sign in to a learning management system at your convenience to view recorded lectures, complete CAD software assignments, and take tests.

Admission Requirements

Vocational or trade schools and community colleges usually offer undergraduate CAD certificates. These institutions often have open admissions that require little more than official high school or GED transcripts. You may need to take a technology or mathematics aptitude test, and the school might ask for letters of recommendation from teachers.

Graduate certificates are more common at four-year colleges or universities, which typically have stricter admission standards. However, the requirements for graduate certificates are lower than for master's degrees or doctoral programs. You'll submit official bachelor's degree transcripts showing your undergraduate studies in a relevant field. Beyond this, you may need letters of recommendation and a personal statement, but this is at the discretion of the program administrators.

A CAD certificate's worth differs depending on your educational and work experience. An undergraduate certificate might not be worth the investment, especially given the decline of drafting as a separate profession. But professionals who use drafting in their work are perfectly placed to learn these skills in a graduate certificate program and make themselves more marketable to employers.

Potential Benefits

Potential Drawbacks

Drafters often pursue certification for a potential boost to both salary and employability. They can also seek further education. An associate degree in CAD might be worthwhile if all of your certificate credits transfer because then you won't need to repeat CAD classes you've already taken. Otherwise, you might pursue a related subject, such as engineering technology, or consider bachelor's degree options in engineering, architecture, or interior design.

Professionals who already have a college education are already advancing their careers by seeking CAD credentials. But they can also earn certifications or seek higher degrees in their field.

The details vary for individual certifications, but for each, you'll need to do the following:

• Gain experience with the relevant software — Autodesk recommends at least 150 hours for associate certifications and 400-1,200 hours for professional or expert certifications.
• Study for the exam using a test-preparation book and Autodesk's free online modules (linked to from each certification page).
• Pay the exam fee and pass the online test.

Most Autodesk certifications last for three years. You need to retest in order to renew your credential.

You might earn an associate certification in approximately 12 months: about nine months to earn your CAD certificate and then another three to study, gain experience, and pass the online exam. Technically, you can be certified without any experience as soon as you pay for and pass the exam, but it's better to earn the recommended hours of software experience — during a certificate program, personal time, or on the job — and study to achieve the best results.

Autodesk charges $150-250, depending on the certification. Investing in a study guide might set you back another $30-40, unless you get one from your local library.