How Online AutoCAD Education Boosts Your Career
Last Updated on September 4, 2024
Computer-aided design is quickly becoming a trademark tool for dozens of industries, used for everything from traditional design work in engineering and architecture to innovative developments in medicine and art. AutoCAD fluency is becoming a highly sought-after and marketable skill for seasoned experts and new learners alike.
Looking for a Career Change?
If you’re looking for new career opportunities that match personal fulfillment with high salaries, AutoCAD work is for you. AutoCAD software spans across many different industries, but creative, detail-oriented work is a fundamental commonality. AutoCAD-based careers are founded on variety–each project brings its own challenges and opportunities, so AutoCAD experts need to be able to think on their feet and adjust their approach. AutoCAD work is in high demand; these skills can open life-long career opportunities for those that are willing to hone and develop their CAD abilities.
AutoCAD Careers
AutoCAD is always expanding into new territory—these are just a few examples of the industries founded on CAD work.
Engineering
Engineers are responsible for conceptualizing designs. With AutoCAD software, engineers produce designs for mechanical components and systems. Engineering work generates solutions for practical problems through the development of everything from satellite navigation systems (mechanical engineering) to industrial city infrastructure (civil engineering). The daily life of an engineer includes adjusting and modifying designs, conducting research, and running simulations, all of which can be performed and coordinated with AutoCAD. Many entry-level positions, such as engineering assistants, don’t require a college degree. With comprehensive training in CAD software, you can launch a lifelong engineering career.
Designing
Two primary types of AutoCAD design work are interior design and industrial design. Both interior and industrial designers use AutoCAD to develop products and create 2D and 3D renderings. Interior designers focus on modeling physical spaces such as living rooms and office lobbies, and industrial designers develop manufactured projects such as cars, tools, or toys. Through 2D and 3D modeling, designers generate compelling prototypes to present to clients. While these projects may require a variety of design software, AutoCAD belongs in the toolbelt of every designer. Since designers require a portfolio to present to clients, it’s never too early to begin developing professional AutoCAD models to use in your career.
Drafting
Drafters use systems like AutoCAD to convert the designs of engineers and architects into blueprints and technical drawings. From there, these drawings are used to create the final product, whether it’s a machine, a building, or a tool. Drafters deal with the specifics of measurements, dimensions, and materials. AutoCAD is integral to drafting. Since AutoCAD can be used to simulate a prototype in action, drafters can use it to create designs that are modified and perfected. Entry-level drafting work emphasizes AutoCAD fluency over college certification. The proper AutoCAD experience could launch you right away into a career as a building design technician or a survey drafter. And these are just two examples—with sub-specializations including mechanical, electronic, and civil drafters, drafting is a career with endless possibilities.
Creating
Alongside these industry standards, there are fields of artistic work that utilize CAD systems to render and design products. AutoCAD is famous for its effectiveness as an architectural tool for developing layouts, floor plans, and infrastructure for buildings of every shape and size. Additionally, sculptors, animators, and other artists can use AutoCAD to develop comprehensive 2D renderings, 3D renderings, and schematics that play a pivotal role in their artistic process. For anyone entering a creative field, an AutoCAD certification makes you stand out as someone with technical and artistic range.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. AutoCAD is now being used to develop prosthetics, aerospace machinery, and more. AutoCAD is a cutting-edge technology with thousands of applications, so the horizon for AutoCAD careers is only expanding.
The AutoCAD Advantage
Since computer-aided design is extensively used across many fields, from industrial and architectural design to healthcare, an AutoCAD proficiency could boost your resume more than you’d expect. Computer-aided design is more than likely to become even more of an industrial cornerstone, so AutoCAD skills illustrate a versatility that can help you advance in your chosen field, spanning beyond engineering and artistic work.
Why AutoCAD?
AutoCAD, a CAD system from Autodesk, is considered to be the longest-standing CAD software. Over the years, it has become the industry standard for computer-aided design programs. Over 140,000 companies use AutoCAD as their computer-aided design system. As CAD work has grown across multiple industries, AutoCAD certification has become a crucial step for prospective employees hoping to stand out to employers and develop the skills they need to thrive in their careers.
Because of the specialized nature of the work, most CAD systems require years of professional experience or training before a user understands how to effectively operate the software and recognize what the system has to offer. AutoCAD is no different. AutoCAD offers hundreds of templates and formats that, if accessed and adjusted correctly, can streamline the work process. Productivity increases by 63% for tasks that are created using a specialized toolset in AutoCAD, so familiarity with the program is crucial for developing a working CAD portfolio. AutoCAD’s long history has allowed them to develop a system that includes the best fundamental tools as well as the new bells and whistles, and its place as an industry standard makes it a must-learn for people entering the CAD field or looking to boost their career.
Self-Directed Online Learning
AutoCAD classes are traditionally taught in a classroom environment following a strict schedule. This system presents a challenge to people trying to begin their AutoCAD career, as following this schedule is impossible for some. There are many that are already deep into their careers that want to sharpen their AutoCAD skills to keep up with the times but are unable to attend live, scheduled classes.
The traditional style of AutoCAD education still works well for many today, but there are new opportunities for remote learning that have transformed AutoCAD training. Online training has opened the door for everyone, regardless of location or schedule restraints. The AutoCAD Fundamental course from ONLC Training Centers is self-directed and online, so you can build your AutoCAD skills at your own pace.
ONLC AutoCAD Training
Our online AutoCAD course includes video tutorials from experts that walk you through real-world work with AutoCAD software, including hatching, creating multiple viewports, attaching and modifying external references, and working with annotations. Quizzes follow the training so that you can check your learning and ensure that you’re comfortable with the material. As a self-paced online course, you can take your time following step-by-step tutorials and exploring templates. Our AutoCAD training starts at the very basics, working up from drawing horizontal and vertical lines to generating 2D views from 3D solids. Our goal is that you leave this course with all of the fundamental skills you need to build your AutoCAD career. Enroll here to learn AutoCAD online.
