Autodesk Certifications

[Spenner]

Hi,

I am looking at getting myself a AutoCAD certification but I would like to hear from people who have already done this. I have 12 years experience using AutoCAD so I know how to use AutoCAD.

Do you have to use a certified training centre to obtain the certification or can it be done online?
Do you need to get any further training in any areas before you took the exams?
How was it easy or hard?
How much does it generally cost? (I am in the UK so if anyone has done it over here it would be great to know the cost in £)

Any further information that you may think useful would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Gareth

[rkmcswain]

They were offering this at AU a few years ago, and strongly suggested that you do some of the practice tests before taking the real thing, and really made it seem like it was a difficult test. Well, I went ahead and took both tests (AutoCAD Associate and Professional) with no preparation and passed them easily. If you have 12 years experience, I would say you should have no problems also.

Most of your other questions can be answered here: http://www.autodesk.com/certification

[maverick.79.247186]

I just took the ACAD 2010 Professional test one week ago. Got 100%. I've been using cad since 1988. It was an easy test but be very careful how you snap to objects and enter your answers. Usually it is the dumb typos that get you on these tests.

For the associate level exam, study, study, and study more. Memorize terminology that Autocad uses, dialog box contents, pull downs and icon pictures.

They ask you VERY specific questions so just study like a maniac for the associate exam.

You should be fine with your 12 years. I highly recommend purchasing and trying the assement tests because they are VERY similar to the real test.

Don't know about the cost. Check out Autodesk's certification website. All the info is there. Maybe yours will be in pounds for the currency.

Good luck and just do it!

[colinfindlay.41311]

I took the 2011 AutoCAD (associate) yesterday and passed with 80%. Funnily enough I considered it very easy in that it seemed to stress very very simple AutoCAD. As to why I got such a poor score, I think because I've been doing so much more advanced Civil, Architectural, 3D, Cad Management type work.

The test was snaps, multiline text, dimensions, arrays, selection methods etc the simple stuff ... knowing xrefs, sheet sets, 3d modeling, environment and system variables, anything vertical, any cad managerial tasks, etc is more of detriment.

If you normally answer the question "how do you split columns of multiline text" with "you get your underlings to do it" ... you may struggle.

[CCDesigner]

I have to agree with Maverick, it was an easy test; but I also did a lot of studying prior to taking BOTH exams back-to-back. I passed the Associate with an 80% and the Professional with 100%. In addition to what Maverick already stated, I have two additional tips for anyone preparing to get certified:

1. Take the online assessment exams. They will REALLY REALLY help you ALOT. I'm serious. They are definitely worth the little money you spend to make sure that you are prepared.
2. If you can, schedule both exams (Associate & Professional) for the same day. This will allow you to prepare for both of them and everything will be fresh in your head.

Good Luck and let us know how you do.

[Ed Jobe]

If you can make it to AU, they usually offer the associate testing for free.

[Brian Myers]

Last year they offered both Associate and Professional certifications at AU for free and I have read a post from Autodesk stating that certification would be back again this year as well. Last year I completed my Revit certification at AU, this year I may do both Revit and AutoCAD if I don't get certified before then.

[Craig_L]

What is the benefit to having the certification?

I would consider the Revit certification, but...what's it going to do for me?
No employer I have ever known asks for it. They know on the first day you show up for work if you know how to operate CAD or not....

[Brian Myers]

I tell people that certification is good for two things:

1.) It shows employers that you care about furthering your education and bettering yourself. The certification itself likely won't get you hired, but that along with signs that you are continuing to improve your industry knowledge, standing, and performance? That goes a long way.

2.) It gives you a goal to achieve. If you are good enough to pass the certification then you know that you are keeping up with others in your profession. If you can't pass it then it gives you a direction to guide you toward professional improvement and in that you'll gain a personal level of satisfaction as you achieve these goals. That revitalizes your drive and encourages you to continue your growth as a professional, which leads back to my point #1 above.

Certification itself means little, but as they say, it's not reaching your destination that makes you a better person, it's the journey on your way to reach it. In this case the destination is your professional and person goals, the certification is but a step in the direction you want. If it won't provide a stepping stone toward fulfilling those life goals then certification isn't something you should do.

In short... don't do it for others, go for it if it's the right thing to accomplish that professional and personal journey to fulfill those life goals. The certification is paper, the other things you can potentially gain along the way are the reward.

[Craig_L]

All fair points, and I hadn't thought of it that way.
Thanks

[civil3Dguide]

I have taken a few of these and I find them mis-leading at times in the wording. I also do not like not being able to use two monitors, I find myself switching back and forth rereading the question. I missed 2 on a Civil exam because I was unfamiliar with a simple term. I blame it on my Georgia roots! But not getting a 100% is surprising and frustrating. I would never think less of someone who failed one of these test. I believe that one of the goals is for you to fail so you have to pay to retake it.

[Brian Myers]

I believe that one of the goals is for you to fail so you have to pay to retake it.

Actually, I don't believe that's the case. Lets step back and look at the big picture. Who's writing these tests? Well, it's likely not a professional writer or an individual with a degree in adult education. This brings us a major problem. It's likely a former industry person, with extensive software knowledge, that's being charged to write a test on obscure features that they've rarely used themselves. So:

1.) The person isn't a professional writer.
2.) The person isn't a professional with experience in writing tests or adult education.
3.) The person is an expert in the software and industry; unfortunately they do not have extensive expertise in the application of this specific process as it's A: still a very new feature and B: rarely used.
4.) This person likely has other job duties within their organization and is under a time deadline to get the test completed (developed).

If the above 4 assumptions are correct, then getting a wonderful quality examination is a long shot. That doesn't mean the exams are necessarily bad, I'm just stating that I don't believe they are written to intentionally be confusing. They are good for what they are but sometimes not well executed for the above reasons.

[civil3Dguide]

Brian, you make some good points.
There are in a rush to create these each year. I was even been part of the Beta process for the 2011 AutoCAD and Civil 3D test.
I do not blame to writers at all.

I do think they should be multiple choice however for this reason. Some answers are to the thousands place, and if you are off by 1/1000th your answer is wrong. In AutoCAD Civil 3D this would not make a difference at all, in the real world.

A question that says "what is the second to last object" is which one out of five? I worked for an Autodesk reseller, and they didn't even like for us to take them.
I've been the only person in an entire state to pass some of these. Did that make me the best CAD guy in the state? No it didn't.

These test are also based out of the approved Autodesk course-ware, which is not very good. But if you work through the exercises twice than you can pass the test. Even if you are not good at any real world design functions in the software.

Here is another one of my issues. If you pass a professional exam once, then from that point forward you just have to pass the Associate exam each year and they give you the professional certification. You can get the AutoCAD professional certification and not even know how to do anything in 3D.

If it's free or someone else is paying take it. If it helps you in your career advancement or getting a job, than take it. But don't beat yourself up if you fail!