CAD Certificate

What you'll learn

• Create precise 2D technical drawings using AutoCAD, the industry-standard CAD software
• Apply drafting best practices for construction, architecture, and engineering projects
• Organize drawings with layers, blocks, dimensions, and annotations for professional documentation
• Interpret and produce construction documents, floor plans, elevations, and detail views
• Work with real-world design scenarios to build practical skills and problem-solving techniques
• Expand your skill set with elective training in Revit Fundamentals for 3D modeling

Course outline

1. 1 Commercial Blueprint Reading 6 hours

   Gain the skills to read construction blueprints for mixed-use commercial projects, including hotels, retail spaces, and parking, with an emphasis on interrelationships between drawings and how 3D models simplify construction documents.

   • Navigate and read various types of construction plans, including architectural, structural, MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing), and site drawings
   • Understand how different sets of drawings relate to one another and identify overlapping details across plan sets to enable greater collaboration
   • Analyze real-world blueprints and construction documents to apply your learning in a practical context
   • Use professional construction drawings for estimating costs, scheduling, and ensuring accurate execution on site
2. 2 Residential Blueprint Reading 6 hours

   Learn the fundamentals of blueprint reading for residential construction, from understanding drawing types to interpreting complex construction documents, to gain a solid foundation for your career in the construction industry.

   • Understand the purpose of different drawings in a set of construction documents and how they work.
   • Examine the use of scale across various types of drawings in a blueprint set
   • Identify recurring elements and formatting across blueprint sets for building permits and other compliance tasks
   • Develop consistency in formatting and presentation that will make your documents easier to read and require fewer modifications for practical use
3. 3 Construction Estimating 6 hours

   Learn the fundamentals of construction estimating, including types of estimates, quantity takeoffs, pricing strategies, and cost estimate proposals.

   • Build foundational estimating skills for both residential and commercial construction projects
   • Learn how to extract pricing data by reading architectural and structural construction documents
   • Compare estimate types, including preliminary, detailed, and conceptual cost forecasting
   • Understand how to calculate material quantities, labor, equipment, and other project-related costs
   • Get familiar with commonly used construction estimating tools and digital software
   • Strengthen your ability to spot cost issues early and adjust estimates to minimize financial risk
4. 4 AutoCAD Level I 18 hours

   Learn how to use AutoCAD to create drawings for real mechanical and architectural objects, starting with basic tools and moving on to more advanced skills. This course will cover topics such as creating and editing drawings, using object snaps and tracking, organizing drawings with layers, and inserting blocks.

   • Learn core drawing and editing commands to create and modify lines, circles, rectangles, and more
   • Master object snap, tracking, and coordinate input to ensure precision and accuracy in every drawing
   • Organize and manage your work with layers, templates, and advanced object types like polylines and ellipses
   • Apply real-world workflows to draw complex layouts, floor plans, and design elements for mechanical and architectural projects
   • Insert, manage, and reuse blocks with tools like Tool Palettes and Design Center
   • Prepare your drawings for print with layouts, viewports, annotations, and dimensioning tools
5. 5 AutoCAD Level II 12 hours

   Take your AutoCAD skills to the next level with our intermediate course, where you will learn advanced layering, styling, and blocking techniques to create quality templates and layouts for printing. Develop your technique and precision in using the AutoCAD interface to complete more complex projects.

   • Improve productivity with advanced tools for accurate positioning, parametric constraints, and block usage
   • Learn how to create, organize, and manage reusable content through custom block libraries
   • Set up and customize drawing templates to maintain consistency across multiple projects
   • Design and manage advanced layouts with viewports, paper space, and scaling techniques for print-ready drawings
   • Master annotation styles to ensure clarity and standardization in dimensions, text, and hatching
   • Integrate external references (Xrefs) into your workflow to manage large-scale drawings and collaborate across teams
6. 6 AutoCAD Level III 18 hours

   Learn advanced AutoCAD skills: from annotation to customization. This course aims to help enhance productivity and improve your AutoCAD proficiency.

   • Enhance drawings with advanced annotation tools, tables, and text objects for greater clarity and control
   • Create dynamic blocks and attribute data to build smarter, more versatile design components
   • Develop and publish professional drawing sets using sheet sets, layout tools, and collaborative features
   • Customize the AutoCAD interface with user-defined settings, tool palettes, and productivity-enhancing macros
   • Establish and enforce CAD standards across teams for consistent, high-quality output
   • Learn tools for 2D automation and cloud-based collaboration to streamline workflows
7. 7 AutoCAD Construction Documents I 18 hours

   Learn to develop professional construction documents by creating titleblocks, floor plans, and building elevations. This course covers advanced techniques for integrating files, managing layers, and organizing deliverable sheets for residential projects.

   • Design title blocks and drawing labels used in professional offices to produce complete sheet sets
   • Draft comprehensive floor plans, roof plans, enlarged views, and elevations for a mid-level residential structure, including annotation and detailing
   • Integrate external references while demonstrating layer control, model space and layout usage, and multi-scale presentation
   • Structure final sheet sets according to National CAD Standards to ensure industry-ready documentation
   • Apply intermediate AutoCAD techniques to create accurate layouts and configure plotting settings for print-ready deliverables
8. 8 AutoCAD Construction Documents II 12 hours

   Build on AutoCAD skills by creating detailed construction documents for a large residential project. This course focuses on advanced drafting techniques, integrating referenced files, and ensuring compliance with National CAD Standards.

   • Produce comprehensive construction documents in AutoCAD
   • Work through a complex residential design
   • Create floor plans, elevations, and sections
   • Apply annotation, dimensioning, and drawing standards
   • Manage sheets and layouts for a full document set
   • Prepare drawings for issue and plotting
9. 9 Civil 3D Professional Bootcamp 24 hours

   Master advanced Civil 3D techniques used in professional surveying, transportation design, and land development projects. In this hands-on bootcamp, you'll gain practical experience with tools like alignments, profiles, parcels, corridors, grading groups, and pipe networks, all essential for producing construction-ready documentation. Taught by industry experts, this course is available in NYC or live online.

   • Organize and manage survey data by creating COGO points, point groups, and description key sets, and importing survey files for accurate field-to-finish workflows
   • Design and label land parcels with tools for subdivision, site creation, parcel styles, and annotation techniques used in professional land development projects
   • Model terrain using TIN surfaces, perform surface analysis, and apply surface labels to support grading and site planning decisions
   • Create road alignments and profiles, including existing and proposed surface profiles, with customizable view windows and station labeling
   • Build corridor models and intersections using assemblies and subassemblies, generate sample lines, and visualize roadway design with 3D drive-throughs
   • Develop grading plans and pipe networks, including feature lines, grading groups, and pressure systems, while customizing styles and layout sheets for construction documents
10. 10 CAD/BIM Capstone Project 18 hours

    • Lead a full project workflow from initial concept to detailed documentation using CAD and BIM
    • Integrate tools like AutoCAD and Revit in a unified, real-world project environment
    • Refine project coordination methods, including collaboration and file management best practices
    • Demonstrate professional-level drafting and modeling with detailed deliverables and annotations
    • Apply design and construction documentation standards for residential or commercial projects
    • Present a complete capstone project that showcases technical proficiency and design clarity
11. 11 CAD/BIM Industry & Portfolio 12 hours

    • Common job roles and industries for CAD and BIM professionals
    • How to prepare a standout professional portfolio
    • Strategies for updating your resume and online presence
    • Job search and interview best practices