Autodesk Certifications – Everything You Need To Know

Updated Oct 5, 2020
Person holding diploma certificate

Design is the foundation of creation. This is why every industry that has anything to do with creating, manufacturing, or building is dependent on CAD. This dependency has made the demand for designers and professional users of CAD software very high. However, as the demand is high, so is the competition fierce. It is not enough to know how to use a software; employers are looking for skilled, innovative, and ambitious certified professionals. For you to stand out among fellow designers, you need to acquire CAD software certifications.

One of the most prestigious design certifications to have is the Autodesk Certification from Autodesk, the biggest CAD software developers in the world.

In this article, we will be discussing Autodesk Certifications and their types, the benefits of getting certified, and the certifiable Autodesk software.

Benefits of getting certified

Before we go into what it takes to earn an Autodesk Certification, let us take a look at some of the benefits of becoming certified. Some of these benefits are

  • Gain a competitive advantage that boosts your productivity and value 
  • Earn an industry-recognized endorsement of your skills
  • Accelerate professional development
  • As a student, enhance your academic success and prepare yourself for college or a career.

Autodesk Certifications

Autodesk Certifications are industry-recognized credentials that validate and showcases your expertise in certain Autodesk software. Autodesk offers two types of certifications that differ by level of expertise. They are Autodesk Certified User (ACU) and Autodesk Certified Professional (ACP).

Autodesk Revit Architecture certification

Revit Architecture Autodesk Certified Professional certification (Source)

Autodesk Certified User

The ACU certification verifies that the holder has acquired basic Autodesk software skills and industry knowledge. This certification is recommended for students and entry-level users who have about 150 hours of real-world Autodesk software experience. The ACU not only enhances student college applications and resumes by providing proof of proficiency but also gives them the confidence to pursue professional-level certifications.

Autodesk Certified Professional

The ACP certification validates the mastery of an Autodesk software. It is an advanced certification for professionals with an expert-level of knowledge, who can solve complex workflow and design problems. To qualify for an ACP certification in a software, you are expected to have worked regularly with the software in a professional environment for a minimum of two years. This is equivalent to a minimum of 400 hours and recommended 1,200 hours.

What Autodesk software can you earn certifications in

Autodesk offers certifications in the following software. 3ds Max, AutoCAD, Fusion 360, Inventor, Maya, Revit Architecture, Revit Structural, Revit MEP: Electrical, and Revit MEP: Mechanical. Some of this software have only ACU certifications, some have only ACP certifications, and others have both ACP and ACU certifications. For each software, we will be going through a list of things you need to master before you can get certified. Note that while these topics are required for both ACU and ACP certifications, the ACP certification requires a far more in-depth knowledge of the topics.

3ds Max

3ds Max is a professional 3D modeling and rendering software used for design, visualization, games, and animations. Autodesk offers both ACP and ACU certifications in this software. Certification in 3ds Max requires knowledge of the following in the software. Animation, cameras, lighting materials/shading, riggers, modeling, rendering, UI/object management, and for ACP certification, effects.

AutoCAD

AutoCAD is a CAD software for everything drafting and design. The software includes industry-specific toolsets for various industries. Autodesk offers both ACP and ACU certifications in the software. To qualify for an AutoCAD certification, you must be able to draw objects with accuracy, modify objects, use additional drawing techniques, organize objects, reuse existing content, annotate drawings, and set layouts for printing.

Inventor

Inventor is a professional-grade 3D modeling, simulation, visualization, and manufacturing software that unifies CAD, CAM, and CAE.  Both ACU and ACP certifications are available for this software. Required knowledge for Inventor certification includes user interface and navigation, assembly modeling, part modeling, drawing, sketching, and browser editing. For an ACP certification, additional knowledge of collaboration, views, and documentation is necessary.

Maya

Maya is a 3D computer animation, modeling, simulation, and rendering software. You can earn both ACU and ACP certifications in Maya. To earn these, you must have acquired knowledge of animation, cameras, lighting, materials/shading, rigging/setup, modeling, rendering, and UI/object management. An ACP certification requires additional mastery of effects, dynamics/simulation, scene assembling, and pipeline integration.

Revit Architecture

Revit Architecture is a BIM-integrated 3D modeling software dedicated to the Architecture industry. Autodesk offers both ACP and ACU certifications in this software. Knowledge requirements for certification are creating, modeling, and modifying components, managing views, and managing documentation. Additional knowledge of collaboration is required for ACP certification.

Fusion 360

Fusion 360 is an integrated CAD, CAM, and CAE software for everything product development. Currently, only ACU certifications are available for this software. To qualify for certification, you must be able to sketch, draw, sculpt, model parts and assemblies, and use direct modeling.

Revit Structure

Revit Structure is an industry-specific 3D modeling software dedicated to the construction industry. Autodesk only offers the ACP certification for this software. Prerequisites for certification include mastery of advanced modeling, collaboration, and documentation using Revit structure.

Revit MEP: Mechanical

This is a modeling software that caters to the mechanical and plumbing design needs of structures. Only the ACP certification is offered. Complete mastery of mechanical modeling is required for certification.

Revit MEP: Electrical

Revit MEP: Electrical, like its mechanical counterpart, is dedicated to the electrical design needs if structures and buildings. You can only acquire an ACP certification in this software. The prerequisite for certification is mastery of electrical modeling and design in the software.

For better comprehension, the table below shows the certifiable Autodesk software, and the type of certification you can earn in them.

 

Autodesk Certified User (ACU)

Autodesk Certified Professional (ACP)

3ds Max

✔️

✔️

AutoCAD

✔️

✔️

Inventor

✔️

✔️

Maya

✔️

✔️

Revit Architecture

✔️

✔️

Fusion 360

 

✔️

Revit Structure

✔️

 

Revit MEP: Mechanical

✔️

 

Revit MEP: Electrical

✔️

 

How to earn Autodesk certifications

Autodesk offers certifications for its software through Certiport, a leading certification exam development & delivery provider. Certiport is a subsidiary of Pearson VUE, a company that develops, manages, and delivers computer-based testing programs for companies and organizations around the world. There are four recommended steps to earning an Autodesk Certification lined up by Certiport. These steps are: learn, practice, certify, and badging.

laptops on office desk

Learning is a process

Learn

This stage is especially for those who are aiming to earn an ACU certification in a software they may not have come across. Certiport offers several excellent courseware and preparation materials through some Autodesk authorized partners. The leading partners are CADlearning, which includes over 35,000 video tutorials; Global eTraining, a provider of online training solutions; and LearnKey, a top provider of self-paced education. You may also learn from several other sources such as Lynda, Udemy, Edx, Coursera, and the Autodesk Academy, which have comprehensive courses on various Autodesk software.

Practice

As part of your learning process, and in preparation for Autodesk Certifications exams, you can carry out some practice tests. These tests are offered by GMetrix, a skill-management system and leading provider of practice tests, in partnership with Certiport. The GMetrix practice tests are recommended as they create familiarity with the actual exam interface, build confidence towards the certification examination, and enhance the overall learning process through practice questions. You can practice in either testing mode which is just like the actual timed exams, or practice mode where you can work at your own pace while receiving instructions and feedback for each question. GMetrix currently offers practice tests for all ACU certification exams, and for the following ACP certification exams: AutoCAD, Inventor, 3ds Max, Maya, and Revit Architecture.

Certify

Once you have acquired the necessary experience for an Autodesk Certification (150 hours for ACU certifications, and 400 to 1,200 hours for ACP certifications), or when you feel confident enough in your abilities, you can proceed to take the certification exams. The examinations are organized by Certiport and take place in various test centers around the world. You can also take the exam online at OnVUE. To schedule an exam, visit Pearson VUE for more information.

Badging

After you must have taken and passed the certification exam, you become officially certified! You’ll receive a downloadable/printable certificate, as well as an Autodesk Certification digital badge. The digital badges are web-enabled versions of your certification that you can share online, and that can be easily verified in real-time. They are issued by Acclaim, a digital badging platform used by Certiport.

AutoCAD ACU badge

An AutoCAD Autodesk Certified User badge (Source) 

How to promote your certification

What is the point of earning a certification if you do not promote and showcase it, or if it is not verifiable? Autodesk Certifications come with digital badges that you can share with potential employers via LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, emails, online portfolios, and digital resumes. All you need to do is download the image of your badge from your Acclaim profile page, insert or upload it to whatever document or platform you desire, and hyperlink the image to your Acclaim page of the badge. Whenever this image is clicked, the clicker will immediately be directed to a page containing all the details about the certification; what it means, for which software, what abilities and skills it verifies, and many more.

Earning an Autodesk certification is highly recommended for both students and professionals who are affiliated with the design industry. While it would require dedicated and hard work, it is definitely worth it.

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