AutoCAD certification exam preparation, everything about it

Since 2014 I have cleared three AutoCAD certified professional certification exams by Autodesk and in this article, I am sharing everything I have learned from these exams and more.

Is AutoCAD certification worth it?

AutoCAD certification exam by Autodesk is recognized by the industry and it is one of the easy methods of validating your CAD skills, so yes it is definitely worth it.

CAD certification adds credibility to your CV and it also gives you access to the certified professional logo which you can use on your resume, blog or visiting card.

There are no eligibility criteria for appearing in the exams and you can appear as many times as you want however within a duration of 12 months you can’t appear in this exam more than three times.

As per the recommendation of Autodesk, it will be useful if you have at least 150 hours of hands-on experience working with AutoCAD before you appear for the AutoCAD certified user and 400 hours of experience for the certified professional exam.

Where can I get AutoCAD certification?

Autodesk certification exams are online exams that are conducted by Autodesk-authorized testing centres.

These testing centres act as a one-stop solution for all your certification-related queries and needs.

You can locate your nearest testing centre here and contact them via phone or email for booking your exam.

You can also book your AutoCAD certification exam from Certiport or Autodesk directly.

Can I take my AutoCAD certification exam online?

You can take the exam at your home or workplace via online mode.

You need to download a small certification exam software and a proctor will monitor you for the entire duration of your certification exam via camera.

You need to ensure that no one disturbs you during the exam time and you should also keep your phone away and in silent mode or off for the entire exam duration.

A time tracker will be visible throughout the exam and you can also pause the exam if required by the permission of the proctor.

The exam gets automatically paused if the internet connection is lost during the exam.

You can also mark questions as “unanswered for review” and you can also change answers as many times as you want before submitting it finally.

How much does the AutoCAD certification exam cost?

The AutoCAD certification exam generally costs between 90 to 200 USD but the price may change slightly depending on your location.

You can get the quote on the price of certification exams from your testing centres or you can also purchase exam vouchers from Certiport or from the Autodesk website directly.

See this pricing detail of the certification exam for US candidates, as I have already mentioned these prices may vary depending on your geographical location.

What is in the Syllabus of the AutoCAD certification exam?

The examination syllabus is quite basic for the certified user as well as the professional exam.

Still, you need to have a clear understanding of the tools and commands of AutoCAD.

None of the advanced topics like Dynamic Blocks, Sheet set manager and Design centre are in the syllabus.

The detailed syllabus of the AutoCAD certification exam along with all other details is available in certification exam guide that you can download using signup box above.

The exam is not version-specific and you can prepare for the exam using any version of AutoCAD but I would recommend you choose the latest available version of AutoCAD.

Can I use AutoCAD during the certification exam?

No, you cannot use AutoCAD software during the certification exam and all other apps on your PC are locked by the certification software for the entire exam duration.

What are the question types of the AutoCAD certification exams?

Questions are based on the usage of AutoCAD commands and tools and the certification exam will essentially test how well you know the workflow of AutoCAD commands.

The questions contain no negative marking for wrong answers and you need to answer 40 questions in approximately 120 to 150 minutes.

The following are the question types of the certification exam:

• MCQ type

• Fill in the blanks type

• Matching type

• Image hotspot selection

• Options selection from AutoCAD user interface elements

Apart from these basic question types, there can be other unique types of questions as well.

When will I get the AutoCAD certification exam result?

As soon as you submit your exam you will receive a detailed report with your areas of improvement and final score.

If you fail to clear the exam then you can appear again after a 24-hour waiting period but you will have to pay the voucher fee for the exam again.

Does AutoCAD certification expire?

The AutoCAD certification remains valid for three years so there is no need to appear for the exam every year to keep your certified status active.

You can appear for the exam anytime before or after your certification expiry date.

How can I prepare for the AutoCAD certification exam?

The best way to prepare for the AutoCAD certified user and certified professional certification exam is the AutoCAD certification exam preparation course we developed to help you with everything related to the certification exam.

This course covers all the topics of the certified user as well as the professional exam in complete detail.

This course has more than 100 practice questions and AutoCAD mock certification exams which will help you familiarize yourself with the pattern of the exam and its question types.

Another advantage of preparing for the exam using this course is the Q&A forum where you can ask your subject matter questions to the instructor.

Are there any best practices for the exam?

These are some of the points that you need to take care of before and during your exam:

• Study only topics mentioned in the exam syllabus, don’t distract yourself by trying to learn as much as possible. You can always learn the remaining topics later.

• Switch off your cellphone or put it on silent mode for the exam duration. Using a cell phone during the exam is not allowed.

• Ensure a properly functioning webcam and microphone as these are required for the exam.

• Ensure a stable internet connection, although you can pause your exam and failed internet connectivity automatically pauses the exam but still it is better to avoid this situation.

• Answer all the questions in the exam as there is no negative marking for wrong answers.

More information is available on the Autodesk certification page.