How to learn AutoCAD for complete beginners

In this article, I will share the step-by-step method of learning AutoCAD right from scratch for a complete beginner.

I will also share a list of mostly free and some premium resources like PDF guides, books and courses that will help you learn AutoCAD from scratch up to a professional level.

Just in case you prefer video version of the article here it is:

So, with that, let’s get started.

Step 1: Getting the software

There is no point learning AutoCAD without the software.

So, the first step is obviously getting the software.

If you are a student enrolled in a school or college, then you can get AutoCAD for free from Autodesk with a one-year license that renews every year as long as you are a student.

There are some options for people not enrolled in a college or university as well.

You can check all the options for getting the free AutoCAD software.

Step 2: Learning the basics

Now the next step is learning just the basics, ignoring all the advanced concepts to avoid overwhelm.

When you are a new user, you should only focus on topics that will get you up and running with AutoCAD, like basic draw commands, modify commands, dimensions, annotations, the basics of layers, and a little bit about blocks and printing tools.

Once you are confident with these basic topics, you can then move on to advanced topics.

We have prepared a completely free AutoCAD Essentials course that fits this exact requirement.

The course covers only the basic topics in a step-by-step way, all from scratch.

These topics are also explained using practical examples, so you will know not only about using the AutoCAD commands but also about where and how to use them in real-world drawings.

Bonus Material: Download this free 200 AutoCAD commands PDF eBook that contains properly categorized list of AutoCAD commands with descriptions. 

Step 3: Practice with drawings

Now the next step is practicing with some 2D AutoCAD practice drawings.

This step is so essential that without it, everything you have learned so far will be lost sooner than you know.

If you don’t practice, you will simply forget everything that you have learned so far.

To help you practice the AutoCAD skill, I have created a list of 10 AutoCAD practice drawings that you can make after clearing step 2 of this article.

These drawings are all illustrated with dimensions and other details.

Step 4: Moving into the advanced AutoCAD territory

Now that you know the basics of AutoCAD and you’ve practiced with simple drawings as well, it’s time you start learning advanced topics.

For the advanced topics, you should rely on professional AutoCAD courses from platforms like LinkedIn Learning and SourceCAD.

These courses are made in a step-by-step way and they explain all the topics in complete detail.

Also, the instructors of these courses are subject matter expert who know what they are talking about.

When it comes to professional AutoCAD courses, we have made a comprehensive AutoCAD course for beginners that meets this requirement really well.

The course is super comprehensive, covering all the topics in complete detail with practical examples, quizzes and practice exercises.

Jaiprakash, a certified Autodesk AutoCAD professional and published author of an AutoCAD book by Packt Publication, created the course.

Step 5: Getting the AutoCAD certification

This step is optional but useful for users who are looking for work that needs AutoCAD as an essential skill.

Certification comes from Autodesk directly, and it is the best way to validate your skills.

There are essentially two levels of AutoCAD certification: the user level and professional level.

Though a beginner can go for user-level exam, I never recommend it, and rather I always ask my students to go for professional-level exam.

We have explained everything related to AutoCAD certification exam with complete details about exam pattern, syllabus and more.

We have also created an AutoCAD certification learning path that will help users ace the certification exam in the first attempt.

Step 6: Learning AutoCAD 3D

This step is also optional and only needed if you really want to use AutoCAD for 3D drawings.

AutoCAD is not well known for 3D tools, but if you really want to use it for 3D drawings, then you should start by learning the basics of AutoCAD 3D.

Once again, the free AutoCAD Essentials course that I mentioned in the beginning of this article will help you learn the basic 3D tools without overwhelming you with advanced tools and commands.

Once you are done with the basic 3D AutoCAD tools, you can learn the advanced tools like mesh modeling, rendering, and making manufacturing drawings using AutoCAD.

This part is covered in our comprehensive AutoCAD 3D course.

Frequently asked questions

So, these are the six steps that you can follow to learn AutoCAD right from scratch. Now, here are a few questions our students ask frequently.

How long does it take to learn AutoCAD?

To learn AutoCAD up to a basic level, it will take around 3 days, but learning speed is different for every user, so it may vary from user to user.

For learning AutoCAD with more details it will obviously take longer than 3 days.

There is no upper limit on the duration, and the more you want to learn, the longer it will take.

How do I learn AutoCAD for free?

You can start with the AutoCAD Essentials course available on SourceCAD to start learning AutoCAD for free.

The course contains 2D as well as 3D parts of AutoCAD, along with quizzes and practice questions.

Summary

That was the step-by-step method of learning AutoCAD right from scratch for a complete beginner.

Let me know if you think these resources will help you learn AutoCAD from beginner to pro level.