AutoCAD Certification: How, Where, When, and Why?

Curt Moreno – Kung Fu Drafter

AC3801If you have ever wondered what the big deal is about becoming an Autodesk® Certified Associate or Professional, this class is for you! Learn about the details of the certification program and the best ways to approach the certification process. Find out the true value of becoming Autodesk Certified. Don't let one more year slip by without getting certified. Don't go into the process blind. Go to the certification labs armed with all the information you need and be prepared to leave as an Autodesk Certified Associate or Professional.

Learning ObjectivesAt the end of this class, you will be able to:

Describe the specifics of the Autodesk Certification process and its benefits

Explain why certification is a fantastic addition to resumes and business cards

Approach standardized testing using proven test-taking techniques to improve their odds

Describe the best preparation resources and habits to increase their success rate

About the SpeakersCurt Moreno is the owner and editor of Kung Fu Drafter, a blog that is CAD centric and geek peripheral. He is an active contributor to Cadalyst and CADspeed, is the AutoCAD Content Manager for AUGIWorld, and an Autodesk University speaker. Curt currently lives in Houston where he is the CAD Coordinator for a Texas-based engineering firm, is a public speaker, and trainer, and enjoys spending time with his dog and horses. Visit his blog at www.kungfudrafter.com, follow him on Twitter at @WKFD, or search for him on Google+.

Email: kfd@kungfudrafter.com

AutoCAD Certification: How, Where, When, and Why?

IntroductionAs AutoCAD users, we may not always have the well-rounded skill set we would like when using AutoCAD 2012 or 2013 on a daily basis. Most CAD professionals agree that it would be helpful to assess knowledge and skills. However, until recently, there has been no recognized exam system to determine the strengths and gaps in one’s AutoCAD knowledge. Autodesk’s Certified User Exams helps to validate your knowledge skills AutoCAD.

The Autodesk Certification program enables experienced AutoCAD users to receive special recognition for their knowledge at two levels of expertise: AutoCAD Certified Associate (2012), AutoCAD Certified User (2013), and Certified Professional (2012 and 2013). Autodesk provides this industry-recognized Certification to help identify professionals who meet a high standard in both knowledge and skills.

This class will cover two aspects of preparing for the AutoCAD Certified Associate/User and Certified Professional exams.

1. You will get a complete overview of the Certification testing process, the AutoCAD topics within the exam, and a look at the testing engine itself.

2. You will learn many of the techniques and secrets necessary for passing the AutoCAD practical portion of the exam.

Exam Overview

Who should attempt Certification?The Certified Associate and Certified Professional credentials are for any CAD professional seeking to validate their knowledge of Autodesk software. The design and visualization industries are competitive environments, where only the best stand out. Anyone who uses Autodesk software for professional reasons can benefit from the program by emphasizing their skills and knowledge with an official Certification from Autodesk. An Autodesk Certified Associate or Certified Professional has validated their knowledge and skills of the performance tasks specified for the specific examination.

The AutoCAD 2013 Certified User credential is intended for students and professionals entering the industry to assess their skill set and is not a prerequisite for the AutoCAD 2013 Certified Professional exam. The AutoCAD 2012 Certified Associate credential is not intended for academic use and is a prerequisite for the AutoCAD 2012 Certified Professional exam.

What do I receive when I become certified?When you obtain your Autodesk Certified Associate/User or Certified Professional status, you obtain the right to use the official Autodesk Certified logo. This logo may be used in marketing your Autodesk skills (on business cards, websites, résumés and so forth) as specified in the logo usage guidelines. You will also have access to your electronic Certificate, and if you

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AutoCAD Certification: How, Where, When, and Why?

choose (when establishing or modifying your candidate profile), you can elect to have your Certifications public in the Autodesk Certified Users database.

You will need to log in to your profile to view your Certification history and access your score reports, certificates and any associated Certification logos. To log in, visit the Autodesk Test Site (http://autodesk.starttest.com).

Where do I take the test?Autodesk Certification examinations are available at Authorized Autodesk Certification Centers. All examinations are computer-delivered in a proctored environment. While taking the exam, you may not use calculators, books or other electronic equipment. You may use the AutoCAD 2012 or 2013 software and the help system only for the Certified Professional exams. A calculator is available online within the exam. Upon completion of the examination, you must consent to the Autodesk Certification Program Agreement. You may preview this document at http://www.autodesk.com/certification

How do I schedule my session?You can take the examination at any participating Autodesk Authorized Certification Center. When you purchase your Certification examination, you have the option of scheduling your examination at the time of purchase, or any time in the future. To schedule your examination at the time of purchase click the Schedule link and then use the Center Search function to locate an Authorized Test Delivery Facility in your country or area. After you locate a list of potential centers, select a center and click the option to continue your appointment. If the center has open appointments, you will have the option of selecting a time that is convenient for you. To schedule an appointment after the time of purchase, visit http://autodesk.starttest.com, log in to your profile, and then click the link for your unscheduled appointment. You will then be able to schedule your appointment by locating a center.

How much does each exam cost and how do I pay?The costs for the examinations are:

Assessment Test $20 USD per attempt

Professional Practice Test $30 USD per attempt

Associate Examination $75 USD per attempt

Professional Examination $125 USD per attempt

To purchase your AutoCAD Certification examination visit http://autodesk.starttest.com. Click the Purchase Exams: Professional Products link to see the available Certification products for Autodesk applications. You may purchase an examination by first establishing a candidate profile and paying by credit card.

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AutoCAD Certification: How, Where, When, and Why?

How can I determine preparedness? You may validate your knowledge on the current release of AutoCAD by taking the AutoCAD Assessment Test. This is a non-proctored, 90-minute timed exam delivered directly to your desktop. The Assessment Test consists of 35 questions that assess your knowledge of the tools, features and common tasks in AutoCAD 2012 or 2013. The Assessment Tests are available 24/7 through the Autodesk Test Site and will help you assess your readiness for certification.

When you complete the exam, you will receive a score report that relates directly to the section exam objectives.

What happens if I do not pass?All test takers will receive a Diagnostic Score Report, indicating your score and areas for improvement. You may immediately retake the examination and do so as many times as you wish. Please note that additional attempts to pass the exam are not free.

Does Certification last forever?Your Autodesk Certification validates your knowledge and skills using a specific version of an Autodesk application. Although your Certification for a particular version of an application never expires, Certification is not considered “current” unless you have passed the latest recertification examination, and the full examination for the prior release.

Is there a recertification examination for newer releases?If you are currently an AutoCAD 2012 Certified Professional, you may become a Certified Professional for AutoCAD 2013 by taking ONLY the Certified Professional Exam for AutoCAD 2013. The Certified Associate Exam will not be offered for the AutoCAD 2013 certification program.

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AutoCAD Certification: How, Where, When, and Why?

Certified Associate Exam Overview

How long is the test?The AutoCAD 2013 Certified User examination includes 12 sections, consisting of 30 questions. The maximum time allowed to complete this examination is 1 hour. The passing score is 72%. It is a knowledge-based proctored exam. You will NOT be allowed access to the AutoCAD 2013 software while taking this exam. Topics and questions are based on the following topics:

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AutoCAD Certification: How, Where, When, and Why?

What types of questions are on the AutoCAD 2013 Certified User exam?Certified User level exams consist of a variety of question types including multiple-choice, multi select, matching, and point and click questions, which are detailed below.

Multiple-choice – a traditional, familiar form of test question type, which requires you to select the single best answer from several available choices.

Select all that apply – a form of test question type, which requires you to select all applicable answers from several available choices.

Point and click – a form of test question is accompanied by a graphic, and then the correct area of the graphic is selected as the correct answer.

How do I prepare for the Certified User examination?The Certified User examination assesses your knowledge of the Autodesk application. For most certification examinations, Autodesk offers an Autodesk Official Certification Courseware (AOCC) book, available for purchase. The courseware provides a detailed listing of the knowledge and skills covered on a certification examination, as well as instructional lessons and exercises for the skills assessed on the examination. AOCC books also include a CD with the exercise files, and a 30-day trial CD of the application.

Online videos and tutorials at websites and video services such as YouTube.com.

The certification examination objectives are also listed on the Autodesk Test site. Visit http://autodesk.starttest.com and click the Purchase Exams: Professional Products link. Locate the examination in the list of available products, and click the Details link. Click the link to view the examination objectives.

You may also review a full list of the certification examination topics and objectives from http://www.autodesk.com/certification. From this page click the link for a specific Autodesk certification, and then download or open the Adobe Acrobat Examination Overview document.

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AutoCAD Certification: How, Where, When, and Why?

Certified Professional Exam Overview

How long is the test?The AutoCAD 2013 Certified Professional examination includes 13 sections, consisting of 35 questions. The maximum time allowed for completion is 2 hours. The passing score is 76%. It is a proctored exam. Topics and questions are based on the following:

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AutoCAD Certification: How, Where, When, and Why?

What types of questions are on the Professional exam?Professional level exams are made up of skill-based questions that require you to perform certain tasks in AutoCAD 2013 and then query the data to obtain the answer. The answer may be in the form of text or numerical data.

Because the answer is obtained from the file, it will be necessary for you to master the ability to toggle between the examination window and the AutoCAD 2013 application by pressing the Alt and Tab keys simultaneously.

You will also be necessary for you to copy and paste answers. This is to ensure that there are no transcription errors. To copy data from the AutoCAD text window, press the Ctrl and C keys simultaneously. To paste data into the examination window, press the Ctrl and V keys simultaneously.

How do I prepare for the Professional Certification examination?The Professional Certification examination assesses your skills of specific tasks using an Autodesk application. For most Certification examinations, Autodesk offers an Autodesk Official Certification Courseware (AOCC) book, available for purchase. The courseware provides a detailed listing of the knowledge and skills covered on the certification examination, as well as instructional lessons and exercises for the skills assessed on the examination. AOCC books also include a CD with the exercise files, and a 30-day trial CD of the application.

Online videos and tutorials at websites and video services such as YouTube.com.

The certification examination objectives are listed on the Autodesk Test site. Visit http://autodesk.starttest.com and click the Purchase Exams: Professional Products link. Locate the examination in the list of available products, and click the Details link. Click the link to view the examination objectives.

You may also review the certification examination objectives from http://www.autodesk.com/certification. From this page click the link for a specific Autodesk certification, and then download or open the Adobe Acrobat Examination Overview document.

There is also a Professional practice exam that you can take. It is a timed, non-proctored exam.

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AutoCAD Certification: How, Where, When, and Why?

Certification at Autodesk University 2012

What is the big deal?Autodesk is offering free Autodesk Certification exams throughout Autodesk University 2012! That means that you can go to the testing lab and get certified for FREE! That is a savings of up to $125 per test, per attempt!

What if I’m not ready?You should never be afraid to attempt certification. There is no “penalty” if you do not successfully completing your exam. Even if you are unsure of your skill level, I encourage you to visit the testing center and take your exams. You might just surprise yourself! Even if you do not successfully complete your certification, you will have firsthand knowledge of the exam to better prepare you for your next attempt.

You may retake your certification exam free of charge while attending Autodesk University 2012!

Do I have to wait for my score?No, the certification team will provide you with immediate results for your review.

Are the exams different at Autodesk University vs. a Testing Center?No. The exams offered at Autodesk University are the same high quality exams, testing the same areas of skill and knowledge. The only difference will be that exams taken while attending Autodesk University are free of charge!

10 Secrets Certification Success

Read each question completely. Then read it again!The most common made in test taking is not reading the question correctly. Read each question, read it again and then look at each of the answers. Do not select an answer until you’re confident you understand what the question is about. Many questions are written to intentionally misguide your first response.

Use the Help menu.Every Autodesk application comes with a rich information resource in the built-in Help menu. Make use of it! Being able to execute a keyword search could help you to determine the most correct response to a given question. Using the application resources competently is a large part of being a Certified AutoCAD Professional.

Know your inquiry commands!Almost all questions on the Autodesk Certification exams will require you to extract some form of information from a drawing. AutoCAD’s inquiry commands such as ID, List and Distance will make up the majority of answers needed for the practical portion. Be sure to read each question completely and to respond exactly as the question requests.

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AutoCAD Certification: How, Where, When, and Why?

Follow the directions carefully!Each question presented on the Autodesk Certification exams is designed in such a manner to test a certain skill or area of knowledge. Daily users are tempted to construct geometry using the methods they are most comfortable in daily life. However, these are not always the most efficient methods available. In addition, they may not yield the results required by the exam question. Be certain that you approach each question keeping this in mind.

Draw the geometry accurately!Accuracy counts. Be sure to use Object Snaps, Object Snap Tracking and Polar Tracking along with Dynamic Input to create and modify your linework. Rushing while creating linework for a question will lead to inaccuracy and incorrect answers. You will end up wasting time correcting linework.

Don’t do extra work or think too much.Creating extra linework not specified in the question will only waste time! Do not overcomplicate drawings with extra layers, colors, or other drawing standards. Read each question and draw only what is necessary to complete the needed figure. In many cases, the figure in the exam will show extra geometry than what is needed to get an answer to the question. Do not waste time drawing this extra linework!

Don’t get hung up. Mark questions and revisit them later.Every exam will have a few extremely difficult questions. If you’re not completely sure of a question, do not spend too much time on it. Each question may be “marked” for later review. Use this option and move on if you find yourself stuck on a particularly hard question. Once you have answered all of the questions you are sure of, you can return to the marked questions and finish those.

There is no extra time in an exam!If you have finished answering all of the exam questions and there is time remaining in the exam, you are not done! Use this extra time to go back and double-check your answers to make sure you’ve answered all the questions to the best of your abilities. However, don’t fall into the trap of second-guessing your answers! If you have answered the question and you believe it’s correct, leave it!

Some questions are answers!Some exams will present questions that actually provide answers to other questions. For instance, you may not be sure if a certain command contains a certain option so you mark it for later review. Later in the exam, you may encounter a question asking you to use a combination of command and option that provides you the answer to the first question. Always keep questions you have marked for later review in mind as you proceed through the remainder of the exam.

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AutoCAD Certification: How, Where, When, and Why?

Take advantage of FREE certification exams at AU!Autodesk Certification exams are offered free to attendees of Autodesk University, during the event. These exams can save you up to $125 per exam! To take advantage of these free exams, be sure to visit the certification lab. There you will be able to register for exams, access review material, and talk to other people attempting certification. Do not miss this opportunity!

If all else fails, guess!The only thing you can be 100% sure of on an exam is that an unanswered question is 100% wrong. If you have marked a question, finished the remainder of the test, and find that time is running out, then the time has come to guess. Guessing is not necessarily “wrong” or “cheating”. As CAD professionals, we often work at the edge of our knowledge and have to make educated leaps. This is how we expand our knowledge.

SummaryAs AutoCAD users, we want to distinguish ourselves and highlight our knowledge, skills, and abilities. Obtaining the AutoCAD certification credentials will allow you to validate your knowledge and skill in the use of AutoCAD.

With the competitive environment of today’s design industry, only the best will truly stand out. The Autodesk certification program enables experienced AutoCAD users to receive that special recognition for their application knowledge.

Finally, once you’ve successfully completed the exam you can register yourself as a certified professional through the Autodesk Certified Professionals Search. You can access the search through www.autodesk.com/certification to find and contact certified professionals around the world who are registered and recognized in the Autodesk database of Autodesk Certified Professionals.

Our goal in this session has been to provide you with the necessary insight to the AutoCAD certification process as well as a strategy to successful prepare, take, and pass the exams.

Here is to your success!

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