AutoCAD Essentials - Autodesk accredited - Live online training

Learn to create high quality, accurate 2D drawings in AutoCAD on this live online AutoCAD course. When you attend live online training with Armada, you’re participating in a real course, hosted by a real trainer, in real time.

This course has been developed by CAD professionals to teach you in the most efficient way. It has been attended by many hundreds of delegates over 20 years and is designed for new users, or those with limited knowledge of AutoCAD.

Armada is a long-standing Autodesk-authorised Training Centre, and this is an accredited course. Our trainers are Autodesk Certified Instructors, with vast experience of using AutoCAD professionally.

Training is highly practical, combining lecture, demonstration and assisted practice.

The drawing techniques taught are generic, relevant to all industries. You will be able to apply them to whatever you’re going to be doing in the application. Our trainers use exercises from a variety of disciplines.

Our approach to live online training

You participate in the same course as in-class delegates, and we do everything possible to make your experience as close as possible to actually being in the classroom…

• Your course is Autodesk-accredited, hosted by an Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI) with vast experience of using the application professionally.
• You can see and hear our trainer, the other delegates and our trainer’s screen.
• Our trainer and the other delegates can see you (via your webcam) and hear you.
• We’ll post you a printed training guide, and make the course files and resources available for you to download.
• Your training is hands-on: you’ll practice and carry out exercises throughout.
• If you're learning to use an application and don’t have access to the software, we’ll send you a link to fully-functional trial software that you can download and install.
• If you need assistance, you can share your screen with our trainer, and pass control to
• You’ll receive an e-certificate confirming successful completion of an Autodesk-accredited course.
• You’re entitled to 30 days’ email support from your trainer.

We also offer this course with in-class attendance at our centres in Bromsgrove (Birmingham), Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Sheffield, and Reading.

Certificate of completion

Digital certificate - Included

• Course outline - > download

This 3-day course covers the following syllabus:

The AutoCAD interface

• Features of the ribbon
• The Application menu
• The Quick Access toolbar
• The command line
• Keyboard shortcuts
• Creating basic drawings

Creating basic objects

• Working with lines
• Working with arcs
• Working with polylines
• Using grips
• Using object snaps
• Using object snap tracking
• Using polar tracking

Saving your work

• Auto-backups
• Other file formats, DXF, etc.
• Disaster recovery

Accurate object creation

• Working with units
• Dynamic input
• Using Inquiry commands
• Using measurement tools to find length, area, etc.

Object viewing

• Zooming techniques
• Panning techniques

Manipulating objects

• Selecting objects in the drawing
• Noun/verb selection
• Using Quick Select
• Moving objects
• Copying objects
• Rotating objects
• Mirroring objects
• Arraying objects
• Scaling objects

Altering objects

• Trimming and extending objects to defined boundaries
• Creating parallel and offset geometry
• Joining objects
• Filleting corners between two objects
• Chamfering corners between two objects
• Stretching objects

Drawing organisation

• Using layers
• Changing object properties
• Matching object properties
• Using the properties palette
• Using linetypes

Working with layouts

• Using page setups
• Using layouts
• Scaling drawing views

Annotating the drawing

• Creating multiline text
• Creating single line text
• Using text styles
• Editing text

Dimensioning

• Creating dimensions
• Using dimension styles
• Editing dimensions
• Using multileaders

Hatching objects

• Hatching objects
• Editing hatch objects

Working with reusable content

• Creating and inserting blocks and symbols
• Editing blocks and symbols
• Using tool palettes
• Working with groups

Layouts and paper space

• Understanding model space and paper space
• Creating layouts
• Creating and using viewports
• Setting viewport scales

Plotting your drawings

• Plotting drawings
• PDF output
• Multiple sheet drawings
• Using Plotstyles

Drawing templates

• Creating drawing templates
• Using drawing templates

One AutoCAD

• AutoCAD toolsets
• AutoCAD web app
• AutoCAD mobile app

This course is ideal for:

• Newcomers to AutoCAD and CAD drawing.
• Users with a small amount of AutoCAD experience.
• Users who have previously used a different CAD tool and are switching to AutoCAD.
• People who want to learn AutoCAD without having to travel to a training centre.

Delegates should have a good working knowledge of Windows and need access to a Windows PC to use throughout the training. Please contact us if you are planning on using a Mac as our AutoCAD for Mac course is the most suitable for you.

If AutoCAD is not installed on your computer, Armada can provide you with details of trial software to download and use throughout the course.

A stable internet connection and a Webcam are essential.

No prior CAD knowledge is necessary.

AutoCAD is used widely in many industries, including Architectural, Engineering, Construction and Design. Potentials career paths include: becoming an architect, interior designer, engineer, product designer or graphic designer.

Depending on the specific role and experience, salaries start at £20k and can rise to £60k+.