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Certificate

CAD/BIM

Gain the skills needed to succeed in engineering, design, and architecture.

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About the CAD/BIM Program

The CAD/BIM Certificate Program prepares students for careers in architecture, engineering, construction, and design by developing in-demand skills in AutoCAD and Building Information Modeling (BIM) using Revit. Through a structured sequence of courses, students learn how to create precise technical drawings, develop coordinated building models, and produce professional construction documents used in industry.

The CAD/BIM Certificate consists of a sequence of six required courses that build progressively from introductory to advanced levels:

AutoCAD Sequence

AutoCAD I: Introduction
AutoCAD II: Intermediate
AutoCAD III: Working Drawings

Revit (BIM) Sequence

Revit I: Introduction
Revit II: Intermediate
Revit III: Advanced

Courses may be taken individually although software is not included.  

Please review the FAQs below and individual linked course pages for more information. 
Online
Varies by quarter.
3 - 9 Months
Dependent on number of courses taken per quarter.
$3,450
Cost does not include textbooks or other materials.

What You Will Learn

  • How to work on simulated real-world projects with industry professionals.
  • The process professionals go through to create and assemble the components required for the creation of working documents.
  • A foundation in CAD and BIM software that can be applied immediately to current jobs or future employment.

This Program Is Designed For

  • Those who want to learn Autodesk’s AutoCAD and Revit software programs.
  • Those seeking to enter or advance in the Architecture/Engineering/Construction (AEC) industry.
  • Trade professionals, facilities managers, engineers, architects, designers, illustrators and numerous others.

How to Apply

Students may enroll in individual courses without applying to the certificate program. There is a $0.00 application fee. For students pursuing the certificate, there will be a one-time $125.00 certificate fee.

Get More Information

For detailed information, please contact our Arts, Humanities, Languages & Digital Arts department.
Classroom type:
Live Online
In-Person
Online
Hybrid
Download Course List
Quarter availability reflects when courses are most commonly scheduled. Actual availability may vary.

Required Courses

12 units

Certificate Guidelines

This certificate can be completed in one quarter although two quarters is more common. Students have up to 5 years to complete the certificate if needed.

All six courses are offered online every quarter:
AutoCAD I, II, III, and Revit I, II, III.

Students have access to course materials until the end of each course. 

Conditions for Admission

Students should have a basic knowledge of computers. Windows PCs are required due to broader compatibility with AutoCAD and Revit software.  Please see the application for specific admission requirements for this program.

UC San Diego Extended Studies programs are designed to best serve working professionals. Programs are open to all adult learners.

Special Notes

Important Information about the Required Autodesk Software:

- Students enrolled in the CAD/BIM Certificate program are eligible to access the free educational version of the software. Proof of certificate enrollment is needed (certificate verification PDF can be accessed through MyExtension).
  -  Students enrolled in individual courses (those who don't intend to take the certificate program) are not eligible to access the educational version; those students will need to sign up for a free trial or purchase the software.
  -  Instructions are provided on the first day of class on how to download the AutoCAD and Revit Autodesk software.

FAQs

The courses in this program require students to use Autodesk's AutoCAD and Autodesk's Revit software. A PC with a Windows operating system is required. (Mac will not run the required software). 

Please Note:
- Students enrolled in the CAD/BIM Certificate program are eligible to access the free educational version of the software. Proof of certificate enrollment is needed (certificate verification PDF can be accessed through MyExtension).
  -  Students enrolled in individual courses (those who don't intend to take the certificate program) are not eligible to access the educational version; those students will need to sign up for a free trial or purchase the software.

Instructions are provided on the first day of class on how to navigate to and download the AutoCAD and Revit Autodesk software via Autodesk's website.
Each course costs $575. The estimated cost of the entire certificate program is $3,450, plus the Certificate Fee (appox $150). Students pay per course as they go through the program, not in one lump sum in advance. 
 

Yes. UC San Diego is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The Division of Extended Studies, like all other schools, colleges, and departments at UC San Diego, is accredited through the University.

All courses and certificate programs offered by UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies are developed and administered in accordance with University of California Extension policy and the regulations of the UC Academic Senate.

When you have paid your certificate fee and successfully completed all program requirements, your certificate will be sent to you automatically, mailed to the address you have on file. The delivery of the certificate can take up to 8 weeks. 
  • UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies offers continuing education loans through UC Approved Lenders. Each institution offers low competitive interest rates and flexible payment options. You are also encouraged to contact your personal financial institution about possible lending solutions. Direct links to UC Approved Lenders can be found on our website’s Financial Resources page.
  • The Employment Development Department (EDD) provides a comprehensive range of employment and training services in partnership with state and local agencies/organizations. More information is available on their website at edd.ca.gov.
  • Career Centers Located throughout San Diego County offer their communities comprehensive employment and training services benefiting both business and job seekers. More information is available on their website at workforce.org.
  • Please click here for information about Veteran’s Benefits.
  • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) funds are limited to degree programs only, and cannot be used for courses or certificate fees at UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies.
Yes, you may enroll in the program at any time. However, it is recommended that you enroll as soon as possible. The program curriculum may be updated at any time; if certificate requirements change, you must adhere to the curriculum at the time of your enrollment into the certificate. Enrolling in the certificate also gives you access to quarterly, personalized enrollment reminders from the program manager.
Yes, you may take any course in this program without registering for the certificate as long as you meet the course prerequisite. Please note: Individual courses do not include software. 
We recommend enrolling as soon as possible, when the term opens. Many of our core certificate courses may fill up before the course start date. Students are required to be enrolled two days prior to the start date of the course. There are no late enrollments allowed. Link to the Academic Calendar [LINK]
 

When registering, students may choose between a Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass option. As long as a student receives a passing score (70% or higher), they will earn the same certificate of completion and any related documents, regardless of the grading method selected.

If you're pursuing employer reimbursement, we recommend checking with your company to confirm whether a Letter Grade is required for reimbursement eligibility.

Students can update their grading option via their MyExtension student portal anytime before 12:00 a.m. on the final class meeting.

 

If you have enrolled at least three days before the course begins, you will have access starting on the first day of class. You should receive an email from Student Services with instructions for how to login to the course. If you have enrolled on or after the start date of the course, you will have access to the course within one business day.
 

You will have access to the online Canvas course on the official start date of the class/exam/info session.  Access will be available at 12:01am Pacific Time.

Enrollment to online classes can take up to 24 hours to process and sync up to our online platform, Canvas. For example, if a class started on Tuesday and that is the day a student enrolled, they will likely not have full access to the class until 24 hours later on Wednesday.

Access to course ends when the course ends. 

Each student has their own learning style so this can vary greatly. As a rule of thumb, expect to spend an average of two hours studying for every hour you spend in-class. For online courses, students should plan to spend approximately 8-10 hours per week viewing lectures and completing coursework.
Format: Online asynchronous. There are no set meeting times, however, students follow a weekly schedule and there will be deadlines to meet in terms of course requirements. This course cannot be completed at an accelerated rate. UC San Diego Extended Studies operates in Pacific Standard Time and therefore any deadline is considered 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
Each AutoCAD and Revit online course runs for 18 days.

For exact course dates of upcoming sections, visit the page of the course you are interested in taking on our website.
For questions regarding these courses and certificate, please contact us at unex-digital@ucsd.edu or 858-534-5800.
 

Advisory Board

Natalie Johnson, BA

Program Manager, Arts & Languages Dept
UC San Diego Extension

P. Benson Shing, Ph.D, MS

Professor, Structural Engineering
UC San Diego

Al Whitley, MBA, AIA

Architect
Whitley Group Consulting

Jake Wilke, MA

Assistant Director, Arts & Languages Dept
UC San Diego Extension

Michael Scott Wilson, B.ARCH

Architect, Instructor
Whitley Group Consulting

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