Although many people want to work with computer-aided design (CAD), learning how to get into the field can be confusing. Those who want to be CAD Coordinators may wonder what steps to take to prepare for this in-demand career.

Knowing the steps to becoming a CAD Coordinator can demystify the process and help future CAD Coordinators launch successful careers. Fortunately, varying approaches can work well to get started. Read on to learn about the many ways to become a CAD Coordinator.

What is a CAD Coordinator?

A CAD Coordinator generally provides support for design, engineering, or manufacturing teams. Responsibilities for CAD Coordinator positions vary widely, and different industries can have unique requirements and unusual job titles. They can range from updating software to providing training or maintaining CAD standards.

CAD Coordinators may design and prepare electronic working plans, maps, and project drawings. Others receive customer 2D drawings and prepare them for release to a CAD design or engineering team. Firmwide CAD Coordinators typically work in a supervisory capacity, managing and coordinating all CAD-related activities.

CAD Coordinators are oftentimes experts in building information modeling (BIM), and some positions have titles like CAD/BIM Design Coordinator. These roles are often comparable to those with titles like Firmwide CAD Coordinator, which means they support multiple design and engineering teams. Read on for additional requirements and specifics for this unique position.

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What Tools Do I Need To Get Started?

The first tool a CAD Coordinator needs is design and drafting software. CAD stands for computer-aided design, and one of the most popular software programs for CAD is AutoCAD from Autodesk. This essential software is available on a free trial basis for students, educators, businesses, and individuals.

However, getting started with a free AutoCAD trial is not as simple as it might sound. It helps to know what you will use it for before you create an account and download the software. For example, Autodesk tailors AutoCAD for the following applications:

  • Architecture
  • Electrical
  • Map 3D
  • Mechanical
  • MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing)
  • Plant 3D
  • Raster Design

Another consideration is whether you plan to use AutoCAD on a Mac or PC. Autodesk offers a Mac version of AutoCAD, but you must have at least a 10 Mbps internet connection and turn off virus-checking software to download it. You can automatically choose among the categories above if you plan to run AutoCAD on a PC.

Next on the agenda are communication or collaboration platforms and project management software. Your instructor may offer suggestions if you start learning AutoCAD in a bootcamp or certification program. However, if you train on the job or by yourself, you might have to choose among several categories, or the platform may already have been chosen for you. Consider the following popular options:

  • Cloud-Based Platforms: 
    • Autodesk Fusion
    • SolidWorks from Dassault Systèmes
  • Communication Platforms:
    • Slack
    • Zoom
    • Microsoft Teams
  • Project Management Software:
    • Asana
    • ClickUp
    • Trello
  • Modeling software for BIM (building information modeling) capabilities or manufacturing and product design:

You may require other software tools in the future, but these will have you well on your way to CAD proficiency.

Steps to Become a CAD Coordinator

To become a CAD Coordinator, you will need some of the tools and skills of a CAD Technician or Operator. Fortunately, this can also be a CAD Drafter or CAD Designer. Multiple industries need CAD Coordinators, and your choice of role may be industry-specific. However, starting with general training is the essential first step.

Training for most CAD roles involves AutoCAD. You can get a free trial AutoCAD subscription through the Autodesk website. However, an even better strategy is to learn AutoCAD basics through a bootcamp or certification program, which will provide experience, knowledge, and a portfolio of CAD projects.

Many companies have a degree requirement for particular roles, including CAD Coordinator. Further education may be necessary to get the position you want. Be prepared to obtain an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, possibly even after you start working in the field.

While you might need college for some companies, others will focus more on your skills and know-how. You might not need a degree if you have a CAD-related certification credential. The American Design Drafting Association offers certification programs, as does Autodesk. You can also take the AutoCAD Certification Program from Noble Desktop, which prepares you for the Autodesk Certificated Professional in AutoCAD for Design and Drafting exam.

CAD Coordinator Career Path

The CAD Coordinator career path can start from multiple places, depending on emphasis, industry, and even the organization where you work. Many CAD Coordinators begin as CAD Drafters or Designers, taking on more responsibility until they qualify for leadership roles. 

However, not all CAD Coordinators work at this managerial level. While a Firmwide CAD Coordinator position may require leading local or regional CAD Coordinators, these local or regional positions may be in smaller organizations. For example, a CAD Coordinator in an electrical subcontractor or engineering firm's office may be the liaison between the CAD team and workers at the job site.

These non-managerial CAD Coordinator positions are much more easily obtainable than a Firmwide CAD Coordinator role requiring years of AutoCAD and Civil 3D experience. Some are open to CAD Drafters or Designers, depending on their level of experience and the needs of the organization.

Consider, too, that CAD Coordinators may work for architectural, construction, engineering, MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing), manufacturing, or product design. With this many options, the best path is to determine an industry-specific career goal before starting AutoCAD or other CAD training.

Finally, remember it is possible to qualify for a CAD Coordinator role as a freelancer or without a drafting, design, or engineering degree. Though the most direct path may be through college or university, a shorter route can include a bootcamp or certification credential from a respected provider.

Why Become A CAD Coordinator?

The reasons you might want to become a CAD Coordinator can be as varied as the many job titles CAD professionals can have and the many industries they can work in. The title means many things to different people: advertised positions often have titles similar to CAD Coordinator but with additional verbiage. Examples include:

  • BIM CAD Coordinator
  • CAD Design Coordinator/Checker
  • CAD System Coordinator
  • Design Coordinator/CAD Drafter
  • Design Engineer Coordinator
  • HVAC CAD Coordinator

These positions are all potential results of a keyword search for CAD Coordinator, yet they emphasize different strengths, qualifications, and experience. You might want to be a CAD Coordinator to use your BIM skills for one position, whereas another candidate would prefer to work on providing production and technical support to a team.

Some emphasize drafting, others design, and still others a specific construction skill set like HVAC, electrical, or mechanical skills. With such diverse experience, skills, and knowledge across multiple fields, you can understand why people want to be CAD Coordinators.

Learn the Skills to Become a CAD Coordinator at Noble Desktop

While some CAD roles will require expertise in a system software like SolidWorks from Dassault Systèmes, most will require AutoCAD. Training for a CAD Coordinator role typically starts with one or more Autodesk programs, from AutoCAD to Revit, Fusion 360, and Navisworks.

Noble Desktop provides multiple AutoCAD training options for individuals and organizations. Their AutoCAD Level I class is an 18-hour program available live online via teleconferencing or in person at their state-of-the-art Manhattan headquarters. Beginners learn to create drawings for architectural or mechanical applications. Although in-person classes focus on AutoCAD for PC, Mac users may attend online. Noble offers intermediate and advanced training through AutoCAD Levels II and III classes.

Applicants can save by taking AutoCAD Level I within one of several immersive programs. The following courses include beginner to intermediate or advanced AutoCAD training:

  • AutoCAD Bootcamp - The comprehensive AutoCAD Bootcamp combines AutoCAD Levels I and II for a total of 30 hours of training. Attendees learn basic and intermediate AutoCAD skills like drawing, editing, advanced layer techniques, and data tables in a beginner-friendly curriculum.
  • AutoCAD Masterclass - Noble Desktop’s AutoCAD Masterclass adds an 18-hour advanced AutoCAD Level III course to the AutoCAD Bootcamp modules. While also open to beginners, this 48-hour program covers advanced object types and interface techniques. Graduates rate the AutoCAD Masterclass highly, 4.7 out of 5 stars. 
  • AutoCAD Certification Program - The 54-hour AutoCAD Certification Program adds six hours of private tutoring to the AutoCAD Masterclass curriculum to prepare students to sit for the Autodesk Certificated Professional in AutoCAD for Design and Drafting exam. Tuition also covers proctoring for the exam and a free retake if needed. Attendees can substitute an additional hour of tutoring in place of the exam if they choose. 

Courses like the certification program can help professional AutoCAD users stand out from the field in a crowded job market. However, Autodesk also suggests that the certification exam usually requires between 400 and 1,200 on-the-job hours using the AutoCAD software to prepare for testing.