If you want to pursue a career as a CAD Coordinator, you may wonder what software programs you need to know. Although these can differ from industry to industry and organization to organization, some software is nearly universally essential for the CAD Coordinator position. Read on to learn about some of the most-used software programs for CAD Coordinators in every field.

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.

What Software Do CAD Coordinators Use?

CAD Coordinators may need numerous software skills, from standard job requirements like MS Office to BIM (building information modeling) programs. Fortunately, training for many of these programs is easily obtainable live online via teleconferencing or on-demand videos. Check out the following essential software programs for CAD Coordinators.

Learn AutoCAD

  • Nationally accredited
  • Create your own portfolio
  • Free student software
  • Learn at your convenience
  • Career placement assistance
  • Authorized Autodesk training center

Learn More

AutoCAD

Autodesk provides software bundles for multiple fields, including architecture, construction, engineering, manufacturing, and product design. Their AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction) package includes AutoCAD, the design and drafting program trusted by millions for their design and drafting software needs.

AutoCAD training is widely available online. It can be challenging to decide which training method to use, depending on your budget, availability, and whether you already have on-the-job experience with CAD software. If you need to learn AutoCAD at the beginner level, consider a bootcamp or certification training program.

Civil 3D

Another essential Autodesk tool for many professionals, Civil 3D is part of the AEC Collection software bundle. However, only some CAD Coordinator roles require Civil 3D expertise. The emphasis is on critical infrastructure, such as roads and highways, rail projects, or major job sites like office parks or shopping malls. Civil 3D includes stormwater and wastewater analysis, utilities design, and corridor modeling.

Revit

Autodesk Revit is the third essential software program for many CAD Coordinators. Revit is primarily for architectural, construction, engineering, MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing), and structural design. While product design and manufacturing users typically use Autodesk Fusion 360, Revit is the top choice for the AEC collection.

Other software tools for CAD Coordinators include:

  • Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop)
  • Autodesk BIM 360
  • Autodesk Navisworks Manage
  • CADWorx
  • CATIA (3D CAD Software)
  • Creo (3D CAD Software)
  • Electronic file transfer (FTP, SharePoint)
  • Microsoft Office Suite
  • Newforma Project Center
  • SolidWorks from Dassault Systèmes

How to Learn CAD Coordinator Software

Students interested in learning the skills to become CAD Coordinators have multiple options available to receive their training. They can enroll in a bootcamp or certificate program which can either take place at a dedicated training facility or in a live online classroom. Students can also take asynchronous, self-paced lessons through many different service providers. Finally, beginners can start their journey towards a CAD education by exploring free resources and training options. No matter what kind of CAD classes you are looking for, there are a great many options available.

Many students find that the most effective way to learn a new skill is with guided professional instruction in a live classroom setting. Students who want this direct assistance and guidance should consider enrolling in an in-person or live online course. These classes place students in dedicated learning environments where they work directly with professional instructors who are prepared to help guide them through learning CAD skills and tools. These classes allow students to receive real-time feedback and assistance, offering them significantly more guidance in their CAD training.

Students requiring more flexibility in their schedules or who need to be able to train during off hours may want to consider enrolling in an on-demand CAD course. These classes let students learn at their own pace, allowing them to pick up and put down their lessons as their schedules permit, which can be essential for those with work or family commitments that make attending live training sessions difficult or even impossible. These classes can also be less expensive than live training programs. However, since you won’t have assistance from a live instructor, you may need to spend even more time resolving challenges that may arise during your training.

Finally, for students who aren’t sure if CAD training is right for them, there are many free online resources available. These tools won’t be a replacement for professional skills training. Still, they are perfect for getting introduced to CAD skills in anticipation of enrolling in more advanced training. You don’t want to enroll in a CAD certificate program only to learn that you don’t much care for the field.

Other Skills Needed to Become a CAD Coordinator

Although the software skills needed to become a CAD Coordinator vary—typically including AutoCAD, Revit, and Civil 3D—other skills and tools are also crucial to the CAD Coordinator’s success. These include other hard skills as well as soft skills like problem-solving and communication skills. Consider the following:

  • Collaboration: Among the many soft skills for the CAD Coordinator position, the ability to collaborate with others is one of the most essential. A Firmwide CAD Coordinator may need to work across all departments in the organization, from line-level CAD Coordinators to trainers, upper management, and other key stakeholders—including clients or customers.
  • Communication: Good written and verbal communication skills are desirable in any career, but for the CAD Coordinator, they are crucial. The ability to communicate effectively with everyone from construction workers onsite to C-suite executives is a rare skill set for which every CAD Coordinator must strive, especially if they work as a Firmwide Coordinator.
  • Computer numerical control (CNC): Computer numerical control, commonly abbreviated as CNC, is essential to industries like aerospace and defense, energy, and manufacturing, but there are many others. CAD Coordinators who use AutoCAD and related tools as part of the Autodesk Product Design & Manufacturing Collection may need CNC skills unless they delegate them to machinists and other operational staff.
  • Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T): Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) is a set of rules and symbols used to define the intent of a design. While it might sound like GD&T would only apply to manufacturing, it is just as essential to other architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) designs and drawings. Examples of geometric characteristics include parallelism, perpendicularity, and angularity, to name a few.
  • Geographic information systems (GIS): Geographic information systems consist of hardware and software designed to connect data to maps. A GIS platform integrates everything from satellite imagery to geospatial data, providing a complex database of attributes. CAD Coordinator roles may require deep familiarity with GIS, as CAD workflow requires comprehensive information about a job site landscape, local population, and other relevant factors.
  • Math and numerical operations: CAD Drafters, Operators, and Technicians need specialized skills, so the same applies to CAD Coordinators. Many come to their fields with strong math aptitudes, which is all to the good: understanding the calculations required for dimensional requirements, budgets, and the cost of resources can all be essential to this position.
  • Leadership Qualities: While not all CAD Coordinator roles demand strong leadership skills, many do. In particular, a Firmwide CAD Coordinator may have to lead a team, train trainers, and interact with upper management and key stakeholders in their day-to-day activities.

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.