How Long Do After Effects Courses Take?

After Effects classes can vary significantly, depending on the format and depth of the course. Introductory and advanced short courses might range from a few hours to a few days of class sessions, providing essential skills in a condensed time frame. Meanwhile, After Effects bootcamps, designed for intensive learning, can span several days of full-time sessions or a few weeks on a part-time schedule. Certification-prep programs, tailored for those who aim to pass the Adobe Certified Professional in After Effects exam, can extend over multiple weeks due to the detailed curriculum and exam preparation involved. While self-paced classes offer flexibility and can be completed at your own speed, live instructor-led options generally ensure better engagement and effective learning outcomes. This guide will help you navigate the different class formats, allowing you to choose the After Effects course that aligns best with your educational and professional objectives.

Introductory and Advanced Short Courses

Short courses at every level serve as excellent options for individuals seeking to build their After Effects expertise within a structured framework. Introductory short courses are specifically geared toward beginners, providing foundational knowledge of the software’s interface, key tools, and basic animation techniques. Noble Desktop’s After Effects in a Day and other courses in this category are typically built to help new users become comfortable with After Effects and grasp essential concepts and usually last from a few hours to a week. 

Students further along into their After Effects learning journeys can also find advanced short courses that will help them meet their needs. Courses like Noble Desktop’s After Effects Advanced are designed for those who already have a basic understanding of After Effects and wish to elevate their expertise. This category of After Effects classes delves deeply into complex effects, advanced compositing techniques, and workflow optimizations. Some will cover a specific tool or technique for users of After Effects, while others will offer broader training to level up expertise in the application. Either way, these courses also usually run from an afternoon to a week in length, much like advanced short courses. However, you can also find part-time advanced classes in After Effects spanning several weeks or longer.

After Effects Bootcamps 

For individuals seeking a more immersive and comprehensive experience, After Effects bootcamps provide an ideal solution. These intensive programs typically range from a few days of full-time class sessions to a week in length, offering carefully guided deep dives into the application’s functionalities. Participants in bootcamps can expect a rigorous schedule that covers a wide array of topics, from fundamental concepts to more complex animation and compositing techniques.

One of the key advantages of After Effects bootcamps is the opportunity for hands-on practice and real-time feedback from experienced instructors. These classes often include practical projects that simulate real-world scenarios, enabling students to apply their newly acquired skills immediately. Moreover, bootcamps are designed to accommodate varying levels of proficiency, often—as is the case with Noble Desktop’s After Effects Bootcamp—welcoming beginners with no previous experience in the application. At the same time, more experienced users can also benefit from these bootcamps by filling gaps in their knowledge and expanding their expertise in advanced topics, such as 3D camera tracking and complex visual effects. This flexibility allows all attendees to achieve significant mastery of After Effects in a condensed period of time, making bootcamps a popular choice for those looking to fast-track their learning and enhance their professional capabilities.

After Effects Certification-Prep Programs 

After Effects certification-prep programs are highly focused comprehensive courses that prepare students to ace the Adobe Certified Professional in After Effects exam. Not every After Effects learner needs to earn this certification, but it can be a beneficial qualification for many in launching their careers or opening doors for expansion within their current occupation. After Effects certification programs like Noble Desktop’s often run part-time for several weeks to give students plenty of time to practice and fully metabolize the skills they learn in class. After Effects certification-prep programs delve into intricate details of animation, motion graphics, visual effects, and compositing. These courses typically involve intense hands-on projects that replicate scenarios professionals may encounter in real-world settings, thus ensuring practical as well as theoretical knowledge.

A significant advantage of pursuing a certification-prep program is the access to expert instructors who bring industry insights and personalized guidance to the learning process. The ability to receive feedback and answers to questions in real-time can make a major difference in a student’s preparedness to pass the After Effects certification exam. Additionally, some programs—including Noble’s—feature one-on-one mentorship that can dramatically increase participants’ confidence in their growing After Effects expertise and readiness for Adobe’s exam. However, these programs are not only about passing that exam—they are also about achieving a deep, functional understanding of After Effects that can help an individual land their dream job and success in their career from day one.

Self-Paced Classes

Featuring a unique blend of structure and flexibility, self-paced classes can be an appealing After Effects learning solution for disciplined and self-driven students. Also known as on-demand courses, self-paced classes allow you to begin a class and do coursework whenever is most convenient. For some learners with the ability to keep themselves focused and motivated, this freedom is welcome. However, many struggle to stay on track with their learning goals without a set schedule and the support of an expert instructor who can answer questions and troubleshoot problems as they arise in real-time. Bootcamps and live short courses provide these benefits and others that keep students on track in their After Effects education. Self-paced classes can vary significantly in length, as introductory, advanced, and comprehensive options are available, and, ultimately, the student sets the pace of the program.

Learn After Effects Skills with Noble Desktop

Professional training school Noble Desktop offers a variety of After Effects courses, including an intensive 18-hour After Effects Bootcamp. Noble invites beginners and experienced users alike to attend this class either in-person in NYC or live online. The cost of the bootcamp covers many benefits, such as one-on-one mentorship, a free retake option, Noble’s proprietary workbook, and a verified digital certificate of completion. Expert instructors lead students through the proven curriculum featuring lectures, discussions, and hands-on projects to master After Effects’ basic features and many of the application’s advanced tools, as well. Graduates will be able to create animations, motion graphics, and visual effects with ease, using greenscreen removal, motion tracking, and other After Effects features.

If you want to earn an Adobe Certified Professional in After Effects certification, Noble Desktop’s After Effects Certification Program can help you achieve your goals. Whether you wish to launch a new career or advance in your current one in video editing, motion graphics, or animation, an Adobe certification in After Effects will verify your high level of knowledge and experience in the application to future or current employers. In 36 hours of classroom learning time and six hours of one-on-one tutoring, Noble’s certification-prep program will give you the comprehensive training you need to pass the certification exam. This training includes Noble’s After Effects Bootcamp, their After Effects Advanced course, and various resources to help you prepare to pass the certification exam. Tuition covers your exam fee plus a free retake of the exam or the entire program within one year, as well as a verified certificate of completion. This course is available in-person in Midtown Manhattan or live online for students worldwide.

You can launch your animation, video editing, or motion graphics career with Noble Desktop’s Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate program. This comprehensive career-prep program equips you with the vital skills of these industries through in-depth training on After Effects, Cinema 4D in After Effects, Premiere Pro, Audition, and Photoshop. Expert instructors will guide you no only through mastering these tools but also through the process of crafting a professional portfolio, arguably your most important asset in landing your dream job. You can attend this certificate program in-person in NYC or live online—either way, your tuition covers a free retake option, eight one-on-one mentoring sessions for career support, and a verified digital certificate.