CAD Technology Certificate - Online

Virtual Design & Construction Institute · San Diego, CA

Cost: $5,470
Length: 33 weeks
Working 6 months later: 83%

Program names, program descriptions and occupation titles appear here in English, because that is the only language the federal and state records publish them in. Everything else on this page is translated.

What happened to people who took this

People enrolled: 11

Small group — treat with caution

Finished the program: 70%Based on 10 peopleTypical California program: 85% of 1,951 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.
Working 6 months later: 83%Typical California program: 69% of 1,690 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.
Earnings in one quarter after: $7,800A single quarter of earnings, roughly three months, not a yearly salary. Do not compare it directly with the yearly pay shown for the occupation.Typical California program: $10,900 of 1,339 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.

The jobs this trains for

This describes the jobs people do, not the classes this program teaches. It comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, which asks people already doing the work. The Department publishes it in English only, so the job names and the sentences below stay in English on this page.

Shrinking -3.1%
California projects this job will shrink over the next ten years. Fewer openings may mean a harder search.

Trains for more than one job. The outlook shown is the weakest of them.

Where California publishes a separate figure for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad MSA (San Diego County), it appears beneath the statewide one. Statewide stays the headline: people who train here do not necessarily work here.

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Job ads may call this: Project Manager · Engineering Director · Civil Engineering Manager · Engineering Group Manager

Some of what people in this job do. The Department rates how important each one is, and they appear in that order.

Manage the coordination and overall integration of technical activities in architecture or engineering projects.
Direct, review, or approve project design changes.
Consult or negotiate with clients to prepare project specifications.
Prepare budgets, bids, or contracts.

Show 2 more things this job involves

Present and explain proposals, reports, or findings to clients.
Confer with management, production, or marketing staff to discuss project specifications or procedures.

Typical pay in California: $213,808per yearSan Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad MSA: $188,990
Projected openings: 20,870San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad MSA: 2,890
Projected change: +5%
Usually needs: Bachelor's degree

Getting in

Experience needed first: 5 years or more in a related job
Training after you are hired: None

Most people hired for this job have already spent 5 years or more in a related one. Finishing this program may not be enough on its own. Ask the provider who hires their graduates, and what those people did before.

These are the federal government's answers for the occupation, not rules this provider sets. California publishes the same two answers for every one of these jobs.

What people in this job actually studied

Most common: Four-year degree — 46% of the people doing this work.

California says this job usually needs: Bachelor's degree. 17% of the people doing it went less far than that.

No high school diploma: 0.7%
High school diploma: 4%
Started college, no degree: 7%
Two-year degree: 5%
Four-year degree: 46%
Master's degree: 32%
Doctorate or professional degree: 5%

This counts people already doing this job, across the whole United States. Every other figure on this page is California's, and the federal government publishes no state version of this one. It is what people happen to have, not a rule about who gets hired. A small row does not mean you would be turned away, and a large one is not a promise of a job.

Cost Estimators

Pay, hiring, and what people studied

Job ads may call this: Analyst · Estimator · Cost Analyst · Cost Engineer

Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.
Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.
Collect historical cost data to estimate costs for current or future products.
Assess cost effectiveness of products, projects or services, tracking actual costs relative to bids as the project develops.

Show 3 more things this job involves

Prepare estimates for use in selecting vendors or subcontractors.
Prepare estimates used by management for purposes such as planning, organizing, and scheduling work.
Consult with clients, vendors, personnel in other departments, or construction foremen to discuss and formulate estimates and resolve issues.

Typical pay in California: $86,894per yearSan Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad MSA: $86,169
Projected openings: 20,470San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad MSA: 2,300
Projected change: -3.1%
Usually needs: Bachelor's degree

Getting in

Experience needed first: None
Training after you are hired: 1 to 12 months

What people in this job actually studied

Most common: Four-year degree — 34% of the people doing this work.

California says this job usually needs: Bachelor's degree. 60% of the people doing it went less far than that.

No high school diploma: 3%
High school diploma: 21%
Started college, no degree: 24%
Two-year degree: 11%
Four-year degree: 34%
Master's degree: 5%
Doctorate or professional degree: 0.8%

Architects, Except Landscape and Naval

Pay, hiring, and what people studied

Job ads may call this: Planner · Architect · Design Architect · Project Architect

Develop final construction plans that include aesthetic representations of the structure or details for its construction.
Prepare scale drawings or architectural designs, using computer-aided design or other tools.
Prepare information regarding design, structure specifications, materials, color, equipment, estimated costs, or construction time.
Meet with clients to review or discuss architectural drawings.

Show 3 more things this job involves

Consult with clients to determine functional or spatial requirements of structures.
Integrate engineering elements into unified architectural designs.
Monitor the work of specialists, such as electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, interior designers, or sound specialists to ensure optimal form or function of designs or final structures.

Typical pay in California: $111,578per yearSan Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad MSA: $121,628
Projected openings: 9,910San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad MSA: 1,240
Projected change: +7.5%
Usually needs: Bachelor's degree

Getting in

Experience needed first: None
Training after you are hired: An internship or residency

People usually enter this job through an internship or a residency rather than from a classroom course alone. Ask the provider whether this program leads to one.

What people in this job actually studied

Most common: Four-year degree — 44% of the people doing this work.

California says this job usually needs: Bachelor's degree. 9% of the people doing it went less far than that.

No high school diploma: 0.4%
High school diploma: 1%
Started college, no degree: 5%
Two-year degree: 3%
Four-year degree: 44%
Master's degree: 37%
Doctorate or professional degree: 9%

Program details

This program provides online instruction, e-learning, or distance learning only.

A Nationally Accredited Online Program - A comprehensive certificate in Architectural-based CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software technology targeted for the Construction Industry. The certificate also includes elective courses where students can specialize in learning AutoCAD, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Revit, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Navisworks, Fusion 360, SketchUp, Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Blueprint Reading, Construction Fundamentals and Construction Estimating. The classes are designed to provide students an opportunity to learn & develop relevant technical skills used in construction industry-focused disciplines. The curriculum is based on the current professional skill sets required by business. Knowledge of these programs will make students more marketable with potential employers. Includes access to Autodesk Software and also textbook. Includes attempt at the Autodesk Professional Certification Exam. ETPL Program Code: 04090112370300CalJobs Program Code: 04090121000003BPPE School Code: 93794290 National accreditation - ACCET Accreditation ID: 1465 Please contact learn@vdci.edu for more information. You can also visit https://www.vdci.edu/academic-programs/cad-certificate/ to learn more information.

Provider's website →

Someone else may be able to pay for this

This program was on California's Eligible Training Provider List when the state last reported it to the U.S. Department of Labor (2026-08-04). Programs on that list can be paid for through an Individual Training Account. Listings are renewed periodically and can lapse, so a program listed when the state last reported may not be listed today. Ask before you rely on it.

The place to ask is an America's Job Center of California

A comprehensive center is where all the required partner programs can be reached; an affiliate site offers some of them. California's Employment Development Department directs people to CareerOneStop's finder to locate one. Contacting a center before traveling is worth it — the state notes that its own staff are not physically present at every location.

The rule: 20 CFR 678.305 — What is a comprehensive one-stop center? · 20 CFR 678.310 — What is an affiliated site? · California EDD — Office Locator

Metro Career CenterAffiliate site
Phone: 619-319-9675 and 619-266-4253
4389 Imperial AvenueSan Diego, CA 92113about 7.3 miles away
Hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Has a veterans' representative
South Bay Career CenterComprehensive center
Phone: 619-319-9675
333 H StreetSouth Bay Career Bldg. Suite 1055Chula Vista, CA 91910about 11.7 miles away
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5 :00p.m.
East County Career CenterAffiliate site
Phone: 619-319-9675
151 Van Houten AvePCGEl Cajon, CA 92020about 13.7 miles away
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am- 5:00pm

Distances are straight-line, so the drive is longer. Call before you travel: opening hours here are as the federal directory published them, and the state notes its own staff are not present at every location.

Find a center anywhere in California, and check what is on the list today:
CareerOneStop — American Job Center Finder (U.S. DOL) · California EDD — Office Locator · California EDD — Eligible Training Provider List

How this gets paid for, and what to ask →

Whether a person can have a program paid for is decided by their local workforce development board and the America's Job Center staff who interview them — not by this site, and not by the training provider. California has 45 local workforce development areas and each sets its own policies, so the answer can differ between two people in neighboring counties. Nothing here is a promise of funding or a determination of eligibility.

The rules cited here, and the state and federal sites linked to, are published in English.

How this site gets its figures, and what they do not tell you →