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EDWartens UK

Free course · CAD

AutoCAD 2D and 3D Fundamentals

Free AutoCAD course for beginners: draw, edit, dimension and plot 2D drawings, then model basic 3D parts. The certificate is optional and paid.

See the modules

Free to learn. Verifiable certificate £19 when you pass the final exam (optional, VAT included).

Level
Beginner
Modules
11
Video
22 hours
Price
Free

Outcome

What you will be able to do

Navigate AutoCAD, draw with lines, arcs, polylines, circles and hatches, use snaps and drawing aids, modify with trim, extend, offset, fillet and arrays, build blocks, layers and properties, add text, dimensions, leaders and tables, plot from layouts, complete floor plans, elevations and mechanical drawings, model basic 3D and apply intermediate workflow techniques.

  • Navigate the interface, files, units and selection
  • Draw with lines, arcs, polylines, circles and hatch using snaps
  • Modify with trim, extend, offset, fillet and arrays
  • Use blocks, attributes, xrefs, layers and properties
  • Add text, dimensions, tables and plot from layouts
  • Draw floor plans, elevations, mechanical parts and basic 3D

Software

AutoCAD (free education licence for students and educators, or a 15-day trial)

Hardware

None required.

Syllabus

11 modules

Each module has video lessons, notes and a short quiz. The final exam closes the course.

  1. 1Interface, Files, Units, Selection and Navigation6 lessons
  2. 2Drawing Commands12 lessons
  3. 3Drawing Aids: Snaps, Ortho, Reference Lines and Dynamic Input5 lessons
  4. 4Modify Commands15 lessons
  5. 5Blocks, Layers and Properties9 lessons
  6. 6Text, Dimensions, Leaders, Tables and Plotting12 lessons
  7. 7The Complete Beginner Course8 lessons
  8. 8Exercises: Floor Plan, Elevation, Mechanical and Title Block11 lessons
  9. 93D Basics10 lessons
  10. 10Intermediate Techniques: Not Staying a Beginner6 lessons
  11. 11Final Assessment1 lesson

How it works

How this course works

  1. Watch the video lessonsOne module at a time, at your own pace.
  2. Take the module quizA short quiz at the end of each module shows what stuck.
  3. Keep your notesWrite in My notes beside each module and ask the trainer if you are stuck.
  4. Sit the final examPass it once you have been through the modules.
  5. Certificate, if you want oneOptionalPaid, and only after you pass. Anyone can check it online.

Certificate

An optional certificate when you pass

Learning is free. Pass the final exam and you can have a certificate for £19, including VAT, with a number employers can check online. It records that you completed a free online course; it is not a regulated qualification or a CPD certificate.

  • Your name, the course, its study time and your final exam score
  • A unique certificate number and a QR code to its verification page
  • Issued by Wartens Ltd; add it to your LinkedIn profile in one click
  • Pay now or after you pass: it is issued the moment you pass the final

How the certificate works

Sample certificate for AutoCAD 2D and 3D Fundamentals

Credits

Who made the lessons

The video lessons belong to their creators. EDWartens wrote the study plan, notes, quizzes and the final exam.

Questions

About this course

What jobs use AutoCAD?
AutoCAD is used mainly by drafters, designers and engineers who produce technical drawings for buildings, machines and electrical systems. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics says drafters use CAD systems to create and store technical drawings digitally, and it reports a median annual wage for drafters of $68,090 in May 2025. This course practises the drawing types those roles produce: floor plans, elevations, mechanical drawings and title blocks.
Do I need a degree or a certification to work as a CAD drafter?
Not always, but most employers look for formal drafting training, and certification is optional. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, drafters typically need an associate degree in drafting or a related field, and certification is not mandatory but shows competence in nationally recognised practices. The BLS also notes that drafting programmes include instruction in CAD software, which is the skill this course builds from the first command to plotting.
AutoCAD or AutoCAD Electrical?
This is plain AutoCAD, the foundation; the AutoCAD Electrical course builds control schematics on top of it.
Is AutoCAD free?
For students and educators, yes: Autodesk's education licence is free. Otherwise the trial lasts 15 days, so plan the drawing modules into that window.
Is 3D covered?
One module of basics: extrude, revolve, sweep and loft. Enough to model simple parts.
Is the course really free?
Yes. Every module, practice task and assessment. You create an account so your progress is saved and the assessments can be marked. The certificate is the only paid item, and only if you want it.
What certificate do I get, and is it a vendor qualification?
An EDWartens Certificate of Completion, issued when you pass the final assessment, with a verification code anyone can check. It is not a vendor credential and is never described as one.
Who made the video lessons?
The creators named in the Credits block at the foot of this page, on their own YouTube channels. EDWartens did not make the videos and the creators are not affiliated with EDWartens. What EDWartens wrote is the study plan, the notes, the practice tasks and the assessments.
How long does the course take?
Plan on about 22 hours in all, including the video lessons, notes and practice tasks. It is self-paced, so you work through the eleven modules at your own speed.

Mechanical and product CAD

Take it with

See the whole path

The Professional Module is five live days of Siemens PLC, HMI and SCADA with an instructor, then a resume session and a CPD certificate.

See the Professional Module