VA-approved training in New York City since 1990

hello@nobledesktop.com (212) 226-4149 nobledesktop.com

All approved programs CAD & BIM

CAD Certificate

  • VA-approved, facility code 25112332
  • 150 hours
  • NYC or self-paced
  • $3,995

Learn 2D drafting skills with AutoCAD and enhance your design capabilities with specialized tools like Revit. This program prepares you for a successful career in construction design, with real-world applications and project-based learning.

Start enrollment See start dates

Approved for VA education benefits under Noble Desktop, VA facility code 25112332. Verify in the VA GI Bill Comparison Tool.

Student project work from the CAD Certificate curriculum
Student project work

This program includes

  • 150 hours of live training. Project-based, in person at 185 Madison Avenue with an instructor in the room.
  • 11 courses in the program. Scheduled classes, not recorded lectures; labs marked (Self-Paced) below run on your own time.
  • 1-on-1 mentoring. Time with an instructor outside of class, scheduled around your commitments.
  • Free retake within one year. Repeat any class in the program at no cost.
  • Class recordings. Available for 30 days after each class, so a missed session is recoverable.
  • A verified certificate. Noble Desktop is licensed by the New York State Education Department.
  • A VA certifying official. One of our School Certifying Officials submits your enrollment certification to VA so you are not chasing it.
  • Interest-free payment plans. If your benefit leaves a balance: a pay-as-you-go installment plan, or Climb Credit. 0% interest, no fees.
  • Job-search support. Portfolio review, resume, and interview preparation with an instructor. Support, not a placement promise.

Learn the Skills Guarantee™

Master the concepts and skills outlined in the program, or your tuition is refunded. It applies to every course here. See the full terms on nobledesktop.com/benefits.

Program overview

Gain drafting and design skills with hands-on training in AutoCAD, the industry standard for computer-aided design (CAD). This certificate program begins with 2D drafting fundamentals and progresses to advanced techniques used in architecture, engineering, and construction.

  • AutoCAD for 2D Drafting: Learn to create, manage, and organize technical drawings using industry-standard tools and workflows.
  • 2D Design Principles: Understand the full drafting process, from basic plans to professional construction documents.
  • Real-World Projects: Build precision and accuracy through projects that simulate real design challenges in the AEC industries.
  • Professional Workflows: Use best practices to manage layers, annotations, and file organization in CAD environments.
  • Job-Ready Portfolio: Receive expert feedback and career guidance to showcase your work and prepare for job opportunities in construction design.

Courses in this program

11 courses, 150 hours total. Scheduled, in-person classes, plus self-paced lab time.

  1. Commercial Blueprint Reading6 hrs
  2. Residential Blueprint Reading6 hrs
  3. Construction Estimating6 hrs
  4. AutoCAD Level I18 hrs
  5. AutoCAD Level II12 hrs
  6. AutoCAD Level III18 hrs
  7. AutoCAD Construction Documents I18 hrs
  8. AutoCAD Construction Documents II12 hrs
  9. Civil 3D Professional Bootcamp24 hrs
  10. CAD/BIM Capstone Project (Self-Paced)18 hrs
  11. CAD/BIM Industry & Portfolio12 hrs

Full curriculum on nobledesktop.com

Self-paced online option

Learn online at your own pace with video training and live support from our instructors. If you purchase the self-paced option, you can attend the live course for free within one year.

Ask before you enrol either way: VA treats an exclusively-online program differently from one that meets in person, and that affects what it pays. One of our School Certifying Officials will walk you through it.

Schedule and enrollment

Length
150 hours
Full tuition
$3,995
Format
In person, 185 Madison Ave
VA benefits
Chapters 33, 31, 35, 30
  • Free retake within a year
  • Class recordings for 30 days
  • 1-on-1 mentoring included
  • Interest-free payment plans
  • Certification handled by our SCO

All sessions meet in person at 185 Madison Avenue, and dates and times are Eastern. Pick a date to prefill your enrollment, or ask us to help you choose. Nothing is submitted to VA and nothing is binding until you decide.

StartEndsDaysTimes
Sep 28, 2026 Dec 4, 2026 Mon to Fri 10:00-17:00 Choose this date
Feb 8, 2027 Apr 16, 2027 Mon to Fri 10:00-17:00 Choose this date
May 24, 2027 Jul 30, 2027 Mon to Fri 10:00-17:00 Choose this date
Sep 13, 2027 Nov 19, 2027 Mon to Fri 10:00-17:00 Choose this date

Tuition and your VA benefits

Tuition
$3,995 for 150 hours of instruction. What VA pays depends on your chapter, entitlement percentage, and remaining entitlement.
Housing allowance
For Chapter 33, VA sets a monthly housing allowance using the school's ZIP code, your entitlement percentage and your rate of pursuit. A rate of pursuit above 50% is required for any allowance at all. We do not see what VA pays you, so check your own rate with VA.
If there is a balance
Veterans at 90% entitlement or less, and most Chapter 35 and Chapter 30 students, will have something left to pay. One of our School Certifying Officials will go through that number with you before you enroll. Interest-free payment plans with no fees are available on this program.

How class runs

Every VA-approved program here meets in person at 185 Madison Avenue in Manhattan, with an instructor in the room rather than a recorded lecture. Classes are small, you work on your own machine, and you can ask a question and get an answer in the moment.

  • In person in NYC. 185 Madison Avenue, near Madison Square Park, on the 4/6, N/R/W, F/M and PATH.
  • Recordings if you miss one. Available for 30 days after each session, so a missed class is recoverable.
  • Retake free within a year. Sit any class in the program again at no cost, for any reason.
  • An SCO handles the VA side. One of our School Certifying Officials submits your enrollment certification so you are not chasing it.

What you will learn

Learn 2D drafting skills with AutoCAD and enhance your design capabilities with specialized tools like Revit. This program prepares you for a successful career in construction design, with real-world applications and project-based learning.

Your certificate

Finish the program and you receive a verified certificate from Noble Desktop, which is licensed by the New York State Education Department. It states the program and the hours completed. It is a school credential, not a state licence or an industry certification, and we do not claim it is one.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use my GI Bill® for this program?
Yes. This program is approved for the training of veterans and eligible dependents under Noble Desktop, VA facility code 25112332. You do not have to take our word for it: look us up in the VA GI Bill Comparison Tool. Approval means the program met the standards of the State Approving Agency and VA. It is not an endorsement of Noble Desktop by either one.
Will my benefits cover the whole cost?
It depends on your benefit chapter, your entitlement percentage, and how much entitlement you have left. Chapter 33 at 100% typically covers tuition and fees for an approved program. Chapter 35 and Chapter 30 pay a fixed monthly amount and often will not cover a full program by themselves. One of our School Certifying Officials will go through the expected balance with you before you enroll.
Is this program online or in person?
In person, at 185 Madison Avenue in Manhattan. Whether a program is in person or online is one of the things VA weighs when it sets a housing allowance, so ask VA what that means for you. If you need a fully online option, our partner school VDCI holds its own VA approval; see veterans.vdci.edu.
How do I enroll using my benefits?
Start your enrollment on this site, choose a start date, and upload your Certificate of Eligibility if you have it. One of our School Certifying Officials will be in touch to confirm the details and collect anything else we need, then we register you and submit your certification to VA.
What if I have used part of my benefit already?
That is common and it is fine. Tell us roughly how much entitlement you have left and we will tell you what it covers here and what would remain. For an exact figure, VA is the authority: call the GI Bill hotline at 888-442-4551.

If you are weighing two of them, call and we will talk it through against your entitlement and your timeline. Every approved program is on the main hub, filterable by track.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Approval of Noble Desktop's programs for VA education benefits does not constitute endorsement by VA or any government agency. VA determines eligibility and payment amounts.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Noble Desktop's programs are approved for the training of veterans and other eligible persons by the New York State Approving Agency. Approval does not constitute endorsement or recommendation of Noble Desktop by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, by the State Approving Agency, or by any other government agency. Noble Desktop is not affiliated with, and this site is not endorsed by, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.

VA determines eligibility, entitlement, and payment amounts. Benefit rates shown are VA-published figures and are subject to change by VA. Housing allowance figures assume full-time attendance at 100% entitlement and are prorated otherwise. Nothing here is a guarantee of benefits, of the amount VA will pay, of admission, of program completion, of employment, of a particular job, or of a particular salary.

Student reviews are individual experiences and are not a promise of any particular result. Noble Desktop is licensed by the New York State Education Department. VDCI, the Virtual Design and Construction Institute, is a separate, independently approved school; enrollments there are made with and certified by VDCI. Tuition, hours, and schedules are current as of the date this page was generated and may change; see each program page on nobledesktop.com for current terms.