Key details

Maya training for beginners, teaching the 3D modelling, animation, simulation and rendering skills you need to realise your creative ideas.

Autodesk Maya is used to generate 3D assets for use in architecture, film, television and game development. It provides a comprehensive toolset that includes motion graphics, virtual reality and character creation.

Our Maya Essentials course teaches key techniques including:

• Working with objects and nodes.
• Transformations.
• Polygon modelling.
• Materials, texturing and mapping.
• Applying materials.
• Lighting and rendering.
• Animation and camera theory.

The course includes a session looking at the most popular renderers used with Maya, including Arnold, V-Ray and mental ray, to help you ascertain the one that best meets your needs.

Maya Essentials training is arranged on-request, i.e. one-to-one training or a ‘closed course’ for your group. Your training can be tailored to take into account any existing knowledge you have, and the work you’re going to be doing.

In-class or online

This course is available in-class at eight centres or live online.

Accredited Maya training

Armada is an Autodesk authorised Training Centre (ATC), accredited to provide Maya training.

Maya courses are hosted by Autodesk Certified Instructors with vast experience of using Maya professionally.

How will I learn?

Maya training is hands-on and practical.

Our trainers teach the necessary theory then demonstrate techniques step-by-step. You then practice the techniques taught on a computer running Maya.

There is plenty of time to ask questions, and you can take away all the files you create.

Maya training for Windows or Mac

Maya training is available for both Windows and Mac users.

Your training can be based any recent version of Maya.

Training guide and certificate

Course delegates receive:

• A comprehensive training guide for Maya, to refer to throughout the course, and to use as a refresher afterwards.
• An e-certificate confirming successful completion of an accredited Maya training course. Click here to see an example of the certificate you receive.

Maya certification exams

When you attend Maya training, you’re not assessed and there is no exam to sit. We teach you practical skills you can use in the real world, not prepare you to sit a test.

If you want to gain an industry-recognised credential in Maya, we offer an Autodesk certification exam that you can sit on a future date.

Exams are sat online, from your place of work or home. For further details, see Certification exam.

After course support

Following Maya training, delegates are entitled to 30 days’ email support from their Maya trainer to help with any post-course issues. For further details, see Support.

Prerequisites

No prior Maya knowledge is necessary.

Maya version

Training can be based on any version of Maya to suit you.

General information

Course times

Standard course times are 9.30am–4.30pm.

As we’d be hosting this as a ‘closed course’ for you/your group, there’s usually flexibility to change these times to suit you, e.g. start or end 30 minutes earlier or later.

Payment

Payment for Maya training can be made by:

• Bank transfer. Please call 01527 834783 for our bank details.
• Card. All major credit and debit cards accepted. Payment can be made securely online or over the phone. Card payments are processed by Stripe. Armada doesn’t record or store your card details.

Purchase orders

We accept purchase orders from UK-registered companies and public sector organisations.

Accommodation

See Accommodation local to our training centres.

Cancellations and postponements

If an on-request Maya Essentials course booking is cancelled giving less than 20 working days’ notice, a cancellation fee is payable. View cancellation terms.

If an on-request Maya Essentials course booking is postponed giving less than 20 working days’ notice, a postponement fee is payable. View postponement terms.

Terms and conditions

Expert trainer

Wolf Winter

For over 30 years, Wolf has worked as a professional Visual Effects Artist, specialising in Motion Graphics, 2D and 3D animations and compositing, mainly in the film and broadcast television industries.

Wolf has worked as a professional trainer and university lecturer for over 15 years, equipping hundreds of people with skills to bring their ideas to life.

He trains people to a professional level in a range of industry-standard applications, including Autodesk 3ds Max and Maya, Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro and Audition, and Maxon Cinema 4D.

Course content

Introduction to Maya

• Maya basics
• The process

User interface

• Menus in Maya
• Modules and menu sets
• User interface elements
• The shelf
• Camera panels
• Layouts
• The Hotbox

Working with files

• Files
• References
• Projects

Working with objects

• Scene management editors
• Viewport selection
• Using the Outliner
• Scene hierarchy
• Nodes and attributes
• Using the Display Layer Editor

Transformation

• Transformation
• Transformation tools
• Snapping
• Duplication
• Additional transformation

• Topics

Polygon modeling

• Creating polygon objects
• Combine and separate
• Booleans
• Construction history
• Nonlinear deformers
• Polygon components
• Transforming components
• Adding components
• Removing components
• Polygon normals
• Polygon marking menus

Materials and mapping

• The principles of a surface
• Introduction to the materials editor
• Different types of material
• Applying materials
• Using 2D maps
• Introduction to UVW mapping
• Editing UVW map coordinates
• Applying materials and maps
• Introduction to Mental Ray materials
• Applying and editing Mental Ray materials
• Applying Mental Ray materials

Lighting

• Introduction to lighting

Animation

• Learning general principles
• Working with key-frames
• Animating objects
• Working with the Track View Editor
• Animating an object with key-frames
• Understanding animation controllers
• Working with object hierarchies
• Camera theory
• Creating and editing cameras
• How to compose a scene in the camera view correctly
• Wiring storyboards and cinema-graphic techniques

Rendering

• Review of Maya’s built-in renderer: Arnold
• Review of popular third-party renderers: V‑Ray, mental ray.
• Render scene dialog
• Scene states
• Batch render

Live online training

Online training lets you participate in a live Maya course from your place of work or home.

We do everything possible to make your online training experience as close as possible to actually being in the classroom. You can:

• See and hear our trainer, and the other delegates participating in the course…
  
• Watch our trainer demonstrate techniques in Maya.
• Interact by speaking, or using chat.
• Share your screen with our trainer, and allow them to take control to explain something.

Like our in-class courses, online Maya Essentials courses…

• Are presented by Autodesk Certified Instructors.
• Give you plenty of opportunity to carry out assisted, practical exercises using Maya.
• Offer 30 days’ email support from your trainer.

All you need is an Internet-connected computer with…

• Maya installed. If you don’t have a current subscription to Maya, you’re entitled to a 30-day trial that’s ideal for participating in training. We’ll send you a link to this. If you’ve already used your trial, we can lend you a license for the duration of your course.
• A webcam and audio capability. If your computer running Maya doesn’t have these, you can use a second device, such as another computer or tablet. See Hardware recommendations for live online training for further details.

If there’s anything you’re not sure about we’ll do our best to help you. We won’t be able to assist with your Maya installation, but we can provide details for Autodesk support who’ll be able to help you with this.

We provide everything else…

• Links to download the files, resources, etc. you’ll use in your course.
• A training guide. For most courses, you can choose from a printed copy that we post to you, or a PDF.

In the week before your course, we’ll send you an email containing everything you need to prepare for and participate in the training. Then, a couple of days before your course, we’ll give you a courtesy call to make sure you have everything in place and answer any questions you may have.

Please note that we are not able to record scheduled online courses for privacy reasons.

When you attend live online training, you’re participating in a real course, hosted by a real trainer, in real time

Certification exam

Armada is an Autodesk Certification Centre offering exams that lead to industry-recognised qualifications. For Maya, we offer an Autodesk Certified User (ACU) exam.

Whether you’re a student or a professional,  achieving Maya ACU status validates your skillset, providing enhanced credibility and accelerated professional development.

Successful candidates receive:

• An e-certificate (PDF) from Autodesk confirming your Maya-certified status.
• An official Autodesk-Certified badge that you can use to market your skills, e.g. on your business cards, in your email signature, on your website, etc.

To read more about the benefits of achieving Autodesk-certified status in Maya, read Lyndsay Mann’s blog What benefits does Autodesk certification bring?

Maya ACU exam summary

• Entry level exam to validate your knowledge of fundamental concepts and procedures in Maya.
• Qualification: Autodesk Certified User in Maya.
• Sat online, from your place of work or home.
• Length of exam: 50 minutes.
• Recommended preparation: Attend Maya Essentials training, and have 150 hours’ hands-on experience using Maya.

• For further details, and for a list of the topics and features you’re likely to be tested in, see Maya ACU exam guide.

Approach to online exam sittings

Exam sittings are monitored by a proctor from Armada.

All you need is a computer (Windows or Mac) with:

• A strong Internet connection (min. 5Mbps).
• Screen resolution at least 1200 x 800.
• Chrome browser.

You don’t need to have Maya installed – you’ll access Maya on a virtual computer during your exam. No webcam is required.

Please note: you’re tested on the Windows version of Maya, irrespective of the computer you use to take your test.

Practice test

A practice test is available that reflects the questions you’re likely to be asked in your Maya ACU exam. The practice test is taken online, from your place of work or home. The test has two modes:

• Testing mode, which replicates your exam.
• Training mode, which provides step-by-step help on questions.

The practice test can be retaken up to 30 times in a one-year period. (You’re asked the same questions each time.)

Practice tests are only available for installation on Windows computers running Maya version 2016-2022. For further details, see www.gmetrix.net/GetGMetrixSMS.aspx.

Practice can only be purchased from Armada along with an exam.

Prices

Maya ACU exam: £150 + VAT.
Discounted price available to Armada training delegates: £100 + VAT.

Maya ACU exam/practice test bundle: £200 + VAT.
Discounted price available to Armada training delegates: £150 + VAT.

Maya ACU exam retake: £75 + VAT.

When can I take my Maya exam?

You can take your exam in one of our regular Maya exam sessions.

Dates of forthcoming Maya exams: 21 Feb, 28 Mar, .

Exam sittings usually take place in the afternoon, at 2pm. We confirm your exam time one week before your sitting.

Booking an exam and payment options

To book an exam, please email exams@armada.co.uk providing details of the exam you’d like to sit, or call 01527 834783.

Payment for AutoCAD exams can be made bank transfer or card.

We accept purchase orders from UK-registered companies and public sector organisations.

Q and A

• What version of Maya am I tested on?
  You can choose to be tested on the 2023, 2024 or 2025 application version.
• What is the pass mark for Maya ACU certification exams?
  You will be notified of the pass mark prior to your exam starting.
• When do I find out if I’ve passed?
  Immediately, when you complete your exam. Your result is displayed on-screen.
• What happens if I do not pass?
  You will receive a diagnostic score report that indicates areas for improvement. You may then retake the examination as needed. Should you need to retake an exam, simply re-book. Discounted prices are available for retakes.
• Who can I contact if I have more questions?
  Email any questions you have to exams@armada.co.uk.

See also…

• Top 10 reasons to get Autodesk certified

Exam Ts & Cs

See Exam Terms and conditions.