Key details

AutoCAD for Mac offers the most popular functionality of the Windows version of AutoCAD in an environment familiar to Mac users. Mac-specific features, such as the MacBook Touchbar and Multi-Touch gestures are supported. 

Our AutoCAD for Mac Essentials course provides a thorough grounding for beginners. On completion, you will be able to use AutoCAD for Mac to create high quality, accurate 2D layouts and designs.

The drawing techniques taught are generic, relevant to all industries. You will be able to apply them to whatever you’re going to be designing in AutoCAD for Mac. Our trainers draw on exercises from a variety of disciplines.

Going to be using AutoCAD on a Windows computer? See AutoCAD Essentials training.

In-class or online

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

Upcoming course dates

Who should attend?

This course is ideal for:

• Newcomers to AutoCAD for Mac, and CAD in general.
• Self-taught AutoCAD for Mac users who want to learn correct techniques.
• Users switching to AutoCAD for Mac from a different CAD tool.

How does AutoCAD for Mac training work?

Your trainer will demonstrate using AutoCAD for Mac.

Your course will focus entirely on the feature set available in AutoCAD for Mac, which is quite different to the Windows version of AutoCAD. For a comparison of the features available in the two versions, see Compare Features: AutoCAD for Windows against AutoCAD for Mac.

A Mac is made available to in-class delegates to practice the techniques taught.

Accredited AutoCAD for Mac training

Armada is an Autodesk authorised Training Centre (ATC). Our AutoCAD for Mac courses are accredited by Autodesk.

Expert trainers

AutoCAD for Mac training is hosted by Autodesk Certified Instructors, with vast experience of using AutoCAD and a wide range of other CAD applications professionally. See Expert trainers.

How will I learn?

AutoCAD for Mac training is hands-on and practical.

Our trainers teach the necessary theory then demonstrate techniques step-by-step. You then practice the techniques taught.

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

Training guide and certificate

Course delegates receive:

• A practical training guide, to refer to during the course and use as a refresher after. Choose from a printed, bound guide or a PDF – whatever suits you best. If you’re participating online and you choose a printed guide, we’ll post this to you.
• An e-certificate confirming successful completion of an accredited AutoCAD for Mac training course.

After course support

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

Prerequisites

Delegates should have a good working knowledge of the Mac OS. No prior CAD knowledge is necessary.

If you’re completely new to AutoCAD for Mac, there’s some preparation and familiarisation we recommend you do in the week before your course, to make sure you hit the ground running. We send you details about this in your course joining instructions.

AutoCAD for Mac version

Training is based primarily on AutoCAD for Mac 2025.

It is relevant to users of AutoCAD for Mac and AutoCAD LT for Mac, version 2020 and later.

Our guarantees to you

We offer:

• A price guarantee that you’re getting the best value for money.
• A training guarantee that you’ll learn the concepts and skills you need.

On-request AutoCAD for Mac training available

AutoCAD for Mac Essentials training is also available on-request, i.e. one-to-one training or a ‘closed course’ for your group, hosted at one of our centres, your venue or online.

On-request AutoCAD for Mac training can be tailored to take into account any existing knowledge you have, and the work you’re going to be doing. Please contact us for a quote.

General information

Course times

9.30am–4.30pm.

Payment

Payment for AutoCAD for Mac 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.

Cancellations and transfers

You can cancel a booking on a scheduled training course, or transfer to a later course, without penalty providing you give us 10 working days’ notice. Any fees already paid will be refunded.

If you cancel a booking on a scheduled AutoCAD for Mac Essentials course giving less than 10 working days’ notice, or request a transfer to a later course, a cancellation/transfer fee is payable. The fee charged depends on the notice period given. For details, see cancellation terms.

Different terms apply for the cancellation or postponement of an on-request course (one-to-one training or a ‘closed course’ for your group). For details, see course cancellations.

Terms and conditions

Training course bookings are subject to our terms and conditions.

Expert trainers

AutoCAD for Mac Essentials training courses are hosted by:

• Rod Cleasby
• Stewart Cobb
• Martin McCann
• Andy Roe
• John Billyard
• Shaun Bryant

Rod Cleasby

Rod has over 25 years’ experience working as a designer, visualisation expert and artist. His specialist areas include architecture, interior design and the production of photorealistic 3d virtual environments. 

AutoCAD, 3ds Max and SketchUp have been the mainstay of Rod’s professional work for 20 years. He is also an expert in various related tools and technologies, including Photoshop, and he has expert knowledge of a wide range of renderers, including V-Ray, ART, Arnold and LightUp.

Rod has extensive experience training experience. He has worked as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Westminster on their Computer Visualisation course, and he is a long-established Autodesk Certified Instructor.

Away from his professional work, Rod is an accomplished artist and musician, and a prolific writer of novels, novella, poetry and prose.

Stewart Cobb

Stewart began his working life as a junior draughtsman, and progressed through to Design Director leading a studio of designers working on both 2D and 3D projects.

He then worked for himself for over 25 years, completing around 100 design projects per year for a myriad of clients, including household names such as Vauxhall and McDonalds.

More recently, Stewart’s focus has been on training. He has been an Autodesk Certified Instructor since 2010, hosting courses in AutoCAD, Revit, 3ds Max, AutoCAD Plant 3D, Civil 3D and Advance Steel. He’s also an expert user of Trimble SketchUp.

In between courses, Stewart uses these applications professionally when carrying out project work for clients. Using the applications regularly helps him to keep up-to-date with the latest technologies and practices. He also specialises in the production of photorealistic rendered images and visualisations using renderers including V-Ray.

Outside of work, Stewart enjoys music (he runs the sound desk for a number of local bands), reading and playing with any new piece of technology he can lay his hands on!

Martin McCann

Martin McCann qualified as an Architect in 1986, and he holds a teaching certificate (further and adult education).

He is a long-established Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI), a capacity in which he has taught thousands of professionals, including Architects, Structural Engineers and Mechanical Engineers, for over 20 years.

Martin has expert knowledge of Revit, NavisWorks, ReCap, AutoCAD and AutoCAD Architecture, amongst other Autodesk applications.

He has been commissioned by Autodesk on multiple occasions to host sessions for them at locations including New York, Chicago, Moscow, Milan and Munich. He has trained Autodesk’s staff and many other Autodesk Certified Instructors, and has operated as a visiting Lecturer at the University of Northumbria and Cambridge School of Art.

Martin is the author of the McCann’s BIM Guides series of published Revit training manuals.

Andy Roe

Andy has worked in CAD for over 30 years in roles including Draughtsman, CAD System Manager, Project Manager and Design Engineer.

In recent years, Andy has focused on developing and delivering training courses. He is a long-established Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI), and he focuses primarily on Autodesk applications including AutoCAD, Inventor, Fusion 360, 3ds Max and Sketchbook, as well as Dassault Systemes SolidWorks.

Andy continues to undertake project work to keep up-to-date with the latest technologies and practices. He specialises in modelling complex 3D designs from prototype to production, including the development of visuals and animations for a range of engineering projects.

Industries in which Andy has significant experience include aerospace, defence and automotive.

John Billyard

John has used CAD software for over 35+ years, providing high quality engineering and architectural designs to a wide range of clients

He has provided training in the applications he uses for a similar length of time, and for the last 15 years, has been commissioned directly by Autodesk to provide consulting and training services to their corporate client base.

John hosts courses in various Autodesk applications including AutoCAD, Inventor and Vault. He also trains Dassault Systèmes’ SolidWorks, Trimble SketchUp and Epic Games’ Twinmotion.

He takes pride in keeping pace with the latest industry design tools and technologies, enabling him meet the challenges and demands of an ever changing working environment.

Shaun Bryant

Shaun Bryant is an Autodesk Certified Instructor in AutoCAD and Revit, with over 33 years of industry experience.

Shaun has worked as a consultant, trainer, CAD manager, and user, with the earlier years of his CAD career in sales, pre-sales, and business development. He is an Autodesk Certified Instructor ACI and world-class LinkedIn Learning author of numerous AutoCAD and Revit online learning courses. He is also the owner and author of the reputable CAD blog, Not Just CAD!

He has been a director on the board of Autodesk User Group International (AUGI), and is a seasoned Autodesk University (AU) speaker and mentor. Shaun was the AutoCAD expert at the inaugural Autodesk University London in June 2017, he is an Autodesk Expert Elite and AutoCAD Influencer, and he’s the author of the recent Wiley title, ‘Tinkercad For Dummies’.

Away from training, Shaun is known to dabble in a bit of rock ‘n’ roll as an established singer/songwriter.

Course content

Creating basic objects

• Working with lines
• Working with arcs
• Working with polylines
• Using grips
• Using object snaps
• Using object snap tracking
• Using polar tracking

Saving your work

• Auto-backups
• Other file formats, DXF, etc.
• Disaster recovery

Accurate object creation

• Working with units
• Dynamic input
• Using Inquiry commands
• Using measurement tools to find length, area, etc.

Object viewing

• Zooming techniques
• Panning techniques

Manipulating objects

• Selecting objects in the drawing
• Noun/verb selection
• Using Quick Select
• Moving objects
• Copying objects
• Rotating objects
• Mirroring objects
• Arraying objects
• Scaling objects

Altering objects

• Trimming and extending objects to defined boundaries
• Creating parallel and offset geometry
• Joining objects
• Filleting corners between two objects
• Chamfering corners between two objects
• Stretching objects

Drawing organisation

• Using layers
• Changing object properties
• Matching object properties
• Using the properties palette
• Using linetypes

Working with layouts

• Using page setups
• Using layouts
• Scaling drawing views

Annotating the drawing

• Creating multiline text
• Creating single line text
• Using text styles
• Editing text

Dimensioning

• Creating dimensions
• Using dimension styles
• Editing dimensions
• Using multileaders

Hatching objects

• Hatching objects
• Editing hatch objects

Working with reusable content

• Creating and inserting blocks and symbols
• Editing blocks and symbols
• Using tool palettes
• Working with groups

Layouts and paper space

• Understanding model space and paper space
• Creating layouts
• Creating and using viewports
• Setting viewport scales

Plotting your drawings

• Plotting drawings
• PDF output
• Multiple sheet drawings
• Using Plotstyles

Drawing templates

• Creating drawing templates
• Using drawing templates

One AutoCAD

• AutoCAD toolsets
• AutoCAD web app
• AutoCAD mobile app

Live online training

Online training lets you participate in a live AutoCAD for Mac 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 AutoCAD for Mac.
• 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 AutoCAD for Mac Essentials courses…

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

All you need is an Internet-connected computer with…

• AutoCAD for Mac installed. If you don’t have a current subscription to AutoCAD for Mac, 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 AutoCAD for Mac 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 AutoCAD for Mac 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

Discounts and bundles

To make your AutoCAD for Mac training as affordable as possible, we offer:

• A range of training discounts on our scheduled (public) AutoCAD for Mac training courses.
• A price guarantee that you won’t get AutoCAD for Mac training for less.

Training discounts

Multiple places

If you book multiple places on any courses, we can offer you:

• 5% discount if you book two places.
• 10% discount if you book three places.
• 15% discount if you book four places.
• 20% discount if you book five or more places.

This can be for several people attending one course, one person attending several courses, or a combination.

These discounts are available for both classroom-based courses and live online training.

Concessions

We offer a 10% discount on scheduled AutoCAD for Mac course places to:

• Students, teachers and lecturers.
• People who work for a registered charity.
• ISTC members.

These discounts are available for both classroom-based courses and remote training.

Please call us if you qualify for a discount. Evidence of your status that entitles you to a discount may be requested.

Terms and exclusions

Only one of the above discounts can be applied to any booking.

The above discounts are not available for on-request course bookings (one-to-one training or a ‘closed course’ for your group).

Price guarantee

When you book training with Armada, we want you to be certain that you’re not paying over-the-odds. So, if you book a place on any scheduled (public) course and then find the same course at a lower price elsewhere, we will match that price.

To qualify for the price match:

• The course you find must be comparable. By this we mean it must:
  • Cover the same subject.
  • Be the same duration or longer.
  • Hold the same accreditations as our course, i.e. it must be provided by an Autodesk Authorised Training Centre (ATC).
  • For classroom-based courses, be in the same region, i.e. within 50 miles of our centre.
  • For online training, be a live course, i.e. not pre-prepared e-learning content.

• The lower price must be advertised on the other company’s website.

To claim a price match, just call any time before attending your course and tell us where you saw the price.