AUTODESK LAUNCHES ACADEMIC CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.

Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) has launched its academic certification program for secondary and post-secondary students. The Autodesk academic certification program enables students to earn a credential in recognition of their knowledge of specific Autodesk software applications. The credential that students earn is the same credential that design professionals earn, but it is offered at an affordable academic price.

Autodesk supports this program with an end-to-end certification solution that includes: a pre-assessment application proficiency exam, Autodesk official certification courseware for reviewing the knowledge and skills covered on the certification examinations, and certified user and certified expert examinations for validating knowledge and skills. Autodesk academic certification exams support career pathways in architecture and construction; manufacturing; science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The exams are mapped to select state academic standards and national academic standards for science, technological literacy, mathematics and language arts.

"The Autodesk academic certification program offers schools an effective way to measure student competencies, key to assisting with federal and state accountability," said Nancy Headrick, assistant commissioner of the division of career education in the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. "The program will also help our students stay ahead of the curve in their academic and professional careers."

Paul Mailhot, senior director of worldwide education programs for Autodesk, said, "The Autodesk certification program extends our commitment to helping academic institutions prepare the next generation of design and engineering professionals. The exams provide a unique way for schools to demonstrate the progress they're making in the classroom with project-based learning and problem-solving with real-world tools that give students a competitive edge for future academic and professional success."

How the Certification Program Works

Schools that choose to deliver the Autodesk academic certification exams can become authorized certification centers and have the flexibility to offer exams to students at the school's convenience. The Web-delivered exams are performance-based rather than traditional multiple choice, requiring students to demonstrate their skills by using Autodesk applications such as AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor Professional, Revit Architecture and AutoCAD Civil 3D software products to solve real-world problems.

The Autodesk academic certification program offers a proficiency examination that assesses student readiness for certification and can help educators determine what level of instruction is best for individual students. Also available is the Autodesk official certification courseware, which educators can either integrate as core text or supplemental instruction material in the classroom. The certified user and certified expert examinations validate student knowledge and skills.

When a student passes a certification exam, he or she will receive an electronic certificate and can also opt to be listed in an Autodesk- maintained, publicly available database of certified users and experts. Certified students can also differentiate themselves in the competitive job market by using the Autodesk certification logo on resumes, portfolios and other collateral.

Preparing the Next Generation of Professionals

Secondary and post-secondary schools throughout the United States can combine certification exams with the Autodesk Design Academy and the Autodesk Design Institute solutions. These specialized solutions combine project-based curriculum with cutting-edge 2D and 3D design software applications from Autodesk.

"With the release of the Autodesk academic certification program, we now have a full solution for teaching and assessment which is critical in preparing the next generation of engineers and designers," said Niel Tebbano, vice president of Project Lead the Way, a national pre-engineering program that offers pre-engineering and science curricula for middle- and high-school students.

For more information about the Autodesk academic certification program, visit http://www.autodesk.com/certification.

About Autodesk Education

Autodesk is committed to supporting students and educators by providing access to powerful 2D and 3D design software, innovative programs and resources designed to inspire the next generation of professionals to experience their ideas before they're real. By advancing education in the key areas of science, technology, engineering, math and visual communications, Autodesk is helping students develop critical skills for future academic and career success. Autodesk supports schools and institutions of higher learning worldwide through substantial discounts, subscriptions, grant programs, training, curricula development and community resources. For more information about Autodesk education programs and solutions, visit http://www.autodesk.com/education.

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc. is the world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art digital prototyping solutions to help customers experience their ideas before they are real. Fortune 1000 companies rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance quality and foster innovation.

For more information, visit http://www.autodesk.com or call 415/547-2388.