Houdini Certified Instructor: Requirements and Structure
The Houdini Certified Instructor (HCI) program, managed by SideFX, is an initiative to qualify instructors who possess proven competence in the Houdini software and are able to conduct courses.
Eligible teaching settings include universities, colleges, commercial training studios, and the creation of online educational content.
Achieving the certification allows instructors to validate their credentials and teaching skills to students and potential employers.
Eligibility Requirements for Application
To enter the program and take the certification exam, candidates must meet the following minimum experience and preparation criteria:
Category | Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
Teaching Experience | Two years of teaching experience. |
Houdini Experience | At least three years of experience using the Houdini software. |
Instructional Material | Preparation of a curriculum package that demonstrates the ability to organize a lesson plan on Houdini. |
Practical Demonstration | A 5-10 minute video clip (or a portion of an existing video) with audio, in MP4 format, demonstrating the ability to teach Houdini concepts. An unedited teaching example is preferred. |
Professional Documentation | Submission of a professional summary, curriculum vitae (CV), or resume detailing work and teaching experience and demonstrating proficiency in Houdini. |
The application requires confirmation of these eligibility criteria and the completion of the formal instructor application.
Program Structure and Exam Details
The HCI program is structured in two subsequent steps for eligible candidates:
1. Instructor Application
This phase involves collecting details regarding the candidate's teaching experience and submitting the required supporting materials.
2. Houdini Exam (Houdini Generalist Exam)
The exam validates the user's fundamental technical skills. Candidates are expected to have a strong familiarity with Houdini and a working knowledge of computer graphics theory and implementation.
Competency Level: Intermediate Houdini user, with a skill set comparable to 3-5 years of experience in the professional sector (VFX, Game Development, etc.).
Format: Online proctored exam, delivered through the Certiverse platform.
Duration: Candidates are allotted 90 minutes to complete the test.
Content: The exam consists of 60 questions.
Main Topics of the Generalist Exam
The exam covers the essential competency areas for a professional Houdini user. Preparation should include:
General: Concepts, UI/UX, Pipeline, Optimization, Licensing, and the Houdini Environment.
Main Contexts: Concepts related to OBJ (Objects, Lights, Cameras), SOPs (Geometry, Modeling, Attributes), and LOPs/USD (Lighting, Shading, Rendering, USD fundamentals).
Dynamics/Simulation (DOPs): Conceptual and functional understanding of simulations such as RBD, Pyro, FLIP, Crowd, POPs, and Vellum.
Scripting: Practical application of VEX and high-level concepts of Python within the Houdini environment.
Advanced Tools: Use of COPs (image manipulation), TOPs (parallel process automation), and VOPs (VEX node-based environment).
Asset Development: Creation and sharing of HDA (Houdini Digital Assets).
Animation: KineFX workflow (skeleton, binding) and procedural animation with CHOPs.
Specialized Areas: Grooming (hair, fur) and the use of Houdini in Realtime / Game Engine environments.
You can find all the information about the program here.
You can find the official SideFX LinkedIn post here.
Latest posts
Free FAB resources - until 20 October 2026
New assets available for free on FAB, available until October 20, 2026
Unreal Engine Animation Studio: The basics of motion in UE 5.8
Unreal Engine Animation Studio: 12 weeks to master UE 5.8 animation tools and bring intention to movement.
MetaHuman Creator Web App: Closing November 5, 2026
Epic Games chiude l’app web di MetaHuman Creator il 5 novembre 2026. Dopo restano 90 giorni per recuperare i personaggi. Le funzionalità restano in Unreal Engine 5.6+. Esporta ora via Quixel Bridge.