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Studies & Degrees in Drafting

Drafting is the preparation of the technical drawings from which buildings, machines, circuits and infrastructure are built. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) describes drafters as people who use software to convert the designs of engineers and architects into technical drawings. Those drawings state how a structure or product is to be made, with its dimensions and materials. Today the work is done almost entirely with computer-aided design (CAD) software, which is why many programmes are now called CAD, CADD or design technology instead of drafting.

Students learn design fundamentals, sketching, print reading, drawing standards and one or more CAD packages. Northeast Community College in Nebraska, for example, trains students on AutoCAD, Revit, Tekla, SDS/2, Inventor and SolidWorks. Mathematics and applied science sit alongside the drawing courses: the Mechanical Drafting, Design, & Engineering programme at Alexandria Technical & Community College in Minnesota includes mathematics, industrial materials and processes, metallurgy, physics, statics, mechanics and geometric tolerancing.

Specialisations

According to the BLS, students frequently specialise in one type of drafting. The main branches are:

  • Architectural drafting: structural features and details of buildings and other construction projects
  • Civil drafting: topographical maps for highways, bridges, dams and similar works
  • Mechanical drafting: layouts of machinery, tools and mechanical devices
  • Electrical and electronics drafting: wiring diagrams and circuit board layouts

Qualifications and levels

Drafting is a vocational subject, taught mostly below bachelor's level.

  • Associate degree (United States). The BLS states that drafters typically need an associate of applied science in drafting or a related degree from a community college or technical school, which generally takes about two years of full-time study.
  • Certificate or diploma. Shorter programmes that vary in length. Northeast Community College offers its CADD Technology programme as a certificate, a diploma or an associate degree, and Alexandria Technical & Community College lists both an AAS degree and a diploma.
  • Transfer to a bachelor's degree. EducationUSA explains that credits earned at a community college can count towards a bachelor's degree, with two years of community college followed by two years at a university. Applied degrees do not always transfer in full, so ask the college before enrolling if you plan to continue in engineering or architecture.
  • Spain. The equivalent training is higher vocational training (FP de grado superior). The official titles Técnico Superior en Proyectos de Edificación and Técnico Superior en Diseño en Fabricación Mecánica each last 2,000 hours, and the education ministry lists drafter (delineante) among the jobs they lead to.

Certification is not mandatory in the United States. The BLS notes that certificates exist for several specialities, including architectural, civil and mechanical drafting, and that they show competence in nationally recognised practices.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists 39 schools for drafting. Of these, 36 are in the United States, and there is one each in Puerto Rico, Canada and Australia. Nearly all are community and technical colleges, spread across many states and often in smaller cities: Alexandria in Minnesota, Norfolk in Nebraska, Billings in Montana, Cheyenne in Wyoming or Coeur d'Alene in Idaho. Teaching is in English.

International students should check three things with the college: whether it admits students on a student visa, which English test and score it asks for, and whether the programme is offered on campus, since some certificates are taught part-time or online.

Careers

Drafters work under the supervision of engineers or architects, mostly in an office, with some visits to job sites. Typical job titles are architectural drafter, civil drafter, mechanical drafter, electrical drafter and CAD operator or CAD technician.

According to the BLS, drafters held about 180,200 jobs in the United States in 2025, of which 104,100 were architectural and civil drafters, 42,100 mechanical drafters and 18,900 electrical and electronics drafters. Employment is projected to grow 1 percent from 2025 to 2035, slower than the average for all occupations. Even so, the BLS expects about 14,400 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who change occupation or retire.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to become a drafter?

In the United States an associate degree generally takes about two years of full-time study, according to the BLS. Certificate and diploma programmes are usually shorter.

Do I need a bachelor's degree to work in drafting?

No. The typical entry-level qualification given by the BLS is an associate degree, and some drafters enter with a certificate or diploma.

Which software will I learn?

It depends on the school and the speciality. Programmes teach CAD software; Northeast Community College, for instance, names AutoCAD, Revit, Tekla, SDS/2, Inventor and SolidWorks.

Is drafting the same as architecture or engineering?

No. Drafters turn the designs of architects and engineers into technical drawings and work under their supervision. Becoming an architect or engineer requires a university degree in that field.