Drafting Schools and Programs in The United States

Drafting Studies in The United States

Drafting is the craft of turning the ideas of architects and engineers into precise technical drawings and plans. Drafters prepare the drawings that show how a building, a machine part or an electrical system is to be made: its dimensions, materials and assembly. Today almost all of this work is done on computers with computer-aided design (CAD) software and building information modelling (BIM). In the United States drafting is mainly taught at community colleges and technical colleges, which is why most of the schools on this page are two-year institutions.

Qualifications and levels

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), drafters typically need an associate of applied science (AAS) in drafting or a related field from a community college or technical school, and some enter the occupation with a certificate or diploma. An associate degree generally takes about two years of full-time study; certificates and diplomas are usually shorter. Programmes cover design fundamentals, sketching and CAD software, and students often specialise in one branch, such as architectural, civil, mechanical or electrical drafting.

• Certificates and diplomas: short, practical programmes focused on CAD skills
• Associate of Applied Science (AAS): about two years, the usual entry qualification
• Apprenticeships: paid on-the-job training combined with classroom courses
• Transfer to a bachelor's degree: community college credits can count towards a four-year degree

Examples from the schools' own pages: Delaware Technical & Community College offers an associate degree in Engineering Drafting and Design Technology at its Georgetown and Stanton campuses, which prepares students for entry-level positions in drafting, computer modelling and design. Graduates learn to produce detail, subassembly and full-assembly drawings with manual, freehand and computer-aided techniques. Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska, runs a Drafting/CAD Technician Apprenticeship with 480 hours of classroom instruction and about 2.5 years of on-the-job learning; courses include AutoCAD, Revit and Inventor, and completers receive a National Apprenticeship Credential and a CADD Technology Diploma. The college also offers a drafting certificate, diploma and AAS. Because an apprenticeship is paid work with an employer, international students should ask the college whether they can take part.

Admission and visa

Community colleges usually have a more flexible admissions process than four-year universities, and credits earned there can count towards a bachelor's degree. EducationUSA describes a "2+2" route in which two years at a community college are followed by two years at a university.

International students on a degree programme at an accredited college use the F student visa, and must first be accepted by a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which issues the Form I-20. EducationUSA points out that US institutions cannot issue I-20 forms for non-degree study, including vocational training, and that community colleges offer technical and vocational study for an associate degree. For an international student, an AAS is therefore usually the most practical route into drafting; for short certificate courses, check with the college whether a student visa is possible.

Where to study drafting in the United States

Drafting programmes are spread across the country. Examples on this page include Alexandria Technical & Community College in Minnesota, Northeast Community College in Nebraska, City College at MSU Billings in Montana, Laramie County Community College in Wyoming, Piedmont Technical College in South Carolina, College of Lake County in Illinois, North Idaho College and the College of Southern Idaho, Bergen Community College in New Jersey, Lansing Community College in Michigan, Nashville State Technical Community College, Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon, Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York, and Delaware Technical & Community College. Universities in the list include Idaho State University in Pocatello and the State University of New York (SUNY).

Careers

Drafters held about 180,200 jobs in 2025, mainly in architectural and engineering firms, manufacturing and construction, usually in an office and sometimes on site with architects and engineers. Certification is not mandatory, but the BLS notes that it is offered for several specialties, including architectural, civil and mechanical drafting. The median annual wage for drafters was $68,090 in May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 1 percent from 2025 to 2035, slower than average, as CAD and BIM let engineers and architects do more of the work themselves; even so, about 14,400 openings are projected each year, mostly to replace workers who leave. Architectural and civil drafting, the largest branch, is projected to grow 5 percent.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to study drafting in the United States?

An associate of applied science takes about two years of full-time study. Certificates and diplomas are shorter, and apprenticeships combine classroom courses with two or more years of paid work.

Do I need a bachelor's degree to work as a drafter?

No. According to the BLS, drafters typically need an associate degree from a community college or technical school, and some start with a certificate or diploma.

Can international students study drafting at a community college?

Yes, on an associate degree at an SEVP-certified college, using the F student visa. Non-degree vocational courses cannot be used for an I-20.

What software do drafting students learn?

Mainly CAD and BIM tools. Northeast Community College's apprenticeship, for example, includes courses in AutoCAD, Revit and Inventor.