Drafting Programs

Drafting, also known as Technical Writing, is the discipline and act of composing the plans that are used in visual communications of the construction of an object or structure. It can also be stated that drafting is engineering's visual language. A person who makes drafts is known as a drafter. Those who make a profession out of drafting are also called drafting technicians. Technical standards as well as communication tools are extensively used in the entire process of drafting. These standards may be used to define the perspectives, practical symbols, measurement units, systems of notation, visual styles and the conventions of layout. This also allows the drawing to look unambiguous and hence it is easier t understand.  It should be noted here that draft drawing is different from visual arts since it focuses more on being comprehendible, while the artist drawings re subjectively interpreted.

Drafting Degrees
Many schools in the United States offer dedicated Drafting programs. These are usually available in certifications and are called AutoCAD degrees. One of the most famous Computer Aided Drafting degrees is offered under the accreditation and establishment by the American Design Drafting Association (ADDA). Even though drafters could manage to work without a proper certification before, now with immense competition it has become mandatory to have Drafting certificates in your resume to be able to make it to the good jobs. These certifications are usually of around 6 months in total and may or may not offer any credit hours.
 
Online Drafting Programs
For all those who have time constraints and find it a big hassle to go to a campus to get education, then you can opt for the much convenient online Drafting programs. These are also known as distance learning programs and can be studied entirely from home. Students who are employed or are single parents find the online Drafting programs to be quite helpful and they can study the entire courses in virtual classrooms and under the supervision of qualified professionals. The online variant is also comparatively cheaper than the traditional classrooms.

What Are the Requirements to Complete a Degree in Drafting?

To complete a degree in drafting, students will have to take up courses such as instruction in design fundamentals, computer-aided design (CAD) software, sketching etc. To prepare for this line of education in advance, high school students are encouraged to take up courses in math, science, design, computer graphics and computer technology.

How Long Does It Take to Complete a Degree in Drafting?

Technical writing or drafting is used to create plans for visual communications w. r. t. an object or structure commonly used by engineers, architects and interior designers etc. People who obtain this qualification are known as drafting technicians.

Numerous schools in the US offer courses related to drafting range from certifications to associate's degrees as well as professional certifications. The American Design Drafting Association (ADDA) offers the most famous accredited Computer Aiding Drafting degree in the US.

Most commonly, the associate degree in Computer Aided Design and Drafting is offered at community/junior colleges or other technical institutions. Usually, the certification courses may take at least 6 or more months to complete. On the contrary, the associate's degree takes up to 2 years. There is a vast array of online courses offered to the students’ as well which they complete on their own pace.

How Much Can I Earn with a Drafting Degree?

These courses prepare students to work as a professional electronic/mechanical/architectural drafter and cartographer. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nearly 200,000 people were employed as drafters in 2018 and they were earning $55,550 per year as annual median income.