High School

If you are interested in a career as a drafter, begin your preparation in high school. Load up on mathematics classes—especially algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. If your school offers courses in mechanical drawing, take this class, too. If mechanical drawing is not available, take some art classes. Wood, metal, or electrical shop may be helpful, depending on the field specialty in which you're interested. Geography or earth science courses are also useful. Finally, enroll in any computer classes you can (especially those in computer-aided design); increased familiarity with technology will strengthen your job prospects.

Postsecondary Training

Preparation beyond high school (including courses in the physical sciences, mathematics, drawing, sketching and drafting techniques, and in other technical areas) is essential for certain types of beginning positions, as well as for advancement to positions of greater salary and more responsibility. This training is available through technical institutes, community colleges, and four-year colleges. The quality of programs varies greatly, however, and you should be careful about choosing one that meets your needs. Ask potential employers about their educational preferences, and check the qualifications of various schools' faculties. Generally, two-year community college programs that lead to an associate's degree offer a more well-rounded education than those provided by technical schools. Also, four-year colleges typically do not offer specific drafting training but have courses in areas such as engineering and architecture.

With respect to choosing a school for advanced training in drafting, exposure to CAD technology has become a necessity. Keep in mind, however, that CAD is a tool; it can help if manual drawing skill is not your strong suit. It does not replace knowledge and experience, or creativity and imagination. A thorough grounding in the traditional drawing methods of drafting is as vitally important today as facility with CAD.

Other Education or Training

The American Design Drafting Association/American Digital Design Association offer continuing education (CE) opportunities at its conferences. State-level drafting associations also provide CE workshops, seminars, and webinars.

Certification or Licensing

Certification is not presently required but is recommended in this field. More and more, employers are looking for graduates whose skills have been approved by a reliable industry source. The American Design Drafting Association/American Digital Design Association (ADDA) offers certification; becoming certified not only will enhance your credibility as a professional but also could give you an edge in the job market.

ADDA also accredits schools that offer a drafting curriculum. As with individual certification, this accreditation process is not yet mandatory (although it can be a help to applicants in choosing where they'd like to receive training). Increasingly, however, states have begun to require that schools be ADDA-accredited (in order to receive grant funding, for instance). This suggests that required student certification, and perhaps licensing, may be on the horizon.

Licensing requirements vary. Licensing may be required for specific projects, such as a construction project, when the client requires it.

Aspiring drafters should try to obtain as much experience as possible with computer-aided design and drafting.

Students interested in drafting should have a good sense of both spatial perception (the ability to visualize objects in two or three dimensions) and formal perception (the ability to compare and discriminate between shapes, lines, forms, and shadings). Good hand-eye coordination is also necessary for the fine detail work involved in drafting. Other important traits include creativity, the ability to concentrate for long periods of time, a detail-oriented personality, and strong communication and interpersonal skills.