What U.S. Schools Offer Mechanical Drafting Training?

<p>Well-trained mechanical drafters continue to be in great demand. As such, there are a variety of U.S. programs that offer quality training in the field. Finger Lakes Community College, Tidewater Community College and Cleveland Community College are among the institutions offering programs in mechanical drafting </p> <h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisFieldOfStudy">Important Facts About This Field of Study</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Degree/Certificate Levels </td><td> Drafting is not typically offered beyond a certificate or associate's degree level, but students may be able to transfer to a 4-year program in math, architecture, or engineering</td></tr> <tr><td> Prerequisites </td><td> High school diploma or equivalent</td></tr> <tr><td> Possible Careers</td><td> Designer, drafter, technician</td></tr> <tr><td> Continuing Education</td><td> The American Design Drafting Association offers a certificate of competence in mechanical drafting</td></tr> <tr><td>Median Salary (2021)</td><td>$54,240 <i>(drafters)</i></td></tr> <tr><td>Job Outlook (2021-2031)</td><td>-8% <i>(drafters)</i></td></tr> </table><h3 id="section---FingerLakesCommunityCollege">Finger Lakes Community College</h3> <p>Finger Lakes Community College offers a program that leads to an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Mechanical Technology. It utilizes computer-aided drafting (CAD) as a teaching tool. The degree program is designed to prepare students for mechanical drafting careers by providing a wealth of technical instruction. Students are allowed to spend many hours working with CAD software and gaining hands-on experience that is applicable in the workforce. The program's curriculum is designed to include projects that could be assigned in an office setting at an actual firm. Students must complete approximately 64 hours of core and general education coursework in order to graduate. </p> <h3 id="section---TidewaterCommunityCollege">Tidewater Community College</h3> <p>The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Computer-Aided Drafting and Design degree program at Tidewater Community College allows students to utilize Autodesk software as they learn practical mechanical drafting skills that will prove useful in the workplace. Topics of exploration include manufacturing, parametric structural design and heavy construction. Candidates may also develop traditional manual mechanical drafting skills. </p> <h3 id="section---ClevelandCommunityCollege">Cleveland Community College</h3> <p>Cleveland Community College in Shelby, North Carolina offers a Mechanical Drafting Technical Certificate program. It is designed to prepare students for entry-level careers in areas such as manufacturing and fabrication as well as various service industries. Along with CAD and basic engineering graphics, participants have opportunities to learn about technical calculations and occupational safety procedures. The importance of creating technically-correct drawings may be emphasized. Candidates must complete between seven and 13-credit hours in order to successfully graduate from the program.</p>