Building Plans Drafter Overview

Required Education and Training To Become a Building Plans Drafter

Best Schools to become a Building Plans Drafter in U.S. 2024

Olympic College

Bremerton, WA

In-State Tuition:$4,197
Out-of-State Tuition:$9,465
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:31%
Total Enrollment:4,905

San Jacinto Community College

Pasadena, TX

In-State Tuition:$3,240
Out-of-State Tuition:$5,040
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:32%
Total Enrollment:30,593

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, CA

In-State Tuition:$25,728
Out-of-State Tuition:$25,728
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:44%
Total Enrollment:6,786

Front Range Community College

Westminster, CO

In-State Tuition:$3,754
Out-of-State Tuition:$15,404
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:27%
Total Enrollment:19,449

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

In-State Tuition:$4,487
Out-of-State Tuition:$8,777
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:31%
Total Enrollment:89,705

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Perkinston, MS

In-State Tuition:$3,300
Out-of-State Tuition:$6,600
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:44%
Total Enrollment:7,845
Building Plans Drafter Job Description:
  • Prepare detailed drawings of architectural and structural features of buildings or drawings and topographical relief maps used in civil engineering projects, such as highways, bridges, and public works.
  • Use knowledge of building materials, engineering practices, and mathematics to complete drawings.

Required Skills and Competencies To Become a Building Plans Drafter

Job Duties for Building Plans Drafters

  • Coordinate structural, electrical, and mechanical designs and determine a method of presentation to graphically represent building plans.

  • Draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects, such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes.

  • Produce drawings, using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand, using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices.

Technologies and Skills Used by Building Plans Drafters

Computer aided design CAD software

  • Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
  • Trimble SketchUp Pro

Graphics or photo imaging software

  • Adobe After Effects
  • Adobe Illustrator

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Basic Skills

  • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem

Problem Solving

  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Current Job Market and Opportunites for a Building Plans Drafter

Additional Resources To Help You Become a Building Plans Drafter

FAQs About Becoming a Building Plans Drafter