Computer-Aided Design Technology

Program

Frequently Asked Questions

1.  What is a CAD drafter or CAD designer? 

      Everything around us manmade begins with a written plan.  When these
      plans require illustrations or drawings to convey meaning, a CAD drafter
      is needed to prepare these graphic forms of communication.  Drafters 
      translate ideas and rough sketches of other professionals, such as 
      architects and engineers, into scaled detail (or working) drawings.

      A CAD designer often prepares the plans and rough sketches for an architect
      or engineer.  The designer has more education and thus more responsibility 
      then the drafter but less than an architect or engineer.

2.  What skills do I need to become a CAD drafter or CAD designer? 

      CAD drafters must be able to convert crude sketches and drawings into both 
       two-dimensional and  three-dimensional  finished drawings.  Some 
      objects are better illustrated in section (cut open) and the drafter 
      must be able to draw objects this way as well.
 
      CAD Designers often are found to have natural abilities in math, science and
      fine art.  They not only do well in these courses, they enjoy these courses.
      Designers must be able to conceptualize and imagine things that don't yet
      exist.  Many designers climb a career track that allows them to become 
      engineers or architects after additional schooling.

      Both drafters and designers are good at taking and following directions.  
      They are often found to have great patience and a good sense of humor.

3.  What education do I need to become a CAD drafter or CAD designer? 

      CAD drafters receive their educations through vocational high school
      training, community college training or a combination of both which is
      known as the Tech-Prep program.  It is important for drafters to learn
      how to prepare drawings through both verbal and written instructions.

      CAD designers receive their education through community colleges and 
      universities.  While architectural and machine design are taught at 
      many community colleges throughout the nation, specialized design 
      fields, such as automotive design, are taught at very few universities.

4.  What is the "CAD" in CAD drafting or CAD design? 

      CAD is an acronym for computer-aided drafting/design.  A variety of
      different software are on the market to allow drafting and design to be
      done with a computer with greater speed and accuracy.  CAD is a fairly 
      new tool for these trades that is revolutionizing the way drafters/
      designers draw and think.   

5.  Will I have to learn CAD to become a drafter or designer? 

      While some drawings are still prepared by traditional drafting methods
      (hence the expression, "Back to the drawing board."), CAD is slowly but
      steadily gaining wide acceptance by engineering departments all over the
      country.  It is widely believed that less then 50% of all drawings are
      made by traditional manual methods.

      Some CAD drawings are prepared in two dimensions while others are 
      prepared as wire-frame, surface or solid models in three dimensions.  
      This "3-D modeling" ability is a higher order employment skill that 
      allows CAD designers to demand more pay. 

6.  Do your program graduates make much money? 

      Recent informal surveys of our graduates have shown them making entry
      level wages around $30,000 a year in our rural north-central area of
      Illinois.  Those going into the Chicagoland or Rockford area are able
      to demand more.
  
      The 2000 U.S. Census found that workers between the ages of 25-64
      averaged the following yearly wages by educational attainment:
 


     

     
High School
     
2 Years College
     
4 Years College


     
1999 Income Avg.
     
$28,000
     
$35,000
     
$48,000



      This data shows that the cost of a 2-year college degree is rapidly 
      recovered soon after employment. 

7.  What other benefits are there in these fields? 

      The benefits of these fields depend largely on what company you go to
      work for.  Benefits that are common are medical plans, college plans,
      pension plans, tuition plans, etc.

      Drafters and designers seem to enjoy more steady employment than many
      other professionals however, drafters and designers often change jobs 
      on their own accord frequently.

      Drafters and designers that stay with a company are often promoted to 
      higher paying positions such as management, quality assurance, sales,
      testing, trouble shooting, customer service, manufacturer's rep.,
      corporate trainer, etc.

8.  Are there many jobs in drafting and design? 

      There are over 15,000 drafters and 10,000 designers in Illinois at this
      time.  The "PROGRAM" and "JOBS" pages of this web site offer specific 
      data to answer this question.

      Many jobs are phoned into local colleges and "head hunters" and thus go
      unlisted in the newspapers.  This is one method employers use to screen
      out unqualified applicants for these positions.

      The federal government classifies both fields as showing average 
      employment growth (3-6%) however, for those who opt to teach in this field
      (CAD-Drafting Technology Instructor) the field is showing high growth
      and a critical shortage (36%).
      

9.  Is drafting or design fun or kind of boring? 

      If you like solving puzzles that tax your mind or, if you enjoy the 
      feeling that comes from doing a job you know few others can accomplish, 
      you might enjoy drafting and design.

      Drafting and design offers prestige too.  When projects or products 
      fail, people inevitably turn to the drawings that were used to build 
      them.  Some examples include the Chevrolet Corvair and Ford Pinto 
      automobiles, space shuttle Challenger and the Chicago Flood of 1992.  
      The flood was caused by a pile driving firm that didn't "see" a drawing 
      that showed the location of a tunnel that later caused the great flood 
      after a pile was driven through it.

      Most cases of industrial espionage or sabotage are centered in the 
      engineering departments of large corporations where drawings are stolen!     


10.  What if my parents want me to go to a university? 

      It is a proven fact that most students who start out to achieve a 4 year
      degree, don't.  While 85% of the parents in our geographic area want their 
      children to go for a 4 year university degree, less than 1 in 4 will 
      actually complete one.

      Research supports a better (and less expensive) plan is to attend your
      local community college for a two year degree where the credits from same
      will transfer to a university for a bachelors degree.  Community college
      graduates have a higher rate of success towards a bachelors than others.

      This also gives students who are sidetracked from their educational 
      experience by variables, such as family and finances, a stopping off point 
      before resuming and oft times gives students enough of an education to 
      enter jobs that can turn into lifelong careers.

      In the best of worlds, the employer will even pick up part or all of the tab
      for their 2-year degree college worker to conclude a 4-year university degree!