2253 – Drafting technologists and technicians | Canada NOC |

2253 – Drafting technologists and technicians

Drafting technologists and technicians prepare engineering designs, drawings and related technical information, in multidisciplinary engineering teams or in support of engineers, architects or industrial designers, or they may work independently. They are employed by consulting and construction companies, utility, resource and manufacturing companies, all levels of government and by a wide range of other establishments.

Profile

Example titles

Index of titles

  • Architectural draftsperson
  • Computer-assisted design and drafting technologist
  • Computer-assisted drafting (CAD) technician
  • Design and drafting technologist
  • Drafting office supervisor
  • Drafting technician
  • Drafting technologist
  • Draftsperson
  • Electrical draftsperson
  • Electromechanical draftsperson
  • Electronic draftsperson
  • Engineering design and drafting technologist
  • Mechanical draftsperson
  • Steel detailer – drafting
  • Structural draftsperson
  • Structural steel drafter-detailer

Main duties

This group perform some or all of the following duties:
Drafting technologists
  • Develop and prepare engineering designs and drawings from preliminary concepts, sketches, engineering calculations, specification sheets and other data
  • Operate computer-assisted design (CAD) and drafting workstations
  • Develop and prepare design sketches
  • Complete documentation packages and produce drawing sets
  • Check and verify design drawings to conform to specifications and design data
  • Write technical reports
  • Prepare contracts and tender documents
  • Prepare construction specifications, costs and material estimates
  • Supervise and train other technologists, technicians and drafters.
Drafting technicians
  • Develop and prepare engineering drawings, plans, diagrams or layouts from sketches
  • Operate computer-assisted drafting equipment or a conventional drafting station.

Employment requirements

  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Completion of a two- to three-year college program in engineering design and drafting technology or in a related field is usually required for drafting and design technologists.
  • Completion of a one- to two-year college program in drafting or completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program or four to five years of related experience plus completion of college or industry courses in drafting are usually required for drafting technicians.
  • Trade certification for draftspersons is available, but voluntary in Ontario.
  • Certification in engineering design and drafting technology or in a related field through provincial associations of engineering/applied science technologists and technicians may be required by employers.
  • A period of supervised work experience, usually two years, is required before certification.

Additional information

  • Mobility is possible to civil, mechanical, electrical or other engineering design technologies through educational or work specialization.
  • Senior and supervisory drafting and design technology workers require experience.

Exclusions

  • Architectural design technologists (in 2251 Architectural technologists and technicians)
  • Civil engineering design technologists (in 2231 Civil engineering technologists and technicians)
  • Electrical and electronics engineering design technologists (in 2241 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians)
  • Industrial designers (2252)
  • Mechanical engineering design technologists (in 2232 Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians)