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Drafters turn engineers' and architects' ideas into the precise technical drawings things get built from — a hands-on technical career you can enter with an associate degree and real CAD skill, not a four-year degree. Here's the roadmap, with the Arizona training, credentials, and where the jobs are.
Where to train in Arizona
Earn an associate degree or certificate in drafting or CAD technology at a Maricopa or Pima community college, and master AutoCAD, Revit, or SolidWorks. Pick a field — architectural, mechanical, civil, or electrical drafting.
Credentials in Arizona
Drafting is not licensed in Arizona — your CAD skill and a portfolio of clean technical drawings are the credential. An optional ADDA Drafter Certification can help you stand out to employers.
Where the Arizona jobs are
Demand is strong across Arizona — architecture and engineering firms, the TSMC and Intel fab build-out, civil and construction drafting for the metro-Phoenix housing boom, and manufacturers like Boeing (Mesa) and Honeywell Aerospace all hire drafters and BIM technicians.
Ready to start? Browse live Arizona opportunities — internships, training programs, and scholarships across the state.
An associate degree plus real CAD skill gets you in — no four-year degree required
Drafting rewards precision and software fluency. Earn an associate degree or certificate, get fluent in AutoCAD and Revit, and build a portfolio of clean drawings in a field you like. From there, experience and BIM skills move you up to senior drafter, designer, or CAD manager — a solid technical career with little debt.
Keep going: see whether an architecture degree is worth it, compare becoming a machinist, and check if it will pay off.