Whether it’s a cross-country highway or new bridge in a small town, a towering skyscraper or a small-scale housing development, architectural technicians play a crucial role in just about every construction project you can imagine.
As a valued part of the design team, technicians help create structural plans, layouts, and other types of technical drawings that provide architects and engineers with important insights into the safety and functionality of a design, and the materials required to make it a reality.
For technically-minded individuals with good mathematical abilities and an interest in structure and form, becoming an architectural technician can be a great career choice. With new building and infrastructure projects being created all the time in both the private and public sectors, skilled technicians are in demand all across the country.
If you’re looking for a secure, lucrative career with a diverse range of job prospects, read on to find out more about how to become an architectural technician.
Research Architectural CAD Programs to Find the Right Option for You
Employers will often look for applicants who have completed one-year architectural CAD programs, which give them the specialized training they need in specific areas such as building code requirements, land development regulation, and building information modeling (BIM) tools.
However, shorter CAD certificate programs are also available, which usually last around six months and still cover essential skills such as architectural drawing techniques, surveying principles, and a number of CAD software applications. If you have other commitments and need a more flexible schedule, some CAD training schools also offer online study options, allowing you to earn your qualification from home.
Build up Your Portfolio While You Complete Your CAD Courses
Employers looking to hire architectural technicians often want to see samples of work, which can be discouraging for recent graduates with no previous employment experience. Fortunately, CAD courses are very practical, and students complete a number of projects throughout their studies, including architectural drawings, survey plans, and digital designs which utilize industry-standard CAD software.
This approach allows graduates to enter the job market with a ready-made portfolio which fully showcases their capabilities to potential employers, helping increase their chances of finding the position they want.
Find Employment in a Range of Organizations as an Architectural Technician
Once you graduate, you’ll find that job openings for architectural technicians exist in a wide variety of organizations. It’s important to keep a close eye out for new opportunities. Architectural firms are often on the lookout for technicians, but you can also find work in construction companies and CAD-specific workgroups.
A qualified architectural technician can sometimes find work with construction firms
Many government departments also require the service of skilled technicians for various developments and projects. Casting your net as widely as possible and being open to working in a variety of areas can increase your chances of securing a position with a competitive salary and prospects for advancement.
Think a career as an architectural technician is right for you?
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