question

[mtlndg]

hi, I'm a newbie so bare with me for my wierd questions.
i'm currently taking Indstrail draftign at my school.
I eventually want to work as an Architectural draftman..... but do i have to take architecture to do so ?

[Cad64]

The question is, do you want to be a drafter or an architect?

Having the background and education would definitely help you to get a job as a drafter in the architectural field, and make your job a lot easier. Just knowing Autocad really isn't enough. Although I did mechanical drafting for years before I moved into the architectural world. I had absolutely no experience or background in architectural drafting at all. It was a little tough to make the transition. Architectural drafting is a lot different than mechanical drafting.

I would say yes, take architecture if that is the field you want to go into.

[Seann]

I will also throw in that knowing how things are built also helps. Knowing how a wall is built and the steps it takes to build it helps alot. It isn't required but when someone uses terms that you don't know or has you draw a detail it is nice to know what they are talking about. It is one thing to copy a drawing it is another thing to understand the drawing.
Architectural Graphic standards books are a great resource. Expensive as hell, $185 us for the book alone, but in my opinion well worth it. THey also have a student version for about $75 that is just a little smaller but has the main concepts in it.
Just my 2 cents. :)

[pennylove]

Let me tell you my story: I had a associate drafting degree only and got hired at an architect firm. After a few years, when you learn what it is that you are drawing, I have become bored with the drafting thing, but getting promoted in this field without a professional degree is arch is an uphill battle. So if you like architecture and that is what you want to do, get a degree in that. It'll make your professional career goals easier to attain. Now I have gone back to school to get my bacholers degree, and it is very hard to be a full time student and working full time. Sleep is optional. LOL

[James]

i'm an architectural technician and i did 4 years at college studying building design and studies.

the main part of learning comes from actually doing the job, so trying to find an apprentice job etc helps a lot.

[mtlndg]

thank you guys for all your comments and thoughts.
i'm taking Industrail dratfing and hopefully will get hired at an Aritect firm one day.
I jus thope one day i don't get bored of what i'm doing.. like one said in the other comments.
I don't want to go back to school and wast more yrs..
if aritecture is what i like.. why am i doign industrail drafting.?
makes me wonder..
thank you anyway

[Designer]

I have no degree in Architecture but i do a lot of architecture projects here in Portugal (most of them houses). You don`t have to get a degree, you must have good ideas, know the law and have an architecture friend to sign the projects for you (yes you have to pay him). I never had a problem with architecture projects, but i only do houses not buildings (i do not like to do buildings).

PS: If you do the architecture of an house, you will always know that you will do the other projects as well ;) the electrical, water....