Drafting Certificate

Why Choose North Island College?

• Flexible learning. The combination of in-class and online delivery of course content allows some flexibility for students who are enrolled in the program full-time. Plus, a broad base of disciplines gives students more options upon graduation.
• Want to go further in a drafting career? NIC is a member of a consortium of colleges that share a recognized common core of training objectives in drafting. Upon completion of this program, this standard will enable you to easily transfer to other institutions for further study towards a technology diploma.
• Small classes, great instructors. The excellent student-to-faculty ratio at NIC gives you more direct contact with your instructors than at other institutions. Because of our well-respected instructional reputation, our courses offer a high degree of transferability to other institutions.

Program Highlights

NIC’s Drafting certificate program is designed for those with no prior drafting experience. All aspects of drafting are taught, from creating acceptable hand sketches through producing three-dimensional modeling in CAD. The program also includes an Architectural/Civil Drafting Specialty component. This range of experience will broaden your options for employment or continued study.

During the core components of the program, students learn different drafting disciplines and create drawings to industry standards in each discipline. They learn the fundamental skills of the Drafting trade, such as drawing theory and application, materials of construction, freehand sketching and traditional drafting skills. They also learn effective graphic, written, and verbal communication.

During the Architectural/Civil Drafting Specialty component, students study mapping systems, survey systems in Western Canada, residential wood frame building construction, topographic systems and practical surveying, to name a few. Students are familiarized with industry software such as Autodesk and Civil 3D. During the spring semester, students learn practical surveying and use survey equipment to produce field data, which is then used to produce engineering, survey and topographical drawings.

Career Opportunities

With a certificate in Drafting from NIC, you can be employed with architects and building contractors, surveyors, municipal governments, engineers, forest companies or provincial and federal government agencies. Career possibilities include, but would not be limited to, surveyor, civil engineer assistant and renderer.

Admission Requirements

1. Minimum C grade English 11, or TPC 12, or NIC ENG 052, or equivalent; and
2. Minimum C grade Principles of Math 11, or Applications of Math 12, or NIC MAT 053, or equivalent; or
3. Successfully complete NIC assessment testing in English and math.

To Be Successful

• Students enrolling in the Drafting program should possess basic computer and Internet skills. Students with little computing experience should consider taking ABT 020 (Online Learner Success) and/or ABT 101 (Introduction to Computers and the Internet) to enhance their computer skills before the start of the program.
• Good visualization skills, attitude, and work habits also facilitate success.

Program Requirements

Mechanical/Industrial Core

• DRT-100 Drafting Basics
• DRT-181 Computer Assisted Drafting - AutoCAD
• DRT-140 Materials of Construction
• ENG-159 Professional Writing
• DRT-185 Office Software for Drafting Technologies

Architectural/Civil Drafting Specialty

• DRT-110 Architectural Drafting
• DRT-120 Topographic & Civil Drafting
• DRT-111 3D Building Information Modeling
• DRT-121 Designing with Civil 3D
• DRT-160 Practical Surveying

Completion Requirements

Successful completion of all courses in the program with an overall course average of C+.