What Degree Do You Need to Become a CAD Designer?

Wanting to make sure you have the right qualifications at the start of a new CAD design career is a sign that you care about the success and longevity of your career. Fortunately, not only is it possible to establish a CAD design career with a variety of different college degrees—it’s also possible (albeit challenging) to start a CAD career without one. In this article, you’ll learn about the most common degrees that will prepare you well for a CAD career and explore expert advice for what to do if you can’t attend college. 

What is a CAD Designer?

Using computer-aided design (CAD) software, CAD Designers produce technical drawings for advanced projects. In addition to two-dimensional surface drawings, CAD Designers also create three-dimensional models. Ultimately, CAD drawings and models make it easier for people in many industries to transform conceptual designs into functional objects, products, and spaces.

To help fulfill this end, CAD models may be used in many different ways, from visualization and analysis to manufacturing. The projects their models forward also involve various disciplines, including civil engineering and architecture, medical equipment, electronics, vehicles, fashion, and games. From among these subjects, CAD Designers typically select one area to specialize in for the duration of their careers. 

To ensure their models provide functional results, CAD Designers generally work alongside Architects, Engineers, Scientists, and other Designers. Outside of this, you’ll find CAD Designers working in relatively unique work environments. While most CAD Designers maintain a standard full-time work schedule, they’re often at liberty to choose between working in-person, remotely, or as independent freelancers. 

The businesses that commonly employ CAD Designers include:

• Architecture firms
• Civil engineering companies
• Construction companies
• Energy and utility companies
• Fashion houses
• Manufacturing facilities (especially those emphasizing mechanical, electronic, medical, and aviation manufacturing)
• Tech companies

Do I Need a Degree to Become a CAD Designer?

The first step toward becoming a CAD Designer is your education, which can begin while you’re still young. First and foremost, you’ll need a high school diploma (or equivalent credential) with coursework in math, computer science, physics, and art. 

Most beginner CAD Design jobs require applicants to hold an associate’s degree, and jobs beyond the entry-level commonly require a bachelor’s degree in a subject such as architecture, industrial design, or mechanical engineering. In some cases, however, this requirement may be superseded by an impressive portfolio or equivalent experience. Though you can build a CAD design career without one, a bachelor’s degree will ultimately remove the biggest barriers to securing long-term employment and climbing the career ladder. In addition, statistics show that education results in higher paychecks, with college graduates in all industries earning an extra $500 per week (in 2020). A degree program can also teach you important industry skills, including CAD software and design principles.

If you don’t have the time or funds to attend college, however, there are still alternative ways to go about building your CAD design career. For instance, you can obtain accelerated career training for a fraction of the cost by attending a vocational training school such as Noble Desktop. You may also wish to become a certified CAD Designer by taking a proctored exam from The American Design Drafting Association (ADDA) or Autodesk. Earning a certification can help you qualify for more jobs, see less unemployment, and earn nearly $400 more every week.

Common Degrees for CAD Designers

There’s more than one path to becoming a CAD Designer, meaning that you can choose from a variety of different degree programs or even forgo college education entirely and still become a successful CAD professional. This flexibility also makes it possible to pivot to CAD Design from a different line of work.

The most common degree topics for CAD Designers in 2024 are: 

• Mechanical Engineering (or Mechanical Engineering Technology)
• Civil Engineering
• Architecture
• CAD Design 
• Product Design
• Graphic Design
• Computer Aided Drafting
• Drafting and Design
• Computer Science

Some CAD Designers also hold degrees in less common degrees, such as Fashion Design.

CAD design degrees come in several levels, with the most common being Associate of Science (A.A.S.) degrees and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees. While an A.A.S. degree in CAD design can fully prepare you for an entry-level CAD design job, a B.S. degree will allow you to access more senior positions. As of 2024, 45% of CAD Designers had an A.A.S. degree, while 41% had a B.S. degree, and 4% had no degree. 

Tips for Starting a CAD Designer Career Without a Degree

Starting a CAD design career with no degree may be more challenging, but with the right tactics, you can make it work. To give yourself a better chance at success, try these expert-recommended tips. 

Take Advantage of Alternative Training Options

Hiring managers expect you to demonstrate professional-level CAD design skills. Even if you don’t attend college, you can start building these skills by participating in a CAD class at a reputable school. CAD classes may cover a variety of different CAD design tools (AutoCAD, Revit, etc.) and come in a variety of styles, such as: 

• CAD certificate courses and bootcamps. These programs offer immersive training designed to help you develop practical skills rapidly. These classes are often available onsite as well as live online. 
• On-demand CAD classes. These are pre-recorded online programs that enable you to study CAD skills at your own pace. These classes generally cover beginner skills. 
• Free CAD tutorials and seminars. Such resources are often available via the Internet and offer a convenient way to supplement other CAD learning methods.

Build a Strong Portfolio

A truly impressive portfolio can do the work of proving your capability to hiring managers. In some cases, you can make up for not attending college with a well-organized selection of your best work. Take it as an opportunity to show off your top skills, including less technical skills such as applied design theory. Learn how pros recommend you should optimize your CAD Designer portfolio. 

Get Professional Experience

Real practical experience can go a long way in helping you get jobs and create better CAD drawings. Strive toward being able to demonstrate experience that’s both consistent over a long time and spread over many different contexts. You can start building your experience with:

• Internships (often available from design firms and manufacturing companies)
• Freelance jobs
• Online design challenges and collaborative open-source projects
• Volunteer projects
• Job shadowing
• Personal 3D-printing projects

Network and Job Search Like A CAD Designer

If you don’t have a degree, you may be happy to learn that who you know is often just as professionally valuable as your skills and qualifications. Connecting with professionals in your industry often creates opportunities that you otherwise might not have access to, including job offers and internships. 

There are many ways to network as a CAD Designer, and experts recommend working as many avenues as you can. Some of the best options include:

• Building a strong digital presence using LinkedIn and other job sites. This includes job boards designed to meet the needs of your specific industry (for example: designer-specific job sites).
• Creating a digital portfolio (or website) that highlights your skills. 
• Joining professional associations such as the American Design Drafting Association (ADDA).
• Using internships, entry-level jobs, volunteer projects, and classes to build long-term connections and strengthen your portfolio. 
• Participating in conferences, job fairs, and trade shows. 
• Attending local design events and joining casual Meetup groups. 
• Connecting with a wide variety of people, from experienced mentors to peers.

Don’t Skip the Soft Skills

Most CAD training courses focus on technical skills (such as AutoCAD software), but developing strong soft skills is also an essential part of becoming a CAD Designer. Strong communication skills are as key to creating a good design as they are to working on a team. Other important soft skills for CAD Designers include problem-solving, time management, organization, and the ability to adapt. 

Learn the Skills to Become a CAD Designer at Noble Desktop

Learn CAD Design in a confidence-boosting environment where experts can guide you through every step of mastering the leading CAD drafting software. Noble Desktop’s hands-on AutoCAD courses are offered in a traditional NYC classroom as well as in a flexible live online format. They come in a variety of levels (from beginner to advanced) to allow for maximum customization and always rely on task-oriented projects to teach skills. Additionally, all courses feature a small class size to ensure you receive plenty of one-on-one attention from your instructor. 

If you’re looking for a short introductory course or want to split your training into chunks, the AutoCAD Level I course will get you started on the right track. In this course, you’ll explore projects that will get you comfortable using precision drawing tools. You’ll learn how to use a variety of beginner features, from drawing templates to layers, blocks, layouts, annotations, and hatching. Before you’re finished, you’ll also learn how to edit and print your drawing. Because this class was designed as part of a series, you’ll be ready to move on to AutoCAD Level II (and later, Level III) when you graduate. 

To cover the same ground more quickly, you may prefer to sign up for the AutoCAD Bootcamp. In addition to covering all the beginner skills from AutoCAD Level I, this course covers intermediate skills from AutoCAD Level II. To create more complex images, you’ll learn how to utilize tracking points, construction lines, and external references. You’ll also learn how to integrate data tables into your drawings and customize layouts for specific projects. 

Want to master AutoCAD software comprehensively? The AutoCAD Masterclass includes skills from AutoCAD Levels I-III, allowing you to advance from beginner to pro in one course. After exploring beginner skills in the first unit of the course, you’ll start tackling intermediate skills in tandem with productivity strategies. In the last unit of the class, you’ll navigate a variety of advanced subjects, including user interface customization, dynamic blocks, text objects and tables, dynamic attributes, and publication. With these skills, you’ll be prepared to take on a variety of entry-level professional CAD projects. 

To receive the same comprehensive training and earn an official AutoCAD certification, sign up for the AutoCAD Certification Program. In addition to skills training, this course includes private tutoring and proctorship for The Autodesk Certified Professional in AutoCAD for Design & Drafting exam.