Precision Trade Schools

Precision Trade programs cover a variety of skills, including drafting, leather craft, upholstery, metal work, machinist, printing press, and woodworking training. One example, drafting, encompasses training that can lead to careers as skilled CAD operators. Students have the option of specializing in areas such as architectural drafting, in which students learn AutoCAD, technical drawing, and other skills related directly to architecture. Programs often combine concepts and principles with hands-on practical experience supervised by faculty with industry experience.

Another example in this area would be machinist training. In these programs, students attend classes and receive hands-on instruction in the concepts, processes, hardware, and software related to using lathes and mills. They learn such skills as geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, coordinate measuring machines, and metric equations. Graduates of these programs can qualify for employment as machine tool operators and machinists. They may also be able to transfer to a four-year institution and gain additional education.