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AutoCAD and drafting courses in Virginia

6 CAD and drafting programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

5 schools offer these drafting programs, and Virginia has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Drafters use computer-aided design (CAD) software to turn the designs of engineers and architects into technical drawings. Most complete an associate degree in drafting at a community college or technical school, about two years full time, while some earn a certificate or diploma that usually takes less time; certification isn't required.1

In Virginia, 1 of the 6 programs takes students without a high school diploma and 5 ask for a diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 6 programs here are drafting and design certificate or diploma (4 programs), AutoCAD course (1 program) and SolidWorks, Revit and other CAD software course (1 program).

See the 6 programs

How much do CAD and drafting courses cost in Virginia?

$3,278 to $3,594 is what most CAD and drafting programs in Virginia cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 6 programs with a price. All of them: $3,150 to $4,340

In the typical program

Finished the program
Not reported
None of the 6 programs report it
Working 6 months later
Not reported
None of the 6 programs report it
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
None of the 6 programs report it
Length
8 to 26 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Virginia may also offer CAD and drafting courses. How these figures are made

Are there free CAD and drafting courses in Virginia?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 6 CAD and drafting programs in Virginia approved for WIOA funding

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6 programs

  • AutoCAD courseOnlineNo diploma needed

    Computer Aided Drafting & Design w/ AutoCAD

    ONLC

    Based in Wilmington, DE

    No diploma needed

    ONLC, based in Wilmington, DEAutoCAD courseOnline · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$3,150
    More details about Computer Aided Drafting & Design w/ AutoCAD at ONLC
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    12 weeks, 10 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $100
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,150

  • Drafting and design certificate or diplomaIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Computer Aided Drafting & Design - Career Studies Certificate

    Virginia Western Community College

    Roanoke

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Virginia Western Community College, RoanokeDrafting and design certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$3,204
    More details about Computer Aided Drafting & Design - Career Studies Certificate at Virginia Western Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    30 weeks, 18 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $750
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,204

  • Drafting and design certificate or diplomaOnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Mechanical Design Applications Specialist Certificate Programs

    Visible Edge, Inc., dba Visible Edge Institute

    Based in Nashua, NH

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Visible Edge, Inc., dba Visible Edge Institute, based in Nashua, NHDrafting and design certificate or diplomaOnline · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$3,500
    School website, Mechanical Design Applications Specialist Certificate Programs at Visible Edge, Inc., dba Visible Edge Institute
    More details about Mechanical Design Applications Specialist Certificate Programs at Visible Edge, Inc., dba Visible Edge Institute
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    8 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,500
    School website, Mechanical Design Applications Specialist Certificate Programs at Visible Edge, Inc., dba Visible Edge Institute

  • SolidWorks, Revit and other CAD software courseOnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Revit Architectural Design Application Certificate Program

    Visible Edge, Inc., dba Visible Edge Institute

    Based in Nashua, NH

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Visible Edge, Inc., dba Visible Edge Institute, based in Nashua, NHSolidWorks, Revit and other CAD software courseOnline · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$3,500
    School website, Revit Architectural Design Application Certificate Program at Visible Edge, Inc., dba Visible Edge Institute
    More details about Revit Architectural Design Application Certificate Program at Visible Edge, Inc., dba Visible Edge Institute
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    8 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,500
    School website, Revit Architectural Design Application Certificate Program at Visible Edge, Inc., dba Visible Edge Institute

  • Drafting and design certificate or diplomaHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD)

    Patrick Henry Community College

    Martinsville

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Patrick Henry Community College, MartinsvilleDrafting and design certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$3,625
    More details about Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) at Patrick Henry Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    52 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,175
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,625

  • Drafting and design certificate or diplomaIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    CAD, Prototyping, and 3D Printing

    ECPI University (LWDB-Hampton Roads)

    Virginia Beach

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    ECPI University (LWDB-Hampton Roads), Virginia BeachDrafting and design certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$4,340
    More details about CAD, Prototyping, and 3D Printing at ECPI University (LWDB-Hampton Roads)
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    10 weeks, 1 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $4,340

How to pay for CAD and drafting courses in Virginia

WIOA funding can pay for CAD and drafting courses in Virginia

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for CAD and drafting courses

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.67

GI Bill for CAD and drafting courses

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.8

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: AutoCAD and drafting courses in Virginia

lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
9th of 30
CAD and drafting programs here, against the typical state's 7
6 vs 7

State comparisons use the same figures as the CAD and drafting courses by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

AutoCAD and drafting courses in Roanoke, Martinsville, Virginia Beach and other Virginia cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 3 programs are online.

Other training in Virginia

How CAD and drafting courses compare with the rest of skilled trades: Trade school programs in Virginia

Where the Virginia drafting program numbers come from

Which Virginia drafting programs are on this list?

These are the drafting programs Virginia approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).9 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Virginia offers.

How the prices and results of Virginia drafting programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about CAD and drafting courses in Virginia

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Drafters
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  8. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  9. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List