Engineering Design Technology Certificate and AAS
Welcome to the Program Page dedicated to the Engineering Design Technology Certificate and AAS program! This page is designed to give an overview of your pathway based on your starting quarter. Click on one of the desired tabs below to view the course schedule. This information may be subject to change at any time without notice. Please contact your adviser for more information regarding the courses.
Bookstore Information
Information regarding the materials can be found at the RTC bookstore
Links to an external site.. Just fill in the course information and you will be set!
The bookstore has what you need in regards to materials so be sure to check it out! It is always better to be prepared than to wait last second to buy your materials!
General Overview
As of Spring 2025 we are no longer accepting new students into the Engineering Design Technology program.
How long is the program?
- 3 quarters (9 months) with 47 credits for the certificate
- 6 quarters (up tp 20 months) with 90 credits for the AAS degree
When do classes meet? Class times are different each quarter, but you should be available Monday through Thursday between 8 A.M. and 2:45 P.M.
Are summer classes required? No! There are no summer classes for this program.
You will learn entry-level skills for jobs in architectural and structural drafting, with a focus on the construction and aerospace industries. You start with board techniques (drawing by hand) and then move to computer-aided design and the software used in industry: AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit, and SolidWorks. Graduates often find work as CAD drafters and technicians, and many jobs do require an associate degree.
What does a drafter do?
What is the average salary?
$62,280 annually Links to an external site. in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma area. Most architectural and civil drafters earn at least $50,000; there is a wide salary range.
Who can I contact with questions?
- New students, please visit our Zoom lobby (Links to an external site.) to talk with someone by video chat, or e-mail our advising department.
- For current students, please visit RTC's advising page (Links to an external site and look for the faculty counselor assigned to Engineering Design Technology.
Overall Materials Needed:
- Access to a functioning laptop or computer (you may use computers on the RTC campus)
- Working internet connection
- Textbooks and software ($390 plus cost of DFT 101 toolkit)
- USB drive or external hard drive, at least 500GB ($50)
- TI 36X calculator ($25)
Minimum GPA or grades to graduate
You need to earn a 2.0 in each class to finish your Engineering Design Technology certificate or degree.
Materials Warning
Some materials on this page are listed as TBD, which means that the materials have yet to be determined. Please consult your instructor on what textbooks or materials are required for the class. If you rent a textbook, make sure you return it by the deadline. If you purchase a textbook, you can sell it back to the RTC bookstore -- but make sure that you won't need the book again for classes in the future!
Mobile Browser Information
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Winter Start 2025
Quarter 1
Quarter 2
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| DFT 115 | Structural Detailing | same as 117 | 3 |
| DFT 121 | Commercial Architecture | same as 117 | 5 |
| DFT 128 | Civil Drafting | same as 117 | 5 |
Quarter 3
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| DFT 122 | Working with As-Builts | NO | 3 |
| DFT 185 | Job Readiness | NO | 2 |
| DFT 220 | Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Systems | YES | 4 |
| CMST 280 | Intercultural Communication or other general education communication or humanities class | varies by class | 5 |
Total Estimated Costs for Your Engineering Design Technology Certificate: $6,423 plus toolkit
Continue to Quarter 4 to work on your associate degree.
Quarter 4
Quarter 5
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| DFT 206 |
Mechanical Design | YES | 5 |
| MTEC 113 | Blueprint Reading II | same as MTEC 111 | 4 |
| BUS& 101 | Introduction to Business (recommended) or another social science class | varies by class | 5 |
Quarter 6
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| DFT 213 |
Parametric Modeling | same as 206 | 5 |
| MTEC 140 | Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing | NO | 4 |
| Gen Ed | Any general education elective class | NO | 5 |
Total Estimated Costs for Your Engineering Technology AAS Degree: $12,145 plus toolkit
Not quite the career path you want to take? Let's go back to the Program Map!