Architectural Designs

What is the dif between an architect and an architectural draughtsperson? ?

can someone please explain the difference between being an architect and an architectural draughtsperson?

Public Comments

1. The Architect tells the drafter what to draw, and is responsible for any details he lets the drafter decide.
2. The architect conceives and designs a building or other architectural edifice. He is responsible for every stage of the design and often the building of the project. An architectural draughtsman simply draws what the architect tells him.
3. An architect is a professional person with advanced schooling in architecture. Doctors go to medical school, architects go to an architectural school (after an undergraduate degree program). The draftsperson most likely has a degree from a two year tech school, specializing in drafting architecture. The other difference will be the take home pay -- you can probably quess which one of the two occupations pays more money.
4. First, let's clear up some myths. Depending on the State in the US, a candidate for licensing does not require a architectural or even a college degree. I've met enough bad architects and good drafters (project managers) in my career that I know it is not necessarily true that an architect actually "tells" a drafter what to draw. So in order to answer this question properly, we will split the difference by it's legal definition. Architects and the practice of architecture is regulated by each State. So any work or actions by the architect are legally binding should they be erroneous whether he/she is aware of it. Drafters are not regulated by any governing agencies so they are essentially free of any liability (short of fraud or misrepresentation). For the record, I am a registrant in this field for over 20 years and own my firm with several national awards. The ARE (Architectural Registration Exam) only test for MINIMAL competency. So just because someone is an architect does not mean much to me or my peers.