Course Location and Contact Information

Course Description

The Certificate IV and Diploma are designed to meet the current and future needs of Architects, Building Contractors and Building Designers requiring the services of paraprofessional technicians to assist them in preparing documentation for residential and commercial building projects.
The Advanced Diploma is designed to assist graduates in assuming the role of Project Administrator on large jobs or in running their own drafting office as a Building Designer after gaining appropriate levels of work experience.

Career Opportunities

Certificate IV in Residential Drafting

Graduates can gain employment as drafters of residential projects working under supervision with Architects, Builders or Building Designers and will be eligible to enrol in the Diploma.

Diploma of Building Design and Technology

Graduates can gain employment as drafters of commercial projects with Architects, Builders, Building Designers or Projects Administrators and will be eligible to enrol in the Advanced Diploma
Designers with appropriate work experience will be capable of running their own drafting office (refer to registration and regulatory requirements of state government departments).

Advanced Diploma of Building Design and Project Administration

Graduates will have enhanced their opportunity to gain a position as a Team Leader or Project Administrator with Architects, Builders or Building Designers and with appropriate work experience will be capable of running their own drafting office (refer to registration and regulatory requirements of state government departments).

Career opportunities for graduates include working as an Architectural Technician for Architects, Building Contractors, Building Designers or in the Building Management Department of large commercial enterprises or government departments. With experience, graduates may work as a Building Designer in their own right.

Course Duration

Diploma of Building Design and Technology

Full-time: Two years (1580 to 1620 hours)
Part-time: Units of study are available during the evening and day (according to space availability)

Successful completion of the first year of the Diploma entitles the participant to the the Certificate IV qualification and approximately 280 hours of additional studies are required beyond the two year full-time Diploma to complete the Advanced Diploma.

Course Commencement Dates

February.

Entrance Requirements

Applicants should have successfully completed Year 12 of VCE studies or its equivalent, including units in English and Mathematics.
Mature age (non VCE) applicants with relevant experience may also apply.

Application Procedures

Full-time: Apply through VTAC .
Part-time: Apply directly to NMIT.

Full-time applicants are selected by VTAC based on their VCE "ENTER" score.
Mature age applicants will need to attend an interview at NMIT.
All applicants should refer to the relevant section of the VTAC guide.
Applications made directly to NMIT may only be considered after the VTAC round of offers.

Skills Recognition - Exemptions/Transfers

Students may be eligible for exemptions/transfers on the basis of previous qualifications.

Pathways to Further Study

Graduates of this course may seek entry and advanced standing into degree courses in architecture offered by universities.

Course Outline

Certificate IV in Residential Drafting (First Year)

The Certificate IV in Residential Drafting covers the theory, underpinning knowledge and practical skills to produce documentation suitable for gaining a building permit and for the on site construction of Class 1 and 10 Private Residential Housing, in accordance with the provision of Volume 2 of the Building Code of Australia. Graduates will have specialist skills in: design, construction technology - residential, materials, 2D computer-aided drafting, office administration, visual presentation and residential working drawings.

First Year

LCTA Drafting Office Administration (50 hrs)
LCTB Residential Construction Technology (120 hrs)
LCTC Site Survey & Drawing (40 hrs)
LCTD Projected Presentation (40 hrs)
LCTE Residential Materials (40 hrs)
LCTF CAD 2D (100 hrs)
LCTG Residential Documentation (40 hrs)
LCTH Residential Working Drawings - 1 Storey (90 hrs)
LCTK Residential Working Drawings - 2 Storey (90 hrs)
LCTM Residential Design - 1 Storey (40 hrs)
LCTL Residential Design - 2 Storey (40 hrs)
LCTN Sketch Presentation (40 hrs)
Elective Unit (50 hrs)

Total Hours - 780

Diploma of Building Design and Technology (Second Year)

Covers the theory, underpinning knowledge and practical skills to produce documentation suitable for gaining a building permit and for the on site construction of Class 2 to 9 Commercial Building Projects (types B & C), in accordance with the provisions of Volume 1 of the Building Code of Australia. Graduates will have specialist skills in Design, Construction Technology - commercial, Materials, Project Administration, 3D Computer Aided Drafting, Digital Presentation and Commercial Working Drawings.

Graduates can gain employment as drafters of commercial projects with Architects, Builders, Building Designers or Projects Administrators and will be eligible to enrol in the Advanced Diploma.

Designers, with appropriate work experience, will be capable of running their own drafting office (refer to registration and regulatory requirements of state government departments).

Second Year

LCTP Drafting Project Administration (40 hrs)
LCTR Commercial Construction Technology (120 hrs)
LCTS Environmental Sustainable Building (40 hrs)
LCTT Services (40 hrs)
LCTW Commercial Materials (40 hrs)
LCTX CAD - 3D (50 hrs)
LCTY Commercial Working Drawings - "B" (90 hrs)
LCTZ Commercial Working Drawings - "C" (90 hrs)
LCWA Digital Rendering (50 hrs)
LCWB Commercial Documentation (50 hrs)
LCWC Commercial Design - Type "C" (40 hrs)
LCWD Commercial Design - Type "B" (40 hrs)
Elective Unit (40/50 hrs)
Elective Unit (40/50 hrs)
Elective Unit (40/50 hrs)

Total Hours - 840

Advanced Diploma of Building Design and Project Administration

The Advanced Diploma of Building Design and Project Administration covers further theory, underpinning knowledge and practical skills to produce documentation suitable for gaining a building permit and for the on site construction of more complex Class 2 to 9 Commercial Building Projects, in accordance with the provision of Volume 1 of the Building Code of Australia. Graduates will have specialist skills in: Building Design, Contract Documentation and Project Administration.

Pre-requisite study

Aplicants must have successfully completed the Diploma of Building Design and Technology

Mandatory Units

LCWE Design and Project Administration (120 hrs)
LCWF Research Project (80 hrs)

Electives Units (2 to be selected)

LCWG Architectural History Pre 1825 (40 hrs)
LCWH Architectural History Post 1826 (40 hrs)
LCWK Applied Mathematics (40 hrs)
LCWL Business Management (40 hrs)
LCWM Structural Selection (40 hrs)
LCWN Timber Frame Design (50 hrs)
LCWP Structures Commercial (40 hrs)
LCWR Structures Residential (40 hrs)
LCWS Interiors Commercial (40 hrs)
LCWT Interiors Retail (40 hrs)
LCWW Architectural Models (50 hrs)
LCWX Complex Presentation (40 hrs)
LCWY Digital Animation (50 hrs)
LCWZ CAD Customisation (50 hrs)
LCXA Digital Presentation (50 hrs)
LCXB CAD Management (50 hrs)
LCXC Specification Writing (40 hrs)
LCXD Architectural Photography (40 hrs)

Total Hours - 280-300

Assessment Methods

Students will be assessed using the following methods:

• project based assessment
• completion of allocated assignments
• presentation of design projects.

Materials

Participants of this course are required to purchase specific texts and materials. Contact the department for more information.

Qualification

Certificate IV in Residential Drafting As part of the Australian Qualifications Framework this program is nationally recognised.  On successful completion students will be awarded the Certificate IV in Residential Drafting.

Diploma of Building Design and Technology As part of the Australian Qualifications Framework this program is nationally recognised.  On successful completion students will be awarded the Diploma of Building Design and Technology.

Advanced Diploma of Building Design and Project Administration As part of the Australian Qualifications Framework this program is nationally recognised.  On successful completion students will be awarded the Advanced Diploma of Building Design and Project Administration.

Links

The Victorian Government makes a significant contribution to these programs.