An Electrical Engineering Draftsperson (ANZSCO Code: 312311) performs specialized drafting, design-support, and technical documentation under the direction of professional engineers. This occupation is typically evaluated under the Engineering Associate occupational category for Migration Skills Assessment by Engineers Australia.
1. Nominated Occupation Details
- Nominated Occupation: Electrical Engineering Draftsperson
- ANZSCO Code: 312311 (ANZSCO v1.3)
- Assessing Authority: Engineers Australia
- Typical Occupational Category: Engineering Associate (evaluated separately per individual assessment)
2. Key Technical Evidence for Electrical Draftspersons
Unlike Professional Engineer reports which focus on high-level theoretical design, an Electrical Draftsperson CDR should highlight technical drafting expertise, software proficiency, and engineering drawing compliance:
- Electrical Schematics & Single-Line Diagrams (SLD): Preparing detailed electrical schematics, single-line diagrams, and control circuit drawings using AutoCAD Electrical, MicroStation, or Revit BIM.
- Wiring Diagrams & Cable Schedules: Developing point-to-point wiring diagrams, cable routing plans, tray layouts, and comprehensive cable schedules.
- Switchboard & Substation Drafting: Drafting General Arrangement (GA) drawings for low-voltage switchboards, motor control centers (MCC), and substation layout plans.
- Standards Compliance & Drawing Control: Use and explain the engineering drawing standards genuinely applicable to your project. Depending on the project and jurisdiction, these may include AS/NZS (e.g. AS/NZS 3000, AS 1100), IEC, ISO, or other relevant standards. Manage drawing revisions and maintain drafting registers.
Choosing projects for an Electrical Draftsperson CDR
A strong draftsperson report shows that you understand the electrical design you were documenting. Choose work where you checked or corrected something, coordinated with other disciplines, or made decisions about how a system would be built and wired.
- A switchboard or MCC package: GA drawings, schematics and wiring diagrams where you arranged equipment, labelled circuits and produced the cable schedule.
- A building or plant electrical layout: lighting and power layouts, cable tray routing and coordination with mechanical and structural drawings.
- An as-built or upgrade job: surveying an existing installation, updating single-line diagrams and managing revisions.
Sample outline: an Electrical Draftsperson Career Episode
This shows the shape of a good episode. It is not text to copy.
- CE 1.1: “From August 2020 to June 2021 I worked as an Electrical Draftsperson at [company], [city], on the electrical drawings for a water treatment plant extension.”
- CE 1.2: the project scope, the design engineer you worked with, and your place in the team.
- CE 1.3: “I drew the 415 V MCC single-line diagram from the engineer’s load list…”, “I routed the cable trays and found a clash with a process pipe, so I…”, “I produced the cable schedule and checked each run length against the layout…”, “I controlled revisions and issued drawings for construction…”.
- CE 1.4: what was built, and what you learned.
Summary Statement for an Engineering Associate
Electrical draftspersons are usually assessed against the Engineering Associate competency standard, so the Summary Statement maps your paragraphs to the Engineering Associate elements (EA1.1 to EA3.6). Number every paragraph and check every reference before you submit. See our Summary Statement guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I include design calculations I checked but did not originate?
Yes, if you say so clearly. Describe what you checked and what you changed as a result, and don’t claim the original design as yours.
Should I apply as an Electrical Engineer instead?
Only if your degree and experience fit that level. Compare with our Electrical Engineer CDR guide.
3. Next Steps & Related Resources
For more information on assessment procedures and related disciplines, explore our Skills Assessment Guide, Electrical Engineer Guide, and Main CDR Guide.
For candidates focusing on electrical equipment testing, commissioning support, and instrumentation loop checks rather than CAD schematics, see our Electrical Engineering Technician (ANZSCO 312312) CDR Guide.
For candidates focusing on electronic schematics, control systems, and data infrastructure drawings, consult our Electronic Engineering Draftsperson (ANZSCO 312411) Guide.
For specialized engineering technician assessment requirements, review our Building and Engineering Technicians nec (ANZSCO 312999) Guide.