Casey’s Certificate IV: a tradies’ pathway toward building design

Casey had already spent years in the building industry before he ever enrolled with BFDA, just not in the part of it he wanted to be in. Working in a business that supplies and installs doors and windows for residential homes, he spent his days handling small scale project management and specification work. He saw plans constantly and understood the industry. Ultimately what Casey desired was the skills to support him into a career in building design.

“My background is in small scale project management and specification within the door and window industry. Doing this course has given me a real pathway toward working in a design studio alongside architects and designers.”

Casey started his career pathway into the building design industry with Built Form Design Academy’s CPP40121 Cert IV in Residential Drafting.

This is a familiar sentiment for a lot of people already working in trades or industry adjacent roles. You know the work, you understand plans and specifications, but there has never been a practical way to move from one side to the other.

For Casey, the Certificate IV in Residential Drafting was his way in. This qualification was a way to bridge the gap in his knowledgebase and move one step closer to where he wanted to be.

Study that had to work around a full time job and lifestyle

Casey, based in Queensland was never in a position to stop working to study. Going back to in person full time education, whether at TAFE or university, simply wasn’t realistic alongside a job and a full life outside of work.

“There was no way I could have done this course if it meant attending in person. Being able to work toward a proper qualification while still holding down my job made all the difference.”

Casey, his partner and their dog named Bean also like to stay busy with activities, and travel when they can, so studying around the weekend was not a priority.

Rather than trying to squeeze study into whatever hours were left over during the week, Casey decided to make a significant change and built his week around work, study and lifestyle.

“I arranged with my workplace to drop to four days a week so I could set aside one full day for study each week. This structure was what got me through.”

One day per week Casey treated as his study day. Alarm on, coffee made, sit down and get through as much as possible, this was his routine. That single change in his week allowed him to work toward completing the qualification without giving up his job or the rest of his life.

The Pathway

For Casey, finishing the course was never really the end point. It was a step toward something bigger, and toward decisions he still had to make about where to go next.

“Finishing the Certificate IV has opened up a real avenue for me to get a foot in the door and work alongside other draftspeople.”

“I’m already seriously considering going on to complete the Diploma. This course made that feel like a realistic next step rather than a distant idea.”

That’s a big part of what studying with BFDA gives people in Casey’s position. Graduates come away with a sense of direction, whether that’s working alongside other draftspeople part time, understanding what further study or licensing looks like in their state, or simply having the confidence to start having those conversations. It’s a real foothold, to a fulfilling career.

Where to from here

Plenty of people working in or around the building industry hit a point where there’s nowhere left to grow in their current role. Casey hasn’t made the move into design work yet, but finishing his Certificate IV has given him a genuine starting point to build toward it, without putting his job or his life on hold to get there.

If you’re weighing up whether now is the right time to make a move like Casey did, get in touch with our team. We would love to help you figure out what your own path could look like.

“PS, Our dog’s name is Bean, and we take her everywhere we can when we travel!”