his job satisfactorily for 1 year, he may be promoted to the next grade: If he is not, he receives an ingrade salary increase, amounting to $95 in grades 3 and 4 and $150 in grades 5 through 9. After each additional year of satisfactory performance in the same grade, he receives another ingrade increase until the maximum for the grade is reached-after which he may receive further "longevity" increases at longer intervals. Where To Go for More Information General information on technician careers may be obtained from: Engineers' Council for Professional Development, Technical Institute Division, American Society for University of Illinois, Urbana, Ill. The President's Committee on Scientists and Engi neers, Washington 25, D.C. National Council of Technical Schools, 1507 M St. NW., Washington 5, D.C. Information on training opportunities may also be obtained from the Engineers Council for Professional Development, the nationally recognized accrediting agency for technical institute programs; the National Council of Technical Schools; and the sources listed above: Nature of Work U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Requests for information on training for technical occupations may be directed to either or both of these divisions of the Office of Education. State departments of education at each State capital also have information about approved technical institutes, junior colleges, and other educational institutions offering post-high-school training for specific technical occupations. Other sources include: The American Association of Junior Colleges, 1420 New York Ave., Washington 5, D.C. To obtain information regarding apprenticeship opportunities in technician occupations, inquiries should be addressed to the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington 25, D.C., or to one of the regional offices of the Bureau or to the State apprenticeship agencies. Information on medical laboratory technicians medical X-ray technicians, and dental hygienists is presented elsewhere in the Handbook. (Refer to index for page number.) The U.S. Civil Service Commission, Washing ton 25, D.C., will furnish information on positions available in Federal Government agencies. Draftsmen In making an airplane, a house, a ship, or almost any other product, manufacturing and construction companies need detailed plans giving dimensions and specifications for the entire product and each of its parts. The workers who draw these plans are draftsmen. They translate the ideas and calculations of engineers into complete and accurate working plans and detailed drawings which are used by the skilled craftsman in making the desired object. Draftsmen in high-grade positions, such as that of design draftsman or senior draftsman, generally work from rough sketches, specifications, or field notes furnished by an engineer, architect, or designer. Their job is to transform ideas into actual drawings generally called layouts. They must have enough background in engineering and science so that the crude sketches of the design desired by the engineer will be truly represented in their drawings. They may be required to make calculations concerning the strength, quality, and cost of materials; to use engineering handbooks and tables for computations; and to have still other skills, including, of course, facility with drafting instruments and devices. In addition draftsmen in high-level jobs must have enough shop experience so that they can, through their drawings and specifications, describe in detail materials and procedures for skilled craftsmen to use on a particular job. Some draftsmen in mechanical, electrical, aeronautical, structural, architectural, naval architectural, and topographical drafting. Where Employed About 125,000 draftsmen were employed in 1950, of whom 7 percent were women. Although no current statistics are available, there is evidence that the number of draftsmen employed is substantially greater today than in 1950. The manufacturing industries which employ the most draftsmen include electrical equipment, machinery, aircraft and parts, fabricated metal products and ordnance, chemicals and allied products, petroleum products and extraction, professional and scientific instruments, and primary metals. Substantial numbers are also employed in the telecommunications and broadcasting, transportation and other public utilities, and construction industries. Many draftsmen work for engineering and architectural consulting firms, and sizable numbers are employed by Federal, State, and local governments. Of those employed by the Federal Government by far the largest number work for the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Training and Other Qualifications A person can acquire the specialized training needed to become a draftsman from a number of sources, including technical institutes, junior colleges, extension divisions of universities, colleges offering special 2-year programs, technical high schools, correspondence schools, and trade schools. It is also possible to become a draftsman by serving a 3- or 4-year apprenticeship or by some other type of on-the-job training combined with part-time schooling. In any case, the training should include mathematics and physical sciences, as well as mechanical drawing. Since many of the higher level drafting jobs require a knowledge of methods of manufacturing or construction, instruction in shop practices and even the actual acquisition of some shop skill are advantageous to the person interested in a drafting career. Many of the types of technical schools listed above offer training in various areas of technology which includes shop practice, and courses in engineering and science as well as instruction in drafting. Draftsmen should have aptitude for detail and for visualizing objects of two or three dimensions. Artistic ability is not generally required but may be very helpful in some specialized fields. Good eyesight is important, since drafting involves close work. Employment Outlook Employment opportunities for well-trained draftsmen are expected to be favorable during the early 1960's, and continued expansion of employment is anticipated over the long run. As the engineering and scientific occupations grow, more draftsmen will be required as supporting personnel. Moreover, the industries employing most draftsmen are expected to expand further. With the increasing complexity of industrial operations, design problems will become more and more involved, adding to the need for well-trained draftsmen. In addition to draftsmen needed to fill new positions, many will be required each year to replace those who retire, die, or move into other fields. Losses to the occupation from retirement and deaths were estimated to be about 1,600 during 1958 and will rise slowly in the future. This analysis, like that for most technician jobs, assumes a continued high level of employment and business activity in the country as a whole. It also assumes that Government spending for defense a major factor affecting demand for draftsmen-will remain high. A substantial cut in defense spending or a sharp drop in business activity in the metalworking or construction industries would reduce the demand for draftsmen. On the other hand, a substantial increase in defense expenditures or an acceleration in highway or other public works programs would intensify the demand for draftsmen. Earnings Average straight-time weekly earnings of draftsmen surveyed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics between August 1957 and June 1958 were as follows: Accountants compile and analyze business records and prepare financial reports, such as profit and loss statements, balance sheets, cost studies, and tax reports. The major fields of employment are public, private, and government accounting. Public accountants provide their services on a fee basis to various business enterprises and the general public. Private accountants, often referred to as industrial or management accountants, handle the financial records of a single business firm and work on a salary basis. Government accountants work on the financial records of government agencies or of private business organizations and individuals whose dealings are subject to government regulation. Accountants in any field of employment may specialize in such areas as auditing, tax work, cost accounting, budgeting and control, or systems and procedures. Public accountants, however, are most likely to specialize in auditing or tax accounting; private accountants, in management or cost accounting. Many accountants in the Federal Government are employed as Internal Revenue agents, investigators, and bank examiners, as well as in regular accounting positions. Where Employed The majority of accountants are employed by private industry, with the greatest number in manufacturing establishments. Perhaps a third of all accountants, including a substantial major ity of the CPA's, are in public accounting. Federal, State and local governments employ about one-tenth of the total. Private accountants are found wherever large business or industrial establishments are located. Public accountants are mainly concentrated in major metropolitan centers, but the proportion in smaller communities is rising because growing numbers are going into business for themselves, and major national firms are continuing to open additional branch offices. Training and Other Qualifications Training in accounting is offered in a wide variety of institutions, including 4-year colleges and universities, junior colleges, accounting and private business schools, and correspondence schools. However, a bachelor's degree with a major in accounting or a closely related field is usually required for the better positions, particularly in public accounting. Four years of college education with 24 semester hours in accounting, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, is required for junior professional positions in the Federal Government. Practical experience is of great value in qualifying for professional accounting work. In 1958, more than 30 colleges offered internship programs in cooperation with public accounting firms, and occasionally with large corporations, which enabled students to obtain several months of experience, thus improving their job opportunities. In all States, only those persons with CPA certificates issued by the State boards may call themselves "certified public accountants." In over half the States, the title "public accountant" is restricted to those who are licensed or registered. Information on registration and certification should be obtained directly from the State board of accountancy in the State where the student plans to practice. Nearly all States require at least 2 years of public accounting experience or the equivalent before the CPA certificate is issued. Although most States have no specific educational requirement, the trend is toward requiring a 4-year college degree with a major in accounting. New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Connecticut require CPA candidates to be college graduates and similar requirements are pending in several other States. All States use the CPA examination provided by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. In recent years, a large majority of the successful CPA candidates have been college graduates. Inexperienced accountants usually begin with fairly routine work. Junior public accountants may be assigned to counting cash, verifying additions, or performing other detailed work. They usually advance to semisenior positions in 2 or 3 years and to senior positions within another 2 or 3 years. Those able to deal with top executives in industry may eventually become supervisors, managers, or partners in larger firms. Many become independent practitioners. Beginners in private accounting may start as ledger or cost clerks, timekeepers, junior internal auditors, or, occasionally, as trainees for technical and executive positions. They may rise to chief plant accountant, chief cost accountant, senior internal auditor, or manager of internal auditing, depending on their specialty, and some become controllers, treasurers, and even corporation presidents. In the Federal Government, new accountants are hired as trainees and are usually promoted in a year or less. Although advancement may be rapid for able accountants, particularly in public accounting, those with inadequate training are likely to be assigned to routine jobs with little opportunity for promotion. Employment Outlook The demand for accountants is expected to continue to be strong during the early 1960's. As many as 10,000 accountants may be needed annually during this period to replace those who retire, die, or transfer to other occupations, and more than half that number will be needed each year to fill new positions, unless there should be a major drop in the general level of business activity. Demand for college-trained accountants will rise faster than for less broadly trained personnel, because of the increasing complexity of the accounting profession and because more States are requiring CPA candidates to be college gradu ates. If the proportion of college graduates majoring in accounting remains the same as in recent years, the numbers receiving degrees in this subject field will rise gradually-from about 10,000 in 1957 to more than 15,000 by the midsixties. These graduates are likely to have very good employment opportunities, at least through the early 1960's, and graduates of private business and accounting schools should also have good job prospects during this period. The greatest number of jobs will continue to be in major industrial centers, but there will be many openings in small industrial communities. Over the long run, accounting employment is expected to expand because of several factors: The greater use of accounting information in business management; complex tax systems; the growth in size and number of publicly held business corporations that must provide financial reports to stockholders; and the increasing use of accounting services by small business organizations. Highly trained accountants will be in even greater demand as consultants on management problems, such as planning of new recordkeeping systems and procedures for use with electronic data-processing equipment. Increasing numbers of women will be engaged in professional accounting, though most public accounting firms still hesitate to employ them— because of tradition, objections from clients, or because women are considered unsuited for travel or factory assignments. However, those women who rank high among graduates with accounting majors and who secure the CPA certificate will, in time, undoubtedly break down many of these barriers. Earnings and Working Conditions Starting salaries for inexperienced professional personnel in public accounting firms in the New York metropolitan area averaged about $60 week in small firms and $70 to $80 in mediumsize firms late in 1958, according to local placement officials. In general, salaries were higher in large than in small firms throughout the country. Major CPA firms serving large business corporations were offering from $375 to $450 a month to college graduates with superior academic records and attractive personalities. Salaries of senior personnel with 5 years' experience were |