Collegiate degree programs specific to structural steel detailing are rare to nonexistent in the U.S., but more general degree and certification programs may be found with curricula pertaining to design, manual or computer-aided drafting in general, or specific computer-aided drafting software.
Practitioners of this occupation in the U.S. may range from degreed, and possibly licensed, civil/structural engineers to those with little or no formal academic training who nevertheless possess extensive industry experience.
In Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada there are College courses specifically for Steel Detailing.
Vancouver Community College Downtown Campus has been offering a Steel Detailing Certificate for many years.
Structural steel detailing requires skills in drafting, mathematics (including geometry and trigonometry), logic, reasoning, spatial visualization, and communication.
A basic knowledge of general engineering principles and the methods of structural and miscellaneous steel fabrication, however acquired, is essential to the practice of this discipline.
A computer-aided detailer also requires skills in using computers and an understanding of the specific CAD software used.
If the required information is not needed immediately, then the detailer may opt to list the questions on the drawings.
Comments arising from approval and corrections made during checking must be resolved, and the original drawing must be updated accordingly (or "scrubbed").