From classroom to career: How College of Lake County CAD-Drafting students are building the future
What if your next career lets you design systems to help power plants be more efficient? Improve environmental sustainability? Or solve complex engineering challenges? All without ever stepping onto a construction site?
That's exactly what happened for College of Lake County graduate Travis Taylor.
After a workplace injury ended his carpentry career, Taylor looked for a new way to use his knowledge of construction. He found it through the Computer Aided Design (CAD) Drafting Technology program at College of Lake County. And through an apprenticeship with UCC Environmental, a Waukegan-based employer.
Today, Taylor works as an apprentice designer and drafter. He helps create detailed digital models and drawings used on large-scale environmental projects.
"Long story short, I was a carpenter. I had an accident, got hurt. So I wanted to be able to use the skills that I had on my next step of my career," Taylor said. "I decided to go back to school. If I was building things (before), now I can make the blueprints for people to build them."
What is CAD-Drafting Technology?
In CAD drafting, you use software to create drawings, blueprints and models. It helps you design products, buildings, infrastructure and industrial systems.
Modern CAD professionals don't simply draw plans. They create intelligent 3D models and test designs digitally. They generate construction documents and lists of materials. They collaborate with engineers, architects and manufacturers to bring ideas to life.
Taylor discovered that today's CAD careers are far more advanced than traditional drafting.
"Drafting isn't like it used to be back in the day, where it's pen and paper drawing blueprints," he said. "Nowadays you actually work backwards. You essentially 3D-design what you're trying to build. Then the program you're using can actually take it to 2D."
He compares the work to a combination of graphic design, engineering and 3D modeling.
"I do really enjoy it. It's basically like graphic design-slash-3D modeling, but you need to know the drafting portion of it to do the other half."
Find your CAD drafting program
Why CAD Drafting is a good career path
Students considering CAD-Drafting Technology have many career options. You can work in industries like manufacturing, engineering, construction, utilities and environmental services.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), drafters earned a median annual wage of $72,590 in 2025. Employers expected to hire about 16,200 drafters each year through 2034. Steady demand exists for this role. Employers need professionals who can translate concepts into technical drawings and digital models.
The most common way to get into the profession is to earn an associate degree or certificate from community college, reports BLS. This includes College of Lake County (CLC) in Grayslake, Illinois.
For CLC students, CAD skills can open doors to careers in:
- Mechanical design and manufacturing
- Civil engineering and infrastructure projects
- Architectural drafting
- Structural design
- Environmental and energy industries
- Product development and industrial engineering
"The job market is definitely positive," Taylor said. "There's always going to be work out there."
Find your CAD drafting program
Learning through industry partnerships: CLC and UCC Environmental
One reason CLC students are career-ready: The college has strong relationships with local employers.
Consider UCC Environmental, headquartered in Waukegan. It is a global leader in air pollution control, wastewater treatment and material handling solutions. The company helps utilities, power plants and industrial facilities meet environmental regulations. And operate more efficiently.
Juan Martinez is supervisor for UCC Environmental’s Piping and Pipe Support Engineering Department. He also graduated from CLC's CAD-Drafting Technology program. He sees firsthand how CAD professionals contribute to environmental solutions.
"We do the installation documentation of the designs that we create. We do designing using 3D software, laser scanning data, and obviously site limitations. We provide the material list for the installation, and then make sure the system works."
The work directly supports environmental stewardship.
"Environmentally, we are treating water, and we're treating the air that is going back out. We're managing the solids as well," Martinez said. "We do that for the environment."
Earn while you learn through a CAD apprenticeship
An exciting opportunity available to students is the CAD Drafting apprenticeship. This is possible through a partnership between CLC, employers and the U.S. Department of Labor.
The apprenticeship allowed Taylor to gain real-world experience while completing his degree.
"I was working with UCC for about six months while going to school," Taylor said. "They only required me to be here three days a week, eight-hour shifts. They pay you for 40 hours a week, and they pay for your schooling."
The arrangement gave him valuable industry experience before graduation. And it reduced the financial burden of going to college.
"They gave me the two days to get schooling done and do what I have to do," Taylor said. "School comes first, we're here afterward. They're very flexible in that aspect."
Martinez said the apprenticeship helps the student and the employer.
"The apprenticeship program is great because he was able to work. He was able to go to school. And he is able to get that full exposure of what is going to be after graduation," Martinez said. "We're forging the future workforce, which is great."
Why choose CLC's CAD-Drafting Technology Program?
The CAD programs at College of Lake County teach you job-ready skills. They help you enter the workforce fast. And they build skills for long-term careers.
You can earn certificates in specialized software and disciplines. Or pursue a comprehensive two-year Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree. You'll get trained to use industry-standard tools. These include AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Revit and other drafting applications.
CLC offers several pathways, including:
- CAD-Drafting Technology Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree
- AutoCAD Certificate
- SolidWorks Certificate
- Architectural Designer Certificate
- Civil Designer Certificate
- Mechanical Designer Certificate
You can complete many courses online. This offers flexibility for working adults who are changing or advancing their careers.
Martinez said the program gave him the foundation to succeed and grow throughout his career.
"You have the understanding to learn new programs. And to adapt yourself to different programs that you might not have seen in college."
He also points to the long-term growth opportunities available in the profession.
"You could be a CAD drafter today. You open your eyes tomorrow, and you're a CAD designer. And you're doing so many things, that it's not only the drafting side of it."
Build the future—starting today
CAD drafting offers a pathway into industries that shape the world around us. That's true if you're a recent high school graduate, changing careers or want to expand your skills.
Taylor says his decision to attend CLC was one of the best career moves he's made.
"I'm very glad I went through the program."
Turn ideas into reality: Explore College of Lake County's CAD-Drafting Technology programs. Launch your career through hands-on training, industry partnerships and apprenticeship opportunities.
Find your CAD drafting program
Artificial intelligence was used to organize and summarize this article. Guidance, tips and quotes from CLC experts, partners and students are expressly their own.
Watch the video