Architectural Designer Certificate - Career Certificate

Design your future

Go further in your architecture career with an Architectural Designer Certificate. Get real-world experience in class with instructors who work in the Lake County area.

Prepare to work as a contractor or for firms where you assist on creating digital plans, visit construction sites and more. Course work such as labs, lectures and reading assignments cover:

using AutoCAD and Revit to complete architectural drawing sets
choosing appropriate drawing tools for each design to increase productivity
measuring and reading dimensions using scales

What can you do with an Architectural Designer Certificate?

With this certificate you get started or get ahead in architectural fields that use Revit software in their building and infrastructure design process. If you’re just starting out, begin in an entry-level role working in the design or production departments of an architecture firm.

After they receive their certificate, some students take steps toward earning an architecture license.

Depending on your current education and experience your role could be:

Architectural Technician
Architectural Drafter
CAD Technician

Highlights

100% Online

Can be completed 100% online.
Career Certificate

Earn a career certificate in 1 year or less to refine your skills into an in-demand career.
Program Length: 4 Months

Full-time students finish in 4 months.

Career Outlook

Plan and design structures, such as private residences, office buildings, theaters, factories, and other structural property.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $55,915
  
  Median
  
  $83,948
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $149,060
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $26.88
  
  Median
  
  $40.35
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $71.66
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  Associate Degree
  
  4.76%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  47.62%
  
  Master's Degree
  
  47.62%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Prepare detailed drawings of architectural and structural features of buildings or drawings and topographical relief maps used in civil engineering projects, such as highways, bridges, and public works. Use knowledge of building materials, engineering practices, and mathematics to complete drawings.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $46,051
  
  Median
  
  $63,465
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $100,748
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $22.13
  
  Median
  
  $30.51
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $48.43
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  0.41%
  
  Certificate
  
  0.91%
  
  Some college
  
  0.41%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  17.85%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  54.59%
  
  Master's Degree
  
  25.84%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $107,698
  
  Median
  
  $161,536
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $222,108
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $51.77
  
  Median
  
  $77.66
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $106.78
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  Associate Degree
  
  1.15%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  46.67%
  
  Master's Degree
  
  51.04%
  
  Doctorate
  
  1.15%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Teach courses in architecture and architectural design, such as architectural environmental design, interior architecture/design, and landscape architecture. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $44,643
  
  Median
  
  $80,088
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $139,804
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $21.45
  
  Median
  
  $38.50
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $67.21
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  Associate Degree
  
  9.32%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  15.55%
  
  Master's Degree
  
  30.49%
  
  Doctorate
  
  44.63%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Plan and design land areas for projects such as parks and other recreational facilities, airports, highways, hospitals, schools, land subdivisions, and commercial, industrial, and residential sites.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $29,355
  
  Median
  
  $54,527
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $122,041
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $14.11
  
  Median
  
  $26.21
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $58.67
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  71.43%
  
  Master's Degree
  
  28.57%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $64,478
  
  Median
  
  $102,541
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $142,796
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $31.00
  
  Median
  
  $49.29
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $68.65
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  40%
  
  Master's Degree
  
  60%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).

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Recommended Pathway

This pathway serves as a guide for students to complete the degree or certificate assuming full-time enrollment (registered in 12 or more credit hours per semester) with Semester 1 typically representing a Fall term. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their College and Career Navigator (CCN) to identify coursework that will meet degree requirements based on individual academic goals. For a more inclusive list of course options, see the college catalog.

View program in catalog

*Cost is estimated based on recommended pathway credit hours. This includes in-district tuition and other fees, such as books and materials before financial aid is applied, as well as grants, loans or scholarships. There are many opportunities for financial assistance at CLC. Learn more about Cost of Attendance.

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Credit for prior learning available
Dual credit options available
Global citizenship
Online/Virtual options available

Course Code	Course Title	Credits
CAD 110	CAD 110 CAD/CAM Concepts Class Description This course will introduce the student to how computers are used in Computer Aided Design. The course will cover basic functions of Windows operating system, as well as computer hardware and software and how the operating system relates to the use of both. Extensive use of the internet will be used to download software and information. CAD software will be introduced including AutoCAD (for 2D drawings), Inventor (for 3D mechanical parts), and Revit (for 3D architectural models).	3
CAD 117	CAD 117 Introduction to AutoCAD Class Description The course is designed to introduce students to the use of AutoCAD for computer-aided design and drafting. 2D drawing, modifying and dimensioning is emphasized. NOTE: Completion of CAD 110 is recommended.	3
CAD 278	CAD 278 Revit II Class Description This course is designed as a continuation of CAD178, Introduction to Revit. It expands the topics started in CAD178. It also covers more advanced concepts such as Conceptual Massing, Family Creation, Site and Structural Tools, Design Options, Phasing and Rendering.	3

Course Highlights
Course Code	CAD 110
Course Title	CAD 110 CAD/CAM Concepts Class Description This course will introduce the student to how computers are used in Computer Aided Design. The course will cover basic functions of Windows operating system, as well as computer hardware and software and how the operating system relates to the use of both. Extensive use of the internet will be used to download software and information. CAD software will be introduced including AutoCAD (for 2D drawings), Inventor (for 3D mechanical parts), and Revit (for 3D architectural models).
Credits	3

Course Highlights
Course Code	CAD 117
Course Title	CAD 117 Introduction to AutoCAD Class Description The course is designed to introduce students to the use of AutoCAD for computer-aided design and drafting. 2D drawing, modifying and dimensioning is emphasized. NOTE: Completion of CAD 110 is recommended.
Credits	3

Course Highlights
Course Code	CAD 278
Course Title	CAD 278 Revit II Class Description This course is designed as a continuation of CAD178, Introduction to Revit. It expands the topics started in CAD178. It also covers more advanced concepts such as Conceptual Massing, Family Creation, Site and Structural Tools, Design Options, Phasing and Rendering.
Credits	3

Total Credit Hours

9

CAD-Drafting Technology at CLC

Get the bigger picture

An Architectural Designer Certificate is just one possible way to study CAD-Drafting Technology. Get the bigger picture—degrees, credentials and extra options.

View the CAD-Drafting Technology program overview

Frequently asked questions

The Certificate in Architectural Designer is 12 credit hours and takes an average of one semester to complete. Learn design using the latest CAD software under the supervision of an engineer or architect.
Your classes include:
- CAD/CAM Concepts
- Introduction to AutoCAD
- Introduction to Revit
- Revit II
Here are some great options:
- Complete your bachelor's degree in Lake County: Continue your education online or in person at the Grayslake Campus through the University Center of Lake County.
- Guaranteed transfer admission: Seamlessly transfer to 30+ 4-year partners and get admitted to your transfer school in your first semester at CLC.
- Explore the many other transfer options available.
- Virtual live: Learn remotely in real time. Take classes taught live via Zoom.
- Online: Have the flexibility to complete course work without scheduled meetings while staying actively engaged in a fully online environment.

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Architectural Designer

Design your future

What can you do with an Architectural Designer Certificate?

Highlights

100% Online

Career Certificate

Program Length: 4 Months

Career Outlook

Architects, Except Landscape and Naval

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Architectural and Civil Drafters

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Landscape Architects

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Urban and Regional Planners

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Need help?

Recommended Pathway

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Semester 1 9 Credits

Total Credit Hours

CAD-Drafting Technology at CLC

Get the bigger picture

Frequently asked questions

How long is the program?

What’s the best way to get my bachelor’s degree?

Can I take my classes online?

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Be debt-free at CLC

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