Interior designers can earn certification or accreditation to demonstrate their expertise. The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) and the Interior Design Society are the two main accreditation bodies in the United States (IDS). Passing a certification test with questions about interior design is required to obtain an interior design accreditation. Both designers and consumers benefit from interior design accreditation. Consumers appreciate the peace of mind that comes with knowing their interior designer is accredited, and designers benefit financially from having their accreditation.
In the United States, the NCIDQ exam is the only nationally recognized interior design accreditation. To take the NCIDQ exam, candidates must have completed six years of education and experience. Interior designers must have two years of formal interior design education in addition to their other education and work experience. Building Systems, Codes, Construction Standards, Professional Practice, Project Coordination, Contract Administration, and Design Application are among the seven content areas covered by the NCIDQ.
Professional interior design accreditation from the NCIDQ is required in 26 U.S. states, and it is also required in some Canadian provinces. Another advantage of having this interior design certification is that after passing the exam, certified designers can apply for membership in the American Society of Interior Designers. When homeowners, business owners, and the general public hire someone with the NCIDQ accreditation, they are more likely to get an experienced, well-trained designer.
The IDS provides the Council for Qualification of Residential Interior Designers (CQRID) exam to residential interior designers. Applicants with a total of six years of experience can take the CQRID test offered by the IDS. IDS allows applicants to combine their educational degree and work experience in a variety of ways as long as the total experience exceeds six years. If you have eight years of full-time work experience, you can apply even if you only have a high school diploma.
Only four exam dates are offered each year, and complete application packages must be submitted to the Interior Design Society at least 45 days prior to testing. Consumer confidence in the designer in the residential field is a benefit of interior design accreditation with the CQRID. The CQRID exam is divided into two sections. Part 1 is a 180-question multiple-choice test, and Part 2 is a set of design problems. Combining the CQRID and NCIDQ accreditations into one is a possibility, and it can help designers stand out from the crowd.