Carolina Interior Design Legislation

What sets Interior Designers apart?

Education

Eligibility requirements to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualifications (NCIDQ) examination states applicants must have at least 6 years of combined education and experience in Interior Design. There are five suggested eligibility routes that you can use to determine when you are eligible to apply to take the exam. The Council for Interior Design Accreditation is an organization that accredits college and university Interior Design programs of study assessing the teaching of professional values, design fundamentals, interior design practice, communications, building systems and interior materials, regulation and codes, business and marketing and professional practice. Interior Design programs that are accredited by the Council provide the optimal educational experience for students.

Experience

Although NCIDQ does not require attending a college or university that is accredited by the Council, it requires the Interior Design Experience Program (IDEP) to directly assess inadequacies in non-accredited schools. Click here for a link to the NCIDQ Exam and Eligibility Requirements. http://www.ncidq.org/pdf/eligibility_chart.pdf

When IDEP requirements are fulfilled Interior Design Graduates may apply to sit for the NCIDQ examination.

Examination

The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) is the nationally recognized interior design testing agency. It is the only national Interior Design exam developed and administered in the United States by an agency that is independent from other Interior Design organizations. The NCIDQ is also the only examination that tests minimum competency in the full world of Interior Design practice specifically testing competency for federally regulated codes, ethical design practice, contract administration, construction documents, programming, budget planning, specifications and take-off calculations, and functional space planning.

Application

Upon completing and passing the NCIDQ exam an Interior Designer is a Certificate holder and may register with the state in order to become licensed to practice Interior Design. Registration would be upheld by the state regulating board on a bi-annual basis requiring a total of 1.0 Continuing Education Units or CEU’s (equivalent to 10 hours) of additional education on an bi-annual basis.

Licensed Interior Designers are professionals’ set apart by education, examination, experience and application protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public through the design of code compliant, functional and aesthetically pleasing interior environments.

To find out more information about taking the exam please visit www.ncidq.org.