For More Information
|
|
Download a visual summary of NCIDQ’s eligibility routes! |
|
|
Download a visual summary of NCIDQ's Qualified Work Experience information! |
NCIDQ maintains minimum education and work experience requirements for eligibility to take the NCIDQ Examination. Our research shows that at least six years of combined college-level interior design education and interior design work experience are essential preparation for both the exam and professional practice.
Education: Because formal interior design education builds an essential foundation for successful practice, most or all of your education must be completed before you accrue qualified interior design work experience. All coursework used to satisfy the eligibility requirements must be taken for college credit; continuing education, audit and non-credit courses will not be accepted. NCIDQ evaluates education based on a review of college or university transcripts and, when necessary, copies of course descriptions from the college or university catalog in force at the beginning of coursework.
Work Experience: All work experience used to satisfy the eligibility requirements must be interior design-related. Work experience may be full-time or part-time. NCIDQ recommends working under the direct supervision of an NCIDQ Certificate holder, a registered interior designer or an architect who offers interior design services to ensure that 100% of your work experience counts. NCIDQ does not accept teaching as interior design work experience.
Eligibility Routes: Education and Experience Combinations
The amount of combined education and work experience required depends on certain characteristics of each. NCIDQ has developed six eligibility routes for determining when you are eligible to apply to take the exam. Please note that NCIDQ does not grant exceptions to the eligibility criteria and does not review portfolios, client lists, endorsements or any other material submitted in lieu of college transcripts or work history.
Click here to see the eligibility requirements.
CIDA Degree (Route 1)
- Education: A bachelor’s or master’s degree from a CIDA-accredited interior design program. To qualify, the degree program must have been CIDA-accredited at the date of graduation or must have become CIDA-accredited within two years of graduation. A list of accredited programs is available from CIDA.
- Experience: 3,520 hours of qualified interior design work experience. This can be completed in approximately two years if you work full-time. Up to half of the required hours (1,760 hours) may be earned while you are still in school. You must have completed at least 96 semester [144 quarter credits] of education before you can begin to count work experience toward this requirement. In addition, if you receive academic credit for work experience, you cannot count that work experience toward this requirement. In all cases, the final 1,760 hours of qualified work experience must be earned after the education program is completed.
Interior Design Degree – Non-CIDA (Route 2)
- Education: A bachelor’s degree (minimum) in an interior design program NOT accredited by CIDA that includes no less than 120 semester or 180 quarter credits, of which no less than 60 semester [90 quarter credits] are interior design coursework.
- Experience: 3,520 hours of qualified interior design work experience. This can be completed in approximately two years if you work full-time. Up to half of the required hours (1,760 hours) may be earned while you are still in school. You must have completed at least 96 semester [144 quarter credits] of education before you can begin to count work experience toward this requirement. In addition, if you receive academic credit for work experience, you cannot count that work experience toward this requirement. In all cases, the final 1,760 hours of qualified work experience must be earned after the education program is completed.
Other Degree + Interior Design Degree (Route 3)
- Education: A bachelor’s degree (minimum) in any other major AND no less than 60 semester or 90 quarter credits of interior design coursework that culminates in a certificate, degree or diploma. This route is primarily intended for career changers with a bachelor’s degree in another field (English, nursing, psychology, etc.) who have returned to school for an interior design degree.
- Experience: 3,520 hours of qualified interior design work experience. This can be completed in approximately two years if you work full-time. Up to half of the required hours (1,760 hours) may be earned while you are still in school. You must have completed at least 30 semester [45 quarter credits] of interior design education before you can begin to count work experience toward this requirement. In addition, if you receive academic credit for work experience, you cannot count that work experience toward this requirement. In all cases, the final 1,760 hours of qualified work experience must be earned after the education program is completed.
Associate’s Degree (60 Hours) in Interior Design (Route 4)
- Education: No less than 60 semester [90 quarter credits] of interior design coursework that culminates in a certificate, degree or diploma.
- Experience: 5,280 hours of qualified interior design work experience. This can be completed in approximately three years if you work full-time. All work experience must be earned after the education program is completed.
Associate’s Degree (40 Hours) in Interior Design (Route 5)
- Education: No less than 40 semester [60 quarter credits] of interior design coursework that culminates in a certificate, degree or diploma.
- Experience: 7,040 hours of qualified interior design work experience. This can be completed in approximately four years if you work full-time. All work experience must be earned after the education program is completed.
NAAB or CACB Degree
- Education: A bachelor’s or master’s degree from an NAAB- or CACB-accredited architecture program.
Experience: 5,280 hours of qualified interior design work experience. All work experience must be earned after the education program is completed.
Qualified Work Experience
If you began accruing interior design work experience for the first time after January 1, 2008, you must earn qualified work experience in order to be eligible to take the exam. When your work experience counts as qualified depends on which route you take for entry into the exam.
When your direct supervisor is an NCIDQ Certificate holder, a licensed/registered interior designer or an architect who offers interior design services, your qualified hours are counted at 100%. When you work in other supervisory relationships, your hours accrue at lower values. How much qualified work experience is needed depends on a number of factors, including your education and what type of qualified work experience you received.
If you began accumulating interior design work experience on or before December 31, 2007, you did not have to work under an NCIDQ Certificate holder, licensed/registered interior designer or an architect in order to accrue 100% value for your work hours.