Exam Eligibility RequirementsNCIDQ maintains minimum education and work experience eligibility requirements to take the NCIDQ Examination. NCIDQ's research shows that at least six years of combined college-level interior design education and interior design work experience are essential to prepare you for the exam and professional practice.
NCIDQ has five suggested eligibility routes that you can use to determine when you are eligible to apply to take the exam.
If you began accruing interior design work experience 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 percent. 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 percent value for your work hours. NCIDQ Eligibility Routes
Please note that NCIDQ does not grant exceptions to the eligibility criteria. NCIDQ does not review portfolios, client lists, endorsements or any other material submitted in lieu of college transcripts or work history. Route 1
A bachelor's degree (minimum) from an interior design program accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA, formerly known as FIDER). The degree program must include no less than 120 semester or 180 quarter credits, of which no less than 60 semester or 90 quarter credits are interior design coursework. To qualify, the degree program must have been CIDA-accredited at the date of graduation or must have become CIDA-accredited within the two-year period following the graduation date. A list of accredited programs is available from CIDA.
No less than 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 (no more than 1,760 hours) may be earned while you are still in school. You must have completed at least 96 semester or 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. Route 2
A bachelor's degree (minimum) in an interior design program NOT accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. The degree program must include no less than 120 semester or 180 quarter credits, of which no less than 60 semester or 90 quarter credits are interior design coursework. No less than 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 (no more than 1,760 hours) may be earned while you are still in school. You must have completed at least 96 semester or 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. Route 3
A bachelor's degree (minimum) in any other major in a program of no less than 120 semester or 180 quarter credits, AND no less than 60 semester or 90 quarter credits of interior design coursework that culminates in a degree. This route is primarily intended for career changers with a bachelor's degree in another field (architecture, English, nursing, psychology, etc.) who have returned to school for an interior design degree. No less than 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 (no more than 1,760 hours) may be earned while you are still in school. You must have completed at least 96 semester or 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. Route 4
No less than 60 semester or 90 quarter credits of interior design coursework that culminates in a degree or diploma. No less than 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. Route 5
No less than 40 semester or 60 quarters of interior design coursework that culminates in a certificate, degree or diploma. No less than 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. When to ApplyALL routes: You must complete all of your required interior design education and work experience before you can apply for the exam. Click here to learn how to apply to take the NCIDQ Examination.Jurisdictional RequirementsNCIDQ's exam eligibility requirements may differ from the minimum requirements for licensure/registration in your jurisdiction. Please review our list of regulatory agencies. If you intend to become registered or licensed in a regulated state or province, you must contact the appropriate agency before completing the NCIDQ application to verify state/provincial requirements for licensure. |
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© 2009 National Council for Interior Design Qualification, Inc. 1602 L Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036-5681
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