There is a qualifying examination for interior design just as there is for law, accounting, architecture and many of the health professions. The interior design exam provides a method for identifying interior designers who have met the minimum standards for professional practice, and it is a formal way of making certain an individual is qualified in terms of particular knowledge or skills. The exam protects the public by assuring competent professionals.

The National Council for Interior Design Qualification is the organization responsible for certifying individuals as competent in interior design through an examination administered throughout the United States and Canada twice annually . NCIDQ conducts regularly scheduled research and uses the information gathered to update the examination.

Successful completion of the NCIDQ Examination is required for professional registration in those states and provinces that have enacted licensing or certification statutes to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.

To be eligible to take the NCIDQ Examination, you must have interior design education and actual full-time interior design experience as required by NCIDQ or as required by a United States or Canadian regulatory board.

Learn more about NCIDQ eligibility requirements at www.ncidq.org/exam/examreq.htm

.