Your career as a professional interior designer will be built on three major steps. Following formal education, the next step is entry-level work experience, followed by a qualifying examination administered by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (www.ncidq.org).

An internship or other structured mentoring program can supplement your university degree. The quality of this practical experience complements your academic work and enhances your development as a professional.

A special program has been developed to help entry-level interior designers get a broad range of work experience in interior design. The Interior Design Experience Program provides guidance and a structure for getting the most out of initial work experiences. IDEP gives both the employer and the employee useful tools for keeping records of various professional assignments, and can be a very effective transition between formal education and professional practice.

Learn more about the work experience requirements for the NCIDQ qualifying examination by visiting www.ncidq.org/exam/examreq.htm.