Why should interior designers be registered or licensed?

Examination: The NCIDQ Examination - Examination is an elemental component of determining whether or not an individual has met the minimum competency standards to practice a profession.

• All states and jurisdictions with licensing or registration laws in place use examination as a qualifying measure for the licensure or registration or professions.

• In order to inform consumers and protect the health, safety and welfare of the public, it is essential that states and jurisdictions recognize an examination that test the necessary minimum competency for the practice of interior design.

The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) is the nationally recognized interior design testing agency.

• The NCIDQ examination 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 examination is entirely directed at public health, safety and welfare.
  

• The NCIDQ is currently the only examination that tests minimum
  competency is the full body of interior design knowledge

The NCIDQ tests six performance areas:

• Project organization

• Programming (data gathering)

• Schematic Design (Concept elements)

• Design Development (Specific development of concept)

• Contract documents (Drawings and specifications)

• Contract administration (bids and oversight of construction)
  

In order to be eligible for the examination, an applicant must first complete a combination of education plus experience of not less than six years, of which two years must be formal interior design education. Passage of the NCIDQ examination shows that an individual has met the minimum standards of competency to practice interior design.

For more information, contact www.ncidq.org.