Maybe you've pondered whether you need to, if you haven't already, make it official—your interior design business, that is.
While there are no federal guidelines for getting an interior designer license, many states throughout the U.S. do offer certification or registration. The International Interior Design Association and the American Society of Interior Designers both advocate for legislation that designates qualified professionals to use the title “registered” or “certified” interior designer. Such legislation, called a title act, helps designers differentiate their skill sets and, in some states, allows them to sign and seal permitting approvals. (Neither organization, however, believes that any individual should be hindered from practicing or using the title “interior designer,” even if he or she doesn't qualify for the next-level designation.)
“Getting certified implies that you have the knowledge and experience to build a space that's code-compliant,” says Kate Velasquez, board member and vice president of advocacy at IIDA NY and design director at Empire Office furniture company.
In the U.S., only three states (Nevada, Florida, and Louisiana), the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have passed legislation that requires mandatory registration. Known as practice acts, this type of legislation differs from title acts in that it requires every interior designer working in code-based spaces to be licensed by the state. Be aware, too, that just because you are certified in your home state doesn't mean you can practice anywhere; you may need (or want) to be registered in multiple states if your business takes you around the country.
Because there are no federal standards, pursuing multiple licenses is not always as simple as it might sound, as Kent Brasloff, of Ask Kent and Co., a business consultancy for design professionals, recently found out. When one of his clients took on commercial projects in Florida, Brasloff knew she would need the mandatory licensure. Yet despite 20 years of professional experience, including working for an AD100 architect, the client met just one of the state's criteria for licensure. It didn't help that she'd never gotten certified in New York, her home state.
In addition to the state license, she would need to be registered in each Florida county that she'd be working in. After sorting through the red tape, Brasloff eventually got his client the licenses. “I treated it like a court case,” says the consultant. Putting together a dossier of her commercial and residential work, drawings, her college degree and curriculum, thousands of documented work hours, and all of the other required paperwork, he was able to prove her proficiency. “I'm pleased as punch, but also kind of shocked,” says Brasloff of the experience. “She really is qualified.”
The lesson of this cautionary tale? If you plan to work in multiple states, getting certified in each, wherever possible or necessary, “is an important part of the picture,” says IIDA's Velasquez.
Most states that offer licensure require a combination of education from an accredited school, work experience, and passing the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ). Velasquez suggests joining a study group at a local chapter of IIDA or the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) to prepare for the intensive test, which covers book knowledge as well as professional experience and typically costs $1,325. (Unlike Florida, some states detail certain exceptions and substitutions for designers who have been in business for decades.) Below, the requirements for five states—Texas, New York, Illinois, California, and Georgia—are outlined. To learn about requirements in other states, visit IIDA's advocacy page.
In Texas, becoming a registered interior designer is voluntary and allows for signing off on permitting in code-impacted environments. In addition to passing the NCIDQ exam, designers must complete 12 hours of continuing education per year in order to use the title “registered interior designer.” Like the other states below, Texas has a title act, meaning that the state does not regulate the practice of interior design, only the title of “registered interior designer.” Those who do not wish to register can still use the term “interior designer.” (Note, however, that in many states, other types of business licenses may be necessary if you are launching your own firm.) Non-registered designers, who can't sign off on permits, have to work with an architect (and pay fees, that will likely get passed on to their clients) to have the plans stamped and/or sealed, or approved. This goes for the other states that do not allow for permitting as well.
Like Texas, New York state offers voluntary registration for interior designers via professional title recognition. While registered interior designers are not granted any permitting privileges, only they can call themselves “certified interior designers.” Velasquez says that, particularly in New York City, licensure can give your a résumé a real boost, too. In order to receive the recognition, designers must pass the NCIDQ exam, be at least 21 years old, meet a combination of seven years of education and experience requirements (including a two- or four-year degree from an accredited school; there are some exceptions for those who applied for licensure prior to 1996), and “be of good moral character.” Responsibility for safety, accessibility, and building codes and historic preservation all fall under the purview of the state's interior design council.
Illinois's voluntary registration for interior designers allows qualified people to designate themselves as such, but does not allow designers to sign off on permitting for code-based spaces. This professional recognition also requires registrants to pass the NCIDQ exam and meet minimum qualifications for education and experience. (Licensed architects, however, may apply for the title without taking the national exam.) Illinois also allows for a straightforward “Endorsement of License” for interior designers with a license issued in another state with equivalent requirements.
California certification is administered by the California Council for Interior Design Certification, which allows for limited permitting abilities. To qualify for the title recognition of “certified interior designer,” professionals must have a combination of six to eight years of education and experience and pass the IDEX exam. They also must sign a code of ethics and conduct and complete 10 hours of continuing education every two years. (There is also a streamlined path for candidates who want to become certified in California and who have already passed a national design exam.) Certification here specifies “a person who prepares or submits nonstructural or non-seismic plans” and works on programming, planning, and designing interior spaces.
Like the states above, Georgia law calls for voluntary registration of interior designers. Unlike some, it allows registered interior designers to sign construction documents permitting nonstructural interior work. Designers practicing in Georgia must pass the NCIDQ exam and complete at least 12 hours of continuing education every two years. Applicants must also be at least 21 years old and have a four-year degree from an accredited school. (There are some grandfathered exceptions for those who have been in practice for several decades.) As a title act, Georgia legislation does not prohibit any individual from offering interior decoration services; however, only those who qualify may use the term, “registered interior designer.” For a certified or registered interior designer from other states or countries, a certificate of registration may be awarded based on equivalent credentials.
