Anyone who’s taken an exam knows it often involves large quantities of coffee and late night study sessions. Preparing for a big test requires a great deal of effort, but the journey can be smooth sailing with the right navigation. Today there are more than 23,000 NCIDQ Certificate holders who have taken and passed the NCIDQ Examination. Over the years NCIDQ has witnessed and resolved all sorts of candidate issues, and we’re sharing with you some examples of actual problems that have caused potential exam candidates to miss an exam administration. Since we don’t want you to find yourself in the same boat, we’re providing suggested solutions as well, ensuring that you sail away with your Certificate. So what can possibly go wrong? Let us tell you…

You Don’t Qualify

NCIDQ has five distinct education and work experience routes that determine your exam eligibility. You must align with one of these routes in order to qualify to take the exam. At a minimum, NCIDQ requires no less than 40 semester or 60 quarter hours of interior design coursework that culminates in a certificate, degree or diploma, and 7,040 hours of qualified work experience. View the Exam Eligibility Routes here.

NCIDQ-Tip: Be legit before you submit.

Your Application Is Incomplete Or Denied

Too often a candidate waits until the deadline to submit an application and then finds out he or she has been denied because items are missing from the application. The consequence is that the candidate must wait until the following administration to qualify. The earlier you apply, the more time you have to account for possible inaccuracies or complications. Application complications are extremely common, and here are just a few:

• Missing supporting documents
• Incomplete transcripts
• Failed payment
• Missed deadline

For suggestions on how to avoid these and other common application problems, view our examination application process page here.

NCIDQ-Tip: Be thorough. Start early. Or tomorrow you’ll be sorry.

You Miss A Deadline

Perhaps the most common mishap is missing an application or registration deadline. NCIDQ must receive all materials and payment by a particular date in order to review and approve applications and registrations in a timely manner. Review NCIDQ’s Exam Dates & Deadlines schedule here to make sure you’re on course.

NCIDQ-Tip: Be on time, and you’ll be just fine.

You Think You Registered (But Actually Didn’t!)

Believe it or not, people have shown up to take the exam without having registered. It’s like showing up for a flight without having bought a ticket. It is a common misconception that if you apply and are approved, then you have completed all the necessary steps to take the exam. This is not the case.

It is much like the collegiate process, where you apply to a school and, once accepted, you must register for particular classes. After you apply and are “accepted” into the exam, you must register (and pay) for the section(s) of the exam you wish to take. You are only admitted into the exam if you have registered and received e-mail confirmation from NCIDQ. NCIDQ will mail you an Admission Letter once you have completed the entire application and registration process. This will include your official exam location. The letter is your confirmation and ticket to the exam, and you must bring it with you for admittance.

NCIDQ-Tip: Never assume the process is done until you get the NCIDQ confirmation.

You Don’t Receive NCIDQ Exam Updates

We send e-newsletters with critical information to approved exam candidates. It is your responsibility to read this information. If you change your e-mail at any point during your process, it is your responsibility to update your information on your MyNCIDQ account. NCIDQ cannot be responsible for misdirected e-mail. To ensure you receive important information, log in to MyNCIDQ and update your personal information. We also recommend adding ncidq.org to your approved senders list to ensure important information isn’t flagged as spam.

NCIDQ-Tip: To ensure you’re notified, your account must be modified.

Your Payment Was Never Fully Processed For Your Registration Or Application

NCIDQ will not review your application or approve your registration without proper payment. Often an application or registration remains pending due to payment-related issues. To ensure your submissions are complete and successful, follow these guidelines:

• Ensure you have entered the correct information.
• Ensure that your card has not expired.
• Allow enough time for payment to be processed. (If you pay by check, allow time for delivery and processing. NCIDQ only reviews payments received by the deadline, not by the mailed date.)

NCIDQ-Tip: You’ve got to pay to play.

You Go To The Wrong Location Or Miss The Exam

You’d be surprised by the number of people who don’t show up for the exam, whether as a result of sleeping late after late-night cramming, being stuck in traffic or getting lost. NCIDQ strongly suggests you make sure that you have set your alarm correctly and that you have planned your travel route to the exam center prior to the morning of the exam.

It is also important to read the information NCIDQ sends you because locations often change from year to year. You may not test at the same location that your friend did. Research and plan ahead to ensure you are not only prepared to take the exam, but also prepared to get to the exam

NCIDQ-Tip: Make sure you know before you go!

For comprehensive information on all aspects of the examination process, visit NCIDQ’s website, ncidq.org.