office interior
Increased Interest In Interiors
NCIDQ&A 15 years ago No Comments

It appears that 2009 is the year for professional development. Studies are showing that in a depressed economy, more people go back to school or focus on professional growth. NCIDQ is witnessing this firsthand. A record number of candidates have applied to take the NCIDQ Examination this spring. The NCIDQ Examination will be administered in more than 50 locations on April 3 and 4. Nearly 2,000 individuals in the United States and Canada have registered to take one or more sections of the three-part examination, representing a 25 percent increase over last spring.

Successful completion of the examination leads to the internationally respected NCIDQ Certificate. This credential proves that the individual has met the standards for education, experience and examination and can form the basis for licensure in regulated jurisdictions in North America. NCIDQ’s Examination is based on a comprehensive analysis of the interior design profession and tests only those aspects that affect the health, safety and welfare of the public.

NCIDQ has seen a 25.2 percent increase in registrations for Section I, Principles and Practices of Interior Design, and a 26.5 percent increase in registrations for Section II, Contract Documents and Administration. Sections I and II are multiple-choice examinations, requiring candidates to recall, apply and analyze information.

In addition, NCIDQ has seen a 25.5 percent increase in registrations for Section III, Schematics and Design Development, a drawing practicum that requires candidates to produce a design solution for a multifunctional facility. The practicum problem requires candidates to interpret the problem into schematics, produce drawings and develop appropriate specifications.

“The NCIDQ Certificate has always been the mark of a professional,” explains NCIDQ President Deborah Steinmetz. “It is the credential that sets an interior designer apart in the marketplace. Given the state of the economy, more interior designers are looking for that competitive edge and are realizing that the NCIDQ Certificate can provide it. From the public’s perspective, it’s encouraging, since it means there will be more qualified interior designers working on the spaces where we live and work.”

The next administration of the NCIDQ Examination will be held on October 2 and 3, 2009. The deadline for applying to qualify for the fall administration is June 1. Complete information on the application process and qualification requirements is available at ncidq.org.

About NCIDQ®

NCIDQ® is an organization of regulatory boards and provincial associations in the United States and Canada whose core purpose is to protect the health, life safety and welfare of the public by establishing standards of competence in the practice of interior design. More information about the organization may be found at ncidq.org.