STEP/NCIDQ
Certification & Licensure
NCIDQ certification recognizes that an individual has met minimum competency standards for the practice of interior design. NCIDQ’s role in the certification process includes the establishment of standards for education and experience and the administration of a minimum competency examination. The examination tests the candidate’s performance within the profession.
Certification by NCIDQ gives the interior designer a sense of personal achievement and contributes not only to the individual’s professional recognition but to the recognition of the professional as a whole. NCIDQ certification serves as a qualifier for professional membership within interior design organizations and for non-affiliates, represents a voluntary individual accomplishment.
The most significant aspect or by-product of the examination is the certificate candidates receive when they successfully complete the examination cycle. A certificate identifies the qualified practitioner, ensures recognition of expertise and assists development and self-improvement through the individual’s understanding of a body of knowledge and a set of professional standards.
Certification is generally defined as a voluntary form of recognition of an individual, granted by an organization or agency which is non-governmental. However, minimum competency in any profession is usually a baseline standard accepted by state and provincial governments for purposes of legal recognition. At the present time, NCIDQ certification is included among the license eligibility criteria in all American states and Canadian provinces with enacted statutes.
For more information on certification and NCIDQ, visit the NCIDQ website at www.ncidq.org.