Professional Organizations:
National Council for Interior Design Qualification
Established in 1974, the NCIDQ administers a two day exam twice yearly throughout the U.S.. The exam tests minimum competency of interior designers. To be eligible to sit for the exam, individuals must have a combination of education and full time practical experience totaling six years. This is usually accomplished by a designer having a four year degree in design and two years of full time experience working in the field.

ASID and IIDA require passage of the exam for acceptance as a Professional Member in their associations. Some states require successful completion of the NCIDQ in order to be certified or licensed to practice in that state.

Foundation for Interior Design Education Research
Founded in 1971, FIDER, an independent accrediting agency , is responsible for evaluating college interior design programs to ensure the educational programs meet the needs of society, interior design students, and the interior design profession. FIDER has developed a set of guidelines and standards interior design programs must meet in order to become FIDER accredited. The interior design program at MTSU was accredited in May 1997.

American Society of Interior Designers
ASID is comprised of professional interior designers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Practicing interior designers usually join ASID under one of two membership categories, Professional Member or Allied Member. You are not required by law to be a member of ASID in order to practice interior design. Members are comprised of both residential and commercial designers.

To qualify for Allied Membership, the designer must have graduated with a degree in interior design from an accredited university. Accreditation does not necessarily mean FIDER accreditation (see FIDER below). These members either have not passed the NCIDQ exam (see NCIDQ below) or are designers who do not practice interior design on a full time basis (such as interior design educators).

Among qualification requirements for Professional Membership, the designer must pass the NCIDQ exam. Professional Members are required to take continuing education courses to maintain their memberships.

ASID also has Student Members who join the society through their university ASID Student Chapters. Not all schools are allowed by ASID to have a chapter. MTSU does have a student chapter.

International Interior Design Association
IIDA also has members in both the U.S. and Canada. Practicing interior designers usually join IIDA under one of two membership categories, Professional Member or Affiliate Member. You are not required by law to be a member of IIDA in order to practice interior design. Members are comprised primarily of commercial designers.

To qualify for Affiliate Membership, the designer must have graduated with a degree in interior design from an accredited university. Accreditation does not necessarily mean FIDER accreditation (see FIDER below). These members have yet to pass the NCIDQ exam (see NCIDQ below) .

Among qualification requirements for Professional Membership, the designer must pass the NCIDQ exam. Professional Members are required to take continuing education courses to maintain their memberships.

IIDA also has Student Membership available to interior design students. IIDA does not have university student chapters, but students are encouraged to attend the local professional meetings. A number of our students at MTSU are also IIDA members.

Tennessee (Licensing & Certification):
Tennessee State Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners
There are approximately sixteen states that have some type of law regulating interior designers. The wording, whether “certification”, “registration” or “licensing” will vary from state to state as will the specific requirements for practicing. Some states have a practice act. In these states you must be licensed in order to practice interior design. Other states have a title act, meaning in order to call yourself an interior designer you must meet state qualifying factors. In such states you do not have to be certified to practice interior design. Most states stipulate passage of the NCIDQ for licensing, registration or certification. In addition to passing the NCIDQ, a particular state may have other provisions.

Tennessee currently has a title act. You must be registered by the state in order to claim that you are a “registered” interior designer. In all probability, a practice act will replace the title act within the next five years. At that time you must be licensed to even practice interior design.