3 answers
Kennedi
Student
Bowie, Maryland
3
Questions
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What education or certifications do you need to become an interior designer?
I want to change my career I enjoy decoration my room and decorating everything so how could I achieve that goal.
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3 answers
Mauricio Chaves
Interior Designer
50
Answers
Doorn, Netherlands
Updated
Mauricio’s Answer
Dear Kennedi,
There isn’t just one “correct” path to becoming an interior designer, and the education you need really depends on the direction you want to take within the field. Before making a full career change, I always recommend starting with small steps to make sure it’s something you genuinely want to pursue long-term.
A great first move is to take a course, workshop, or short seminar in Interior Design. These introductory programs help you explore the field and understand what the work actually involves. There’s a lot to learn — from soft skills and design software to history, art, business, materials, and much more. It’s definitely not just about matching colors and textures. <------
You can look for programs at local institutions, community colleges, or reputable online schools. Based on my own experience, I highly recommend looking into the courses from the National Design Academy (NDA) in the UK. They offer a wide range of certificates, diplomas, and degree-level programs in flexible formats, which can be a great way to ease into the profession and see if it’s truly for you.
In the end, this is a personal decision. Interior Design is a beautiful career — not only because you create functional and visually appealing spaces, but because you help translate the personality and lifestyle of the people who will live in them. If that idea excites you, you’re already on the right path.
If you need guidance on where to start or which programs might fit your goals, feel free to ask.
May the force be with you! :)
There isn’t just one “correct” path to becoming an interior designer, and the education you need really depends on the direction you want to take within the field. Before making a full career change, I always recommend starting with small steps to make sure it’s something you genuinely want to pursue long-term.
A great first move is to take a course, workshop, or short seminar in Interior Design. These introductory programs help you explore the field and understand what the work actually involves. There’s a lot to learn — from soft skills and design software to history, art, business, materials, and much more. It’s definitely not just about matching colors and textures. <------
You can look for programs at local institutions, community colleges, or reputable online schools. Based on my own experience, I highly recommend looking into the courses from the National Design Academy (NDA) in the UK. They offer a wide range of certificates, diplomas, and degree-level programs in flexible formats, which can be a great way to ease into the profession and see if it’s truly for you.
In the end, this is a personal decision. Interior Design is a beautiful career — not only because you create functional and visually appealing spaces, but because you help translate the personality and lifestyle of the people who will live in them. If that idea excites you, you’re already on the right path.
If you need guidance on where to start or which programs might fit your goals, feel free to ask.
May the force be with you! :)
Julie Ann Shahin
Interior Designer/Business Owner
12
Answers
Irondequoit, NY
Updated
Julie Ann’s Answer
Hi Kennedi,
Interior decorating and design is a rewarding career with many paths to explore. Design influences all types of spaces, from homes to offices. You can specialize in areas like residential, commercial, hospitality, or healthcare design. Within these, there are sub-categories such as budget or luxury residential, design/build, or house flipping. Your choice of specialty might affect the certification you pursue and where you work. In most states, home decorators don't need certification, but interior designers often do. To become a licensed interior designer, you can attend an accredited school and pass a licensing exam. In Maryland, for example, you need a license to be a "Certified Interior Designer" (CID), requiring the NCIDQ exam and meeting certain education and experience requirements.
I studied at Michigan State University, an accredited school, but I didn't take the licensing exam, so I use titles like "interior design professional" or "interior decorator." Only a few people have asked me about certification. I believe my bachelor's degree was valuable, and I hope to pursue a master's in interior design.
Key skills for interior designers include:
1. Drafting
2. Creative vision, including drawing and color theory
3. Communication and sales techniques
4. Quick problem-solving
5. Time management (track how long tasks take)
6. Budgeting
7. Computer-aided design
To become certified:
1. Education: Earn a bachelor's or associate's degree in Interior Design from a CIDA-accredited program.
2. Experience: Gain full-time work experience under a qualified designer—usually 2 years with a bachelor's or 3 with an associate's degree.
3. Pass NCIDQ Exams: Complete the three parts of the NCIDQ Certification exams:
- IDFX: Take during your final year of study.
- IDPX: Complete after gaining work experience.
- PRAC: A full-day practical simulation.
4. State Requirements: Check your state’s specific licensing rules, as some states like California have additional requirements.
Interior decorating and design is a rewarding career with many paths to explore. Design influences all types of spaces, from homes to offices. You can specialize in areas like residential, commercial, hospitality, or healthcare design. Within these, there are sub-categories such as budget or luxury residential, design/build, or house flipping. Your choice of specialty might affect the certification you pursue and where you work. In most states, home decorators don't need certification, but interior designers often do. To become a licensed interior designer, you can attend an accredited school and pass a licensing exam. In Maryland, for example, you need a license to be a "Certified Interior Designer" (CID), requiring the NCIDQ exam and meeting certain education and experience requirements.
I studied at Michigan State University, an accredited school, but I didn't take the licensing exam, so I use titles like "interior design professional" or "interior decorator." Only a few people have asked me about certification. I believe my bachelor's degree was valuable, and I hope to pursue a master's in interior design.
Key skills for interior designers include:
1. Drafting
2. Creative vision, including drawing and color theory
3. Communication and sales techniques
4. Quick problem-solving
5. Time management (track how long tasks take)
6. Budgeting
7. Computer-aided design
To become certified:
1. Education: Earn a bachelor's or associate's degree in Interior Design from a CIDA-accredited program.
2. Experience: Gain full-time work experience under a qualified designer—usually 2 years with a bachelor's or 3 with an associate's degree.
3. Pass NCIDQ Exams: Complete the three parts of the NCIDQ Certification exams:
- IDFX: Take during your final year of study.
- IDPX: Complete after gaining work experience.
- PRAC: A full-day practical simulation.
4. State Requirements: Check your state’s specific licensing rules, as some states like California have additional requirements.
In what ways do education, hands-on experience, and key skills like drafting, budgeting, and computer-aided design prepare someone for the daily responsibilities of an interior designer, and how do these requirements differ from those of an interior decorator who is not seeking formal certification?
Kennedi
Formal interior design education = about learning how buildings work & how design decisions affect safety, budgets, and construction. Designers: scaled drawings, building codes, lighting, plumbing, and electrical systems, choose durable & safe materials, & think about how all parts of a space work together.
Drafting & CAD software is to turn ideas into clear instructions builders can use, preventing mistakes before construction starts. Budgeting teaches designers to plan realistically & avoid costly problems. Hands-on experience shows how designs work in real life and teaches responsibility.
Interior decorators, by contrast, focus on appearance, colors, furniture, & styling, & are not trained to handle technical drawings, construction decisions, or safety rules.
Julie Ann Shahin
Céline Riard
Interior designer
13
Answers
Framingham, Massachusetts
Updated
Céline’s Answer
Hi Kennedi,
First, you need to know that interior decorators and interior designers do different jobs. As an interior designer, you will do the work of an interior decorator. If you like geometry, math, CAD programs (not necessarily user-friendly), and you think you would like to design custom cabinetry, to review plumbing fixture specs, to learn a good amount of building code requirements and to spend a lot of time on construction sites with contractors, then you would enjoy becoming an interior designer. It is a very technical (and rewarding!) job that requires a lot of knowledge and bears a lot of responsibilities. If you would rather stick to furniture layout, choosing colors and finishes (flooring, paint colors) and choose light fixtures, then you should probably be an interior decorator. It all depends on what you like to do.
In your state of Maryland, and in most states (although you will need to check for yourself), you can claim yourself an interior decorator with no education, license nor experience. Finding clients may be hard without prior experience, but you could start working as an admin in an interior design firm and learn from them. You could take few classes at a community college that may be useful. I know a lot of interior decorators who started on their own, working for friends to develop a portfolio, then eventually find paying clients.
If you want to become an interior designer, you will need to learn all that knowledge and an associate degree should be the minimum to get, while a Bachelor's degree would be better. Some colleges will have the degree under a BA or BFA while others will have it under a B.Sc. If you want to go this route, check college programs and see what courses they offer. Please know that the state of Maryland has a regulatory board for certified interior designers that requires to pass an exam, but you can still call yourself an interior designer as long as you do not use the term "Certified Interior Designer". Before you commit to anything, I suggest you shadow an interior decorator or designer for few days to see if this is what you want to do. As fulfilling as the work is, it may not be as glamourous as you think. Clients can be difficult, undecisive or plain rude and reading clients' mind is not easy for everybody. You will need to manage time, budgets, contractors, deliveries... Once you are convinced this is what you want to do, then you can plan for the education you want to pursue. The final consideration should be education costs versus potential earnings. See how much your education would cost you versus what you could expect to earn as a new graduate interior design student. And most of all, good luck figuring it!
First, you need to know that interior decorators and interior designers do different jobs. As an interior designer, you will do the work of an interior decorator. If you like geometry, math, CAD programs (not necessarily user-friendly), and you think you would like to design custom cabinetry, to review plumbing fixture specs, to learn a good amount of building code requirements and to spend a lot of time on construction sites with contractors, then you would enjoy becoming an interior designer. It is a very technical (and rewarding!) job that requires a lot of knowledge and bears a lot of responsibilities. If you would rather stick to furniture layout, choosing colors and finishes (flooring, paint colors) and choose light fixtures, then you should probably be an interior decorator. It all depends on what you like to do.
In your state of Maryland, and in most states (although you will need to check for yourself), you can claim yourself an interior decorator with no education, license nor experience. Finding clients may be hard without prior experience, but you could start working as an admin in an interior design firm and learn from them. You could take few classes at a community college that may be useful. I know a lot of interior decorators who started on their own, working for friends to develop a portfolio, then eventually find paying clients.
If you want to become an interior designer, you will need to learn all that knowledge and an associate degree should be the minimum to get, while a Bachelor's degree would be better. Some colleges will have the degree under a BA or BFA while others will have it under a B.Sc. If you want to go this route, check college programs and see what courses they offer. Please know that the state of Maryland has a regulatory board for certified interior designers that requires to pass an exam, but you can still call yourself an interior designer as long as you do not use the term "Certified Interior Designer". Before you commit to anything, I suggest you shadow an interior decorator or designer for few days to see if this is what you want to do. As fulfilling as the work is, it may not be as glamourous as you think. Clients can be difficult, undecisive or plain rude and reading clients' mind is not easy for everybody. You will need to manage time, budgets, contractors, deliveries... Once you are convinced this is what you want to do, then you can plan for the education you want to pursue. The final consideration should be education costs versus potential earnings. See how much your education would cost you versus what you could expect to earn as a new graduate interior design student. And most of all, good luck figuring it!