Interior Design Degree Tips
Read these 13 Interior Design Degree Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Interior Design Degree tips and hundreds of other topics.
Accreditation and Your Interior Design Degree
If you are familiar with the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, formerly known as FIDER, you know that they are the organization that sets minimum standards for interior design degree programs in the United States and Canada. As of February 2008, there will be 148 interior design degree programs accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. So what does it mean if an interior design program isn't accredited? Well, it's not necessarily a bad thing. According to the American Society of Interior Designers, a program may simply not yet have applied for accreditation. If you're interested in an interior design program that doesn't have accreditation approval, you can investigate the value of its education by examining the coursework, the credentials of the faculty, and the hiring potential and feedback from former students.
Interior Design Degree for the Kitchen and Bath Designer
If you know you want to become a kitchen and bath designer, get an interior design degree tailor made for that specialization. The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) maintains a list of educational programs approved to meet the minimum standard for becoming a kitchen and bath designer. Choose from certificate programs, two year degrees, and four year degrees. By taking an NKBA endorsed interior design degree, you can be assured you will get the quality of an education you need to excel in your career. NKBA requires you complete classroom time as well as gain valuable experience in an internship before graduation.
Accreditation and the Online Interior Design Degree
If you are considering getting an online interior design degree and are concerned about accreditation – here is something to keep in mind. To date, the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (formerly FIDER), the organization which sets the minimum standards for an interior design education, has not accredited any online interior design degree. Keep in mind that accreditation is open to all programs in interior design, online or not. Lack of accreditation by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation does not necessarily mean a program lacks a strong interior design foundation. However, you should keep in mind whether your state requires you attend an accredited interior design program if you plan on getting licensed as an interior designer.
Accreditation and the Online Interior Design Degree
If you are considering getting an online interior design degree and are concerned about accreditation – here is something to keep in mind. To date, the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (formerly FIDER), the organization which sets the minimum standards for an interior design education, has not accredited any online interior design degree. Keep in mind that accreditation is open to all programs in interior design, online or not. Lack of accreditation by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation does not necessarily mean a program lacks a strong interior design foundation. However, you should keep in mind whether your state requires you attend an accredited interior design program if you plan on getting licensed as an interior designer.
Your Career as a Lighting Designer
If you are interested in a career as a lighting designer, consider going to an accredited program. As a lighting designer, you can become certified through the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions (NCQLP). The NCQLP is a non-profit organization which strives to protect the safety of the public through a combination of examination, education, and work experience for professionals in the lighting industry. You can qualify to take the NCQLP exam if you meet one of two requirements. You can either have a combination of a four year interior design degree and three years of work experience or six years of total work experience in a career as a lighting designer.
Accreditation and the Online Interior Design Degree
If you are considering getting an online interior design degree and are concerned about accreditation – here is something to keep in mind. To date, the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (formerly FIDER), the organization which sets the minimum standards for an interior design education, has not accredited any online interior design degree. Keep in mind that accreditation is open to all programs in interior design, online or not. Lack of accreditation by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation does not necessarily mean a program lacks a strong interior design foundation. However, you should keep in mind whether your state requires you attend an accredited interior design program if you plan on getting licensed as an interior designer.
Accreditation and the Online Interior Design Degree
If you are considering getting an online interior design degree and are concerned about accreditation – here is something to keep in mind. To date, the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (formerly FIDER), the organization which sets the minimum standards for an interior design education, has not accredited any online interior design degree. Keep in mind that accreditation is open to all programs in interior design, online or not. Lack of accreditation by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation does not necessarily mean a program lacks a strong interior design foundation. However, you should keep in mind whether your state requires you attend an accredited interior design program if you plan on getting licensed as an interior designer.
How Employers View the Interior Design Degree
If you're debating over whether or not to get an interior design degree to start a career in interior design, debate no more. According to the responses a number of interior design professionals gave in the book, Becoming an Interior Designer, by Christine Piotrowski, an interior design education is rated as highly important and desirable. An interior design degree is expected in today's competitive workforce. An interior design education is the foundation for any interior designer who wants to practice in the field today. What's more, education doesn't stop with the completion of an interior design degree. Instead, an interior design education goes on for the lifetime of one's career.
Your Ticket to Interior Design Licensing
If you want to take the interior design licensing exam, you need to get an interior design degree. In the very least, you must complete a two year certificate in interior design and a designated amount of work experience in order to qualify for the interior design licensing exam. The amount of work experience and education you need are conversely related. Those with a four year interior design degree need less required work experience than those with a two year interior design degree in order to become a licensed interior designer. To get more information on the requirements for licensing in your state, you can refer to the National Council for Interior Design Qualifications (NCIDQ at www.ncidq.com).
The Importance of Getting Your Interior Design Degree
In today's competitive workforce, getting your interior design degree is more important than ever. An interior design degree will give you the training you need to successfully begin your career as an interior designer. You'll learn how to design a space, choose appropriate finishes to make an impact on your environment, and figure out how to apply business practices to your day to day workload. Always check to see if the program you are considering is accredited. Accreditation with the Council for Interior Design Accreditation is not a requirement, but you may want to check with your state to see if it requires an accredited program in order for you to take the National Council for Interior Design Qualification, the qualifying exam for interior designers. Some states don't allow you to become an official interior designer unless you've completed an accredited program and passed the qualifying exam.
Be Realistic Your Interior Design Degree
Wonder what types of positions an interior design degree will prepare you for? Before you have visions of starting your own design firm shortly after getting an interior design degree, set some realistic expectations about your career as you start out. An interior design degree will set the foundation for your career as an interior designer in an entry level position. You'll start at the bottom and work your way up. As you gain experience, you'll progress from a support role to one with more responsibility. Through years of dedication, hard work, and perseverance, you can run your own interior design firm if that is where you've set your sights.
Getting a College Degree in Interior Design
You have numerous options to study interior design, depending on your goals and expectations. Complete a two-year college degree in interior design to learn the basic skills you need to get started in a career in interior design. If you choose to get a four-year college degree in interior design, you may have the option to specialize in a specific area and get a broader educational background. A certificate program will also give you the background you need to begin a career in interior design.
An Interior Design Degree Online
When looking for an interior design degree online, the best advice is to proceed with caution. You can get an interior design degree online from well-known design schools. However, according to the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), online programs do not typically give you the education you need to become an official, licensed interior designer. If you're evaluating a program, look at the coursework content, faculty credentials, and the successes of its recent graduates to determine if the program would be suitable to preparing you for an interior design career.
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