California Council For Interior Design Certification
CCIDC – The California Council for Interior Design Certification, administers the Certified Interior Designer Title Act to protect the health, safety and welfare of consumers by establishing and implementing professional standards and educational requirements, ensuring competence through examination, and compliance with professional standards and our code of ethics.
The California Certified Interior Designer’s Title Act | California Business and Professions Code, Section 5800 – 5812.
CCIDC Board meetings are held to promote transparency, foster public engagement, and share important information about our operations and decisions that impact the interior design profession in California.
We welcome all interested individuals—design professionals, students, and members of the public to attend, learn more about CCIDC’s work, and stay informed on issues shaping the future of interior design in our state.
Certified Interior Designers (CIDs) are especially encouraged to attend, though participation is not mandatory.
Registered CIDs who attend the meeting will receive up to a 2-hour CEU credit (0.2 CE Units) for registering and participating in the meeting.
All Board meetings are open to the public.
Registered CIDs who attend the meeting will receive up to a 2-hour CEU credit (0.2 CE Units) for registering and participating in the meeting.
All Board meetings are open to the public.
If you would like to submit an Agenda item, or to be considered as a speaker at the meeting, please submit your request in writing to CCIDC, no later than September 5, 2025
Agenda posted in accordance with the Bagley-Keene Act.
If you would like to submit an Agenda item, or to be considered as a speaker at the meeting, please submit your request in writing to CCIDC, no later than September 5, 2025
Agenda posted in accordance with the Bagley-Keene Act.
Free CEU Following The Board Meeting!
California Building Code Significant Changes 2025 Edition
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
When: Immediately following the close of the September Board Meeting
Format: 1.5-hour Continuing Education Unit (CEU)
Cost: Free for meeting attendees
CCIDC is pleased to offer a complimentary 1.5-hour CEU immediately after the Board Meeting on September 20, 2025. This focused session California Building Code: Significant Changes (2025 Edition) will walk Certified Interior Designers through the updates you need to know for practice in California.
What you’ll learn
- Key revisions in the 2025 California Building Code (CBC) affecting interior environments
- Impacts on occupancy classifications, egress, fire & life safety, accessibility, and materials/finishes
CEU credit
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Credit: Qualifies as Continuing Education for CIDs (certificate of completion provided)
How to join
- Simply stay after the Board Meeting—the CEU will begin promptly once the meeting adjourns.
Meet the Instructor: Mr. Paul Armstrong
We are honored to have Mr. Paul Armstrong leading this CEU session on the Significant Changes to the 2025 California Building Code.
Mr. Armstrong is the Western Regional Manager for the American Wood Council and serves as the Director of Code Compliance for TRB & Associates, Inc. His extensive background includes leadership roles with several private third-party municipal consulting firms, where he acted as Building Official for the Cities of Palos Verdes Estates, El Monte, Signal Hill, and Whittier.
Prior to that, he spent 14 years with the International Code Council (ICC) and the International Conference of Building Officials, culminating as the first ICC Vice President of Architectural and Engineering Services. During his tenure, he also served as the drafting secretariat for the 2000 International Residential Code and represented model code organizations before federal, state, and local agencies.
Mr. Armstrong is a Professional Engineer in California and a Certified Building Official, with a B.S. from California State University, Long Beach and a Technical Certificate in Fire Protection Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He has also contributed in a contract capacity to high-profile projects for the City of Anaheim, including ARTIC, the Anaheim Convention Center Expansion, and the Disneyland Resort Star Wars expansion.
A recognized lecturer on code-related topics, he has co-authored the 2013, 2016, and 2019 Significant Changes to the CBC and CRC publications.
With his deep expertise, attendees can look forward to a practical, authoritative, and engaging session on the 2025 CBC updates.
Accepting Applications for CCIDC Board Members
The California Council for Interior Design Certification (CCIDC) is currently preparing for the next cycle of board appointments. Serving on the CCIDC Board of Directors is a unique opportunity to contribute to the advancement and oversight of the interior design profession in California.
Upcoming Board Position Availability:
Public Director | 2 Positions Available
Public Directors are appointed to represent the interests of the general public in all matters brought before the CCIDC Board. As independent members of the board, Public Directors must not be professionally associated with or possess expertise in the interior design, architecture, construction, building, or furniture industries. Their impartiality ensures that board decisions reflect a balanced consideration of public welfare, consumer protection, and ethical oversight.
Residential Director
The Residential Director is a Certified Interior Designer whose professional focus is primarily in residential interior design. This individual brings sector-specific insight to the board, representing the interests, challenges, and innovations unique to residential practice. The Residential Director plays a critical role in ensuring that the needs and perspectives of residential interior designers are reflected in the board’s decision-making, policies, and outreach efforts.
Section 3.03. Any person eligible for the Board of Directors under Article III of these By-laws is qualified for the Board of Directors only after such a person has satisfied that, if such person be a corporation, that the corporation is in good standing; and that if such person be a natural person, that such person is of good moral character and in sympathy with the objectives of CCIDC, Inc. All Directors shall be residents of California. Except for the Public Directors, all Directors must further be qualified as Certified Interior Designers (CIDs) as provided in Article II of these By-laws.
Quick Links
Certification Facts
No! Since 1991 California has had a Title Act, written into the California Business & Professions Code.
By law, Certified Interior Designers can stamp and submit non-structural/non-seismic plans for review.
As written in Section 5800 of the California Business and Professions Code: An “interior design organization” means the California Council for Interior Design Certification (council), a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code, and consists of Certified Interior Designers whose governing board includes representatives of the public.
CCIDC, like other State and Certification Boards, has governmental oversight and is required to go through the Sunset Review Process.
Master the Art of Marketing Yourself
Spread the Word!
- Market yourself as a CID, you’ve earned it!
- CIDs have the 4E‘s (per state guidelines)
- Education (Minimum of 40 Core Units)
- Experience (2-8 Years Minimum)
- Examination (IDEX® California, the only interior design exam that tests on California Codes and Regulations)
- Ethics (CIDs are held to a strict Code of Ethics.)
- In other words, CIDs have achieved the highest level of recognition for the Interior Design profession in California!
You Earned the Title CID…
Now Use It!
- You have been conferred with the title Certified Interior Designer or CID, the only title for interior designers recognized by the state of California, as written into law (California Business and Professions Code, Section 5800 – 5812).
- You are NOT a CCIDC nor a member of CCIDC. CCIDC is the organization the administers the Certified Interior Designer Title Act in California, not a membership organization or club.
- You are a Certified Interior Designer in California, you may add “in the State of California” or “California” after your certification number.
- You can add the initials of any professional interior design organization (AIA, ASID, IDS, IFDA, IIDA, NKBA, ETC.) you are a member of after your CID appellation/number.
- Under California law, through the Certified Interior Designer Title Act (CA BPC 5812) it is unfair business practice and a misdemeanor to use the title Certified Interior Designer or “CID” unless you have complied with the requirements of the law and are a CID in good standing.
- Your Name, Certified Interior Designer
- Your Name, Certified Interior Designer #00000
- Your Name, CID
- Your Name, CID #00000
Join Us to Make a Difference in The Interior Design Profession!
Here are some ways you can get involved and be a positive change for the Interior Design profession in California.
The purpose of this committee is to work with the Staff to create, communicate, deliver, and exchange offerings that spread the mission and name of CCIDC, Inc. to the Design Professionals, Students and the public. The Marketing Committee meets quarterly via ZOOM, the 1st Friday of the month 3-5PM Pacific Time.
To join the Marketing Committee: APPLY HERE
To Register for the Marketing Committee ZOOM Meeting: REGISTER HERE
CCIDC Marketing Committee Meeting Date: Next Meeting: May 2, 2025.
Marketing Committee Meeting AGENDA
Your Content Goes Here
All meetings open to the public.
IDEX® California Exam
CCIDC accepts application 365 days per year
Apply today for the IDEX® Exam!
Application Packets are due on or before March 1st for the Spring IDEX® Exam!
Retest fees are also due on or before March 1st to retake the IDEX® Exam in the Spring.
Application Packets are due on or before August 1st for the Fall IDEX® Exam!
Retest fees are also due on or before August 1st to retake the IDEX® Exam in the Fall.
The IDEX® California Exam
A comprehensive Interior Design Exam:
- Only Interior Design Exam That Tests on California Codes
- Current Codes/Regulations
- 11 Domains Covering both Commercial and Residential Design
- California Codes & Regulations
- Occupancy Classification
- Types of Construction
- Fire Protection Requirements
- Means of Egress
- Accessibility
- Building Systems
- Miscellaneous Code Provisions
- Business Practices & Ethics
- Legal Requirements and Responsibilities
- Professional Practice
- Ethics
- Administration
- Design Standards
- Design Standards
- Interior Finishes
- California Codes & Regulations
- Code Related Questions Created With the International Codes Council (ICC)
- Free Study Guide Available!
State of California Resources
