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THE THREE “E’s”: Education, Experience, Examination
All Certified Interior Designers must meet an education, work experience and examination requirement under one of the following
four categories (A, B, C or D):
CATEGORY A
- Graduate of a four or five year accredited interior design program;
- Two years of diversified interior design experience;
- Provide evidence of passage of the required exams.
CATEGORY B
- Completed a three year accredited interior design certificate program;
- Three years of diversified interior design experience;
- Provide evidence of passage of the required exams.
CATEGORY C
- Completed a two year accredited interior design certificate program;
- Four years of diversified interior design experience;
- Provide evidence of passage of the required exams.
CATEGORY D
- A combination of interior design education and /or diversified interior design experience totaling eight years or more
- Provide evidence of passage of the required exams
REQUIRED EXAMINATIONS -
All Certified Interior Designers are required to pass the Level 1 exam and one of the Level 2 exams
LEVEL 1 EXAMINATION
The California Codes and
Regulations Exam (CCRE). This is a three-hour multiple-choice examination consisting of 75 questions, 25 of which are open book, and 50 are closed book. There are no prerequisites for taking this
examination. All you have to do is register. The CCRE is given twice a year in California, once in April and once in October. There are three test locations a candidate can choose from: San Diego, Los
Angeles (Chatsworth) and San Francisco.
The goal of the CCRE is to test candidates specifically on California building and accessibility codes relative to interior design, both commercial and
residential. It also covers California fire codes, technical bulletins issued by the Bureau of Home Furnishings, civil law relative to the practice of interior design, ethics, business procedures and
practices.
Please download our free CCRE Study Guide. When you register
for the CCRE you will receive a packet of additional study materials that are not included in our Study Guide.
To register for the CCRE, go to our CCRE registration form.The cost for taking this
examination is $100.00. Each successful candidate will receive a certificate of completion suitable for framing.
How to save on first-time Certification fees
LEVEL 2 EXAMINATION
In addition to passing the CCRE, a candidate must also pass any one of the three accepted national interior design examinations listed below:
The CQRID exam (Council for Qualification of Residential Interior Designers). Approximate cost is $435.00. For registration
information go to the CQRID Web site at www.cqrid.org
- or -
The NCIDQ exam (National Council for Interior Design Qualification). Approximate cost is $750.00. For registration information
go to the NCIDQ Web site at www.NCIDQ.org
- or -
NKBA exams (National Kitchen and Bath Association). Note: both parts of the NKBA examination must be passed in order to qualify
for certification. These are the Certified Bath Designer (CBD), and Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) examinations, in addition to the required academic portion. Approximate cost is $600.00. For
registration information go to the NKBA Web site at www.NKBA.org
Compare the above exams: Exam Comparison Chart
Read the CCIDC Administrative Rules & Regulations
THE LAST STEP - Apply for Certification
While you may apply for Certification at any time, your application will not be fully processed until you meet all
of the above-listed requirements.
For an Application Package, contact the CCIDC office by mail, fax, e-mail, or
download an Application Package here.
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