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The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) Examination
To practice as a professional interior designer in any US state or Canadian
province that regulates the interior design profession, you must pass the
complete National Council for Interior Design
Qualification (NCIDQ) Examination. This exam is also required for
professional membership in American Society of
Interior Designers (ASID), International
Interior Design Association (IIDA), and Interior
Designers of Canada (IDC), the largest and most respected
associations of interior designers in the world today.
Who is NCIDQ?
The NCIDQ was conceived in the late 1960's to establish standardized
credentials for interior designers. It was incorporated as a non-profit
organization in 1974, with the support of the then major professional designer
associations, the American Institute of Decorators (AID) and the National
Society of Interior Designers (NSID). Just one year later, In 1975, these 2
organizations merged to become ASID, which continues to rely upon and support
the NCIDQ examination process today.
NCIDQ's members are the state and provincial boards that regulate the
profession of interior design. NCIDQ does not have individual members. However,
designers who pass the NCIDQ exam are assigned a unique Certificate Number,
which they may use to identify themselves as "NCIDQ Certified."
What is NCIDQ's role within the interior design profession?
NCIDQ's core mission is to "protect the health, life safety and
welfare of the public by establishing standards of competence in the practice of
interior design." NCIDQ "serves to identify to the public those
interior designers who have met the minimum standards for professional practice
by passing the NCIDQ Examination." (Source: www.ncidq.org/who/index.asp)
Qualifying for and completing the exam
The NCIDQ Exam is held twice a year, in the Spring and the Fall,
simultaneously in some 50+ locations throughout the United States and Canada. In
order to be eligible to take the exam, you must meet specific
requirements for college-level design education and professional work experience,
typically a six-year combination of both. These requirements do vary
substantially by state, so consult the appropriate state
regulatory agency. Once you have been qualified as eligible to sit for the
exam by your state or province
(or by NCIDQ directly in non-licensed jurisdictions), you
must pre-register and pay a fee.
The NCIDQ is a two-day exam, typically given on a Friday and Saturday. It is
administered under standardized
environmental conditions and strictly regulated testing procedures. The exam is
offered in three sections which are graded separately, including 2 multiple-choice
sections on Friday (Section I in the morning and Section II in the afternoon), and the full-day design/drafting
"Practicum" Section III on Saturday. The Practicum is administered in
two separate sessions (Part I in the morning and Part 2 in the afternoon) though
both Parts are graded together, and must be passed as one section.
If you fail any of the three individual sections, you can retake just that
part (or parts) at a later date, after paying an additional fee. NCIDQ does not
impose a limit on the number of times you can retake any failed section of the
exam. Nor does NCIDQ impose a time limit on how long you may take to pass the
complete exam, however, the regulatory
agencies of individual states or jurisdictions may impose such
limits.
So, how many applicants actually pass?
According to the NCIDQ, "Approximately
75 percent of all candidates who enter the examination process eventually pass.
More than 18,000 candidates have successfully completed the exam."
(Source: www.ncidq.org/faqs/index.htm)
As
far as individual exam pass rates by section, NCIDQ provides the following
information (Source: NCIDQ Examination Study Guide, 3rd Edition, page 25):
|
Test Date
|
Section I
|
Section II
|
Section III
|
|
October 2004
|
68%
|
68%
|
71%
|
|
April 2004
|
66%
|
68%
|
68%
|
|
October 2003
|
71%
|
78%
|
62%
|
Designer competencies: the "practice analysis study" process
The NCIDQ has developed the exam using rigorous, independently validated
methods and procedures. To ensure that the exam content accurately reflects
professional practice, NCIDQ updates its comprehensive survey of interior
designers ("the Practice Analysis Study") every 5 years, most recently
in 2003. NCIDQ uses this research to determine the minimum competencies required
for interior designers. Based on this, test specifications are developed to
determine the relative importance of each competency as reflected in the exam.
For example, it determines the number of questions in exam Sections I and II
devoted to a specific knowledge area.
NCIDQ's 6 "knowledge areas" of interior design
NCIDQ has identified six "knowledge
areas" representing the practice of interior design, and tests a designer's
minimum competence in each area. David Ballast, AIA, a respected authority
on the NCIDQ exam characterizes these "performance domains" in his
book "The Interior Design Reference Manual: A Guide to the NCIDQ
Exam, 3rd Ed." as follows:
 |
Programming
|
 | Information
gathering
|
| Information
analysis and presentation
|
|
Schematic
Design
|
| Developing
and presenting design concepts
|
| Space
planning
|
| Communication
methods
|
| Selection
of materials, finishes, and furnishings
|
| Coordination,
budgeting, and scheduling
|
|
Design
Development
|
| Elements
of design
|
| Principles
of design
|
| Interior
construction
|
| Architectural
woodwork
|
| Finishes
|
| Finalizing
design development and presentation to the client
|
|
Contract
Documents
|
| Construction
drawings
|
| Construction
specifications
|
| Structural
systems
|
| Mechanical
-and electrical systems
|
| Lighting
|
| Acoustics
|
|
Contract
Administration
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| Bidding
and negotiation of contracts
|
| Construction
and FF&E contracts
|
| Project
management and contract administration
|
|
Professional
Practice
|
| Interior
design business practices
|
| Owner-designer
agreements
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| Sustainable
design
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| Building
codes
|
| Exiting
|
| Barrier-free
design
|
NCIDQ exam content and format
Within each of these six knowledge areas, NCIDQ has identified specific
professional tasks in which designers must demonstrate competence, through
application of appropriate knowledge and skills. These areas of
professional knowledge and skill are tested in the three separate sections of
the NCIDQ exam as follows (the source for this information is NCIDQ
Examination Study Guide, 3rd Edition, page 9-19):
Section I: Principles and Practices of Interior Design
(multiple-choice)
Section I, a 3 1/2 hour multiple-choice test on Friday morning, has 150 questions,
of which 125 questions are graded and 25 are non-graded, experimental questions.
Section I questions are divided about equally among the knowledge areas of
Programming (33%), Schematic Design (32%), and Design Development (35%).
Section II: Contract Documents and Administration (multiple-choice)
Section II, a 3 hour
multiple-choice test on Friday afternoon, has 150 questions, of which 125
questions are graded and 25 are non-graded experimental questions. Section II
questions are divided about equally among the knowledge areas of Contract
Documents (35%), Contract Administration (32%), and Professional Practice (33%).
Section III: Schematics and Design Development (Part I and Part
II - design practicum)
Section III, is a 7 hour design and drafting "Practicum" on
Saturday, administered in 2 parts: Part I is 4 hours in the morning, and Part 2
is 3 hours in the afternoon.
According to NCIDQ, Section III "requires you to create a design
solution for a 3,000 to 4,000 square foot (300-400 square meter) space. The
purpose of the practicum is to assess your design decision-making and skill in a
multifunctional design project." (Source: NCIDQ Examination Study Guide,
3rd Edition, page 19.)
Section III questions are divided about equally among the knowledge areas of
Programming (25%), Schematic Design (24%), Design Development (26%), and
Contract Documents (35%). Contract Administration and Professional Practice are
addressed fully in Section II, and are not assessed again in the Practicum.
Exam Sections I & II: multiple-choice testing of "practice area"
knowledge and skills
NCIDQ provides the following information to help exam candidates
understand the specific tasks that interior designers perform as a part of
each area of design practice, and the related professional knowledge and
skills for which they will be tested. (the source for this information is NCIDQ
Examination Study Guide, 3rd Edition, page 9-19)
Section I: Principles and Practices of Interior Design
The following "tasks," and the professional knowledge and
skills the interior designer must possess to perform them, are tested in Section
I of the exam, covering Programming, Schematic Design, and Design
Development:
PROGRAMMING
TASK #1: "Gather information using
interviews, questionnaires and observations to identify client
objectives and requirements based on human behavior and environmental
theories related to accessibility, culture, environmental
responsibility (sustainability, climate, energy, air quality, etc.)
and economic, physical, psychological, organizational and social
considerations."
TASK #2: "Gather information about the
site using photography, observation, field measurements and available
documents to determine existing conditions, including code compliance,
inventories, space use, context and constraints."
TASK #3: "Research external sources by
conducting a literature review, meeting with consultants and observing
similar projects to establish the program."
TASK #4: "Analyze client, site and
external information using the data gathered to validate client
objectives and requirements and apply knowledge about function,
aesthetics, health, life safety and welfare to the creation of the
program."
TASK #5: "Present the program using
appropriate communication strategies to obtain client approval."
SCHEMATIC DESIGN
TASK #1: "Create visual representations based
upon the approved program and any client revisions through bubble
diagrams/adjacency matrices/charts, stack/zoning diagrams and block
plans/square footage allocations to develop design concepts and
explore solutions."
TASK #2: "Develop conceptual space plans using the
preliminary diagrams and knowledge of building systems, codes and
regulations, standards and other life-safety considerations to respond
to program requirements."
TASK #3: "Create preliminary elevations, sections
and three-dimensional views (including study models and mock-ups)
consistent with the design concept to visualize and communicate the
design."
TASK #4: "Propose options for finishes and materials
and the placement of furniture and furnishings based on technical and
design attributes for the program by communicating the recommendations
with samples, photographs, and drawings to satisfy requirements."
TASK #5: "Review all preliminary design solutions to
ensure compliance with codes, regulations, budgets and schedule
requirements."
TASK #6: "Present schematic designs, budgets, and
schedules using appropriate communication strategies to obtain client
approval."
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
TASK #1: "Refine all aspects of the schematic
design through the development of drawings, specifications and
discussions with consultants to ensure compliance to codes, building
systems and technical systems."
TASK #2: "Make final design decisions by evaluating
consultant reports, technical information and manufacturers' data for
materials, methods and products, verifying their compliance with codes
and building-system requirements to ensure suitability and project
integration."
TASK #3: "Communicate complete design intent for
client approval through the presentation of comprehensive drawings,
notations and materials for the purpose of illustrating design
synthesis, finalizing budgets and preparing contract
documents."
Section II: Contract Documents and Administration
The following "tasks," and the professional knowledge and
skills the interior designer must possess to perform them, are tested in Section
II of the exam, covering Contract Documents, Contract Administration, and
Professional Practice:
CONTRACT DOCUMENTS
TASK #1: "Prepare interior construction documents
including demolition, partition, reflected ceiling, finish and
power/voice/data plans; elevations and details; and schedules and
legends for pricing, permits and construction based on approved design
development, budget and schedules to communicate design."
TASK #2: "Coordinate interior construction
documents by reviewing relevant consultants' contract documents for
integration of all systems into the project design."
TASK #3: "Prepare furniture, furnishings and
equipment documents including plans, specifications, elevations,
details, schedules and legends and forms for pricing, procurement,
manufacture and installation based on approved design development,
budget and schedules by coordinating with relevant manufacturers,
dealers, installers, workrooms and consultants to ensure project
integration.
TASK #4: "Prepare all contract and bid documents in
compliance with relevant codes and building rules and regulations to
communicate to contractors, construction managers, building owners,
clients and building managers and ensure the public's health, life
safety, and welfare."
CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION
TASK #1: "Facilitate the bidding process by issuing
bid documents and receiving proposals from qualified bidders in order
for the client to contract for construction and installation."
TASK #2: "Coordinate with consultants, contractors
and vendors by attending project meetings and visiting the site on a
regular basis to monitor adherence to contract documents."
TASK #3: "Issue a request for information, as
required, with appropriate documentation and communication to
facilitate decision-making regarding changes to the contract
documents."
TASK #4: "Review shop drawings, samples and
submittals to ensure compliance with contract documents."
TASK #5: "Provide required ongoing administration
to ensure completion of the project in compliance with contract
documents within budget and on schedule."
TASK #6: "Prepare a report listing incomplete and
substandard construction and installation by referencing contract
documents through observation of the work to monitor and promote
compliance."
TASK #7: "Assist in distributing warranties,
manuals, record (as-built) drawings, certificates of completion and
other necessary documentation to the appropriate parties in order to
close out the project."
TASK #8: "Conduct a post-occupancy evaluation by
reviewing the project with the client to assess the success of the
project."
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
TASK #1: "Provide professional services in a legal
and ethical framework by adhering to established business practices
and obtaining appropriate registrations, licenses and insurance to
ensure the welfare of the client."
TASK #2: "Establish a contractual relationship
based on a proposal for professional interior design services by
specifying the scope of work and associated fee structure to protect
both parties."
TASK #3: "Collaborate with qualified design
professionals and consultants by establishing appropriate liaisons and
agreements to provide the client with specialized services."
Exam Section III, Parts 1 and 2: Schematics and design development
practicum
Section III is the full day design and drafting problem given on day 2,
that requires you to develop a design solution. You must document your
design solution by completing a number of plans and details. Section III
is administered in 2 separate parts, though both parts are graded together and
must be passed as one Section for the exam.
Part 1
For Part 1, the morning session, you are allowed a maximum of 4
hours. You are typically provided with the following project documents:
| "Problem booklet" containing the project description and
corresponding code requirements |
| Site plan |
| Key plan |
| Exterior elevation |
| Adjacency matrix |
| Floor plan |
| Material and finish specifications |
| Material and finish schedule |
| Wall-type detail |
| Solution package, including numerous 11" x 17" sheets on
bond or vellum, for your work |
Part 2
For Part 2, in the afternoon, you are allowed a maximum of 3 hours.
You are typically provided with the following project documents:
| "Problem booklet" containing a description of the
additional scope of services |
| Key plan |
| Electrical legend |
| Floor plan |
| Equipment list |
| Elevations |
| Section |
| Reflected ceiling legend |
| Electrical plan |
| Reflected ceiling plan |
| Solution package, including numerous 11" x 17" sheets on
bond or vellum and answer sheets, for your work |
Time Management for Section III: critical for success
For each Part you are required to the complete the tasks listed below.
Time management is critically important in Section III, and it is entirely
your responsibility. In her book, Interior
Design Practicum Exam Workbook, 2nd Ed., author Pamela Henley
recommends the following guidelines to ensure that you leave enough time to
successfully complete all tasks required in parts 1 and 2:
|
ACTIVITIES FOR
PART 1:
|
ALLOCATED TIME:
(4 Hours Maximum)
|
|
Reading the program
|
15 – 20 minutes
|
|
Adjacency matrix
|
15 – 20 minutes
|
|
Bubble diagram
|
15 – 20 minutes
|
|
Rough floor plan
and furniture plan
|
40 – 50 minutes
|
|
Final plans
|
50 – 70 minutes
|
|
Wall type detail
|
5 – 10 minutes
|
|
Material and finish
schedule
|
15 – 20 minutes
|
|
Review for
completeness & correctness
|
10 – 15 minutes
|
|
Drawing enhancement
|
10 – 15 minutes
|
|
TOTAL TIME ALLOCATED:
|
175 – 240 minutes
(2 Hrs., 55 Min. to 4 Hrs.)
|
|
ACTIVITIES FOR
PART 2:
|
ALLOCATED TIME:
(3 Hours Maximum)
|
|
Reading the program
|
15 – 20 minutes
|
|
Electrical plan
|
20 – 30 minutes
|
|
Elevation drawing
|
20 – 25 minutes
|
|
Section drawing
|
20 – 30 minutes
|
|
Reflected ceiling
plan
|
20 – 30 minutes
|
|
Lighting fixture
schedule
|
20 – 30 minutes
|
|
Review for
completeness & correctness
|
10 – 15 minutes
|
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TOTAL TIME ALLOCATED:
|
125 – 180 minutes
(2 Hrs., 5 Min. to 3 Hrs.)
|
Exam study tips
| Start studying for the exam 6-12 months in advance, if possible, but no
later than 3 months before the exam. |
| Try to form or join a local study group. |
| Read broadly from the NCIDQ Bibliography. |
| Order the NCIDQ Study Guide and a few sample practicum problems. Study
for Section III (practicum) by doing the problems under realistic test
conditions. |
| Read David Ballast's The Interior Design Reference Manual: A Guide to the NCIDQ
Exam, 3rd Ed., from cover to cover. The read it again. Then do the exam
exercises in the back. |
| Use flash cards to study for Sections I and II. |
Exam-day and test-taking tips
| Get a good night's sleep. If you are traveling a distance to the test
site, consider staying overnight in a local hotel to reduce fatigue and
stress and save time that morning. |
| Eat breakfast. |
| If you live near the testing center, make a visit to familiarize
yourself with the facilities. |
| Arrive at the test site early, so you are not worrying about directions,
parking, registration lines, or "getting a good seat." Late
arrivals will be turned away! |
| Bring a sweater in case the exam room is cold. |
| Bring a small cushion to sit on, if you are concerned about sitting on a
metal drafting stool for hours. |
| Be sure to bring to the testing center your exam admission letter and
photo ID. If you do not have a photo ID, you may substitute two other
forms of identification, each with your name and signature. |
| Be sure to note any change of address on the admission letter, which is
collected after completion of your last exam section. |
| Be sure to return to the testing center from lunch break promptly, and
to follow all instructions read to you by the Proctor. |
| Do NOT bring to the exam site books or reference materials (including
dictionaries or language dictionaries), pagers, or cell phones.
Proctors are instructed to confiscate these items and return them to you
after the exam. |
| Do not bring food or beverages into the test site without prior approval
for medical reasons. |
| Candidates taking Sections I or II (multiple-choice on day 1) may bring
the following: No. 2 pencils, erasers, and a non-programmable calculator with single memory |
| Candidates taking Section III (design practicum on day 2) may bring the
following:, non-programmable calculator with single memory, pens, pencils,
highlighters, triangles, graph paper, post-it notes, t-square, erasers (not electric),
manual pencil sharpener, portable drafting board or flat illustration board (similar to poster
board), tape, related small drafting equipment/tools, mass-produced
templates (1/8" inch scale), tracing paper/bumwad, architectural scale, and white-out (as long as answers/drawings are legible) |
| Place only permitted items on your desk. |
| Answer all multiple-choice questions to the best of your ability. Do not skip questions. |
| Do not ask Proctors to explain a question. They are not permitted to
comment on exam content. |
| Request a "Candidate Comment Form" if you wish to express a
concern about the exam to NCIDQ. |
| Manage your allotted test-taking time appropriately. The exam room will
either have a visible clock, or the proctors will post the time every 30
minutes. The following guidelines may help you: Maximum time for Section I is 3 1/2 hours, from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm.
Maximum time for Section II is 3 hours, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Maximum time for Section III, part 1 is 4 hours, from 8:30 am to 12:30
pm. Maximum time for Section III, part 2 is 3 hours, from 2:30 pm to 5:30
pm. (See more information on time management for Section III above.) |
| Leave time during all sections of the exam to review your work. |
| During the practicum, be sure to complete the tasks that offer more
points, and complete the lesser tasks last. |
| As you read the programming portion (practicum) use a marker to
highlight each room name, and connect them with colored lines to other
room names, to create a crude bubble diagram. It speeds up completing the
adjacency matrix. |
| Label everything on the drawing (practicum). Make it easy for the jurors
to fid what they are looking for. |
Recommended exam study resources
Books:
Whited, Lisa, Editor, NCIDQ
Examination Study Guide, 3rd Ed., 2005, National Council for Interior
Design Qualification, ISBN: 1-930747-06-3
Ballast, David Kent, The Interior Design Reference Manual: A Guide to the NCIDQ
Exam, 3rd Ed., 2006, Professional Publications. ISBN-13:
978-1-59126-047-9
Henley, Pamela E.B., Interior
Design Practicum Exam Workbook, 2nd Ed., 2003, Professional
Publications. ISBN: 1-888577-82-7
Seminars:
STEP
(Self-Testing Exercises for Pre-Professionals) Workshop , Sponsored
by American Society
of Interior Designers (ASID)
NCIDQ Study
Sessions, Sponsored by International Interior Design Association
(IIDA) Florida Chapter (Free to IIDA members)
For more information about the exam, visit www.ncidq.org
and also visit the appropriate state
regulatory agency. In Florida, contact the Florida
Board of Architecture and Interior Design through the Department of
Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Division of
Professions. Here's an excellent FAQ
on Florida licensing requirements for interior designers, prepared by
DBPR.
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