Below is the state licensure and board information for states with regulation, as available.
This information is also available in a .pdf by clicking here. To download a color-coded map of states with interior design legislation, click here.
ALABAMA
Type of Act: Title/Practice Act
Title: "Interior Designer"/"Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 60 quarters or 48 tri sem. credit hours/4 years for the registered level
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ/NCIDQ and an additional exam to be offered by the Board for the registered level
Grandfather Clause: Expired March 2002
Continuing Education for Renewal: Yes
Year Passed: Title Act: 1982 Practice Act: 2001
State Board or Agency:
Alabama State Board of Registration for Interior Design
P.O. Box 11026
Birmingham, AL 35202
T: (205) 879-4232
F: (205) 879-4232 (then press *51)
E: intdesbd@bellsouth.net
ARKANSAS
Type of Act: Title Act
Title: "Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 4years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Expired 12/31/95 (Reopened, expired 12/31/98)
Continuing Education for Renewal: .5 CEUs per year
Year Passed: 1993, amended 1997
State Board or Agency:
Arkansas Board of Registered Interior Designers
P.O. Box 250220
Little Rock, AR 72225-0220
T: (870) 226-6875 - Mary Beth Frazer
CALIFORNIA
Type of Act: Title Act
Self-Certification: "Certified Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: None
Total Education Plus Experience: 6-8 years depending on education
Examination Required: NCIDQ, CQRID, or CKD and CBD exams plus the CCRE
Grandfather Clause: Expired 12/31/92
Continuing Education for Renewal: 10 hours per biennium
Year Passed: 1990, amended 1991 extended to 2007
State Board or Agency:
California Council for Interior Design Certification (CCIDC)
1605 Grand Avenue, Suite 4
San Marcos, CA 92069-2440
T: (760) 761-4734
F: (760) 761-4736
E: office@ccidc.org
COLORADO
Type of Act: Permitting Statute
Title: None
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: None
Continuing Education for Renewal: None
Year Passed: 2001
CONNECTICUT
Type of Act: Title Act
Title: "Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required: Follows NCIDQ requirements
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Expired
Continuing Education for Renewal: None
Year Passed: 1983, amended 1987
State Board or Agency:
Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
Professional Licensing Div.- Interior Design
165 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
T: (860) 713-6145 Bob Kuzmich
F: (860) 713-7230
FLORIDA
Type of Act: Title/Practice Act
Title: "Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Expired 3/30/97
Continuing Education for Renewal: Not less than 20 hours per biennium
Year Passed: Title Act: 1988, amended 1989 Practice Act: 1994
State Board or Agency:
Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design
Northwood Center
1940 N. Monroe Street, Suite 60
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0751
T: (850) 487-1395
F: (850) 922-2918
E: Call.Center@dbpr.state.fl.us
GEORGIA
Type of Act: Title Act
Title: "Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 4 years or first professional degree
Total Education Plus Experience: 4 years (no experience specified)
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Expired 7/1/96
Continuing Education for Renewal: 12 hours per biennium
Year Passed: 1992, amended 1994
State Board or Agency:
Georgia State Board of Architects and Interior Designers
237 Coliseum Drive
Atlanta, GA 31217-3858
T: (478) 207-2440
F: (478) 207-1354
ILLINOIS
Type of Act: Title Act
Title: "Interior Designer"/"Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Reopened, expired 1/31/93
Continuing Education for Renewal: None
Year Passed: 1990, amended 1994
State Board or Agency:
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
320 West Washington Street
Springfield, IL 62786
T: (217) 785-0800
F: (217) 782-0458
IOWA
Type of Act: Title Act
Title: "Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Expired July 1, 2007
Year Passed: 2005
State Board or Agency:
Interior Design Examining Board
1920 SE Hulsizer Road
Ankeny, IA 50021
T: (515) 281-7356
F: (515) 281-7411
KENTUCKY
Type of Act: Title Act
Title: "Certified Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
To become certified in Kentucky prior to January 1, 2009 interior designer must have a total of seven years of interior design education and experience. After this time, interior designers will need a minimum of a four year degree from a FIDER accredited school and two years of interior design experience.
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Expired 7/15/06
Continuing Education for Renewal: 12 hours per year
Year Passed: 2002
State Board or Agency:
Kentucky State Board of Examiners and Registration of Architects
Spindletop Administrative Building
2624 Research Park Drive, Suite 101
Lexington, KY 40511
T: (859) 246-2069
F: (859) 246-2431
E: kybera.general@ky.gov
LOUISIANA
Type of Act: Title/Practice Act
Title: "Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Expired (Reopened, expired 1/1/03)
Continuing Education for Renewal: .5 CEU’s per year
Year Passed: Title Act: 1984, amended 1990, 1995, 1997 Practice Act: 1999
State Board or Agency:
Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Interior Design
3445 North Causeway Blvd., Suite 320
Metairie, LA 70002
T: (504) 828-6800 Jayne Avery
F: (504) 828-6803
E: admin@lsbid.org
MAINE
Type of Act: Title Act
Title: "Certified Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 4 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Expired 4/15/95
Continuing Education for Renewal: None
Year Passed: 1993
State Board or Agency:
Maine State Board for Licensure of Architects, Landscape Architects and Interior Designers
35 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0035
T: (207) 624-8603 Laurel Grady
F: (207) 624-8637
MARYLAND
Type of Act: Title Act
Title: "Certified Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 4 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Expired
Continuing Education for Renewal: 10 hour per biennium
Year Passed: 1991, amended 1997
State Board or Agency:
Maryland Department of Licensing and Regulation
Board of Certified Interior Designers
500 N. Calvert Street, Room 308
Baltimore, MD 21202
T: (410) 230-6322
F: (410) 333-0021
E: interiordesign@dllr.state.md.us
MICHIGAN
Note: The Michigan State Board of Architects keeps a list of qualified interior designers. Contact the board for more information.
Michigan State Board of Architects
Commercial Services and Corporations
Licensing Division
P.O. Box 30018
Lansing, MI 48909
T: (517) 241-9288
F: (517) 373-3085
E: bcslic@michigan.gov
MINNESOTA
Type of Act: Title Act
Title: "Certified Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: Board determined
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Expired 8/31/93
Continuing Education for Renewal: 24 hours per biennium
Year Passed: 1992, amended 1995
State Board or Agency:
Minnesota AELSLAGID
Office of the Board
85 East 7th Place, Suite 160
St. Paul, MN 55101
T: (651) 296-2388 Sheri Lindemann
F: (651) 297-5310
MISSOURI
Type of Act: Title Act
Title: "Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Expired 8/27/98
Continuing Education for Renewal: 10 hours per biennium
Year Passed: 1998
State Board or Agency:
Missouri Interior Design Council
3605 Missouri Blvd.
P.O. Box 1335
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1335
T: (573) 522-4683
F: (573) 526-3489
E: intdesn@pr.mo.gov
NEVADA
Type of Act: Title/Practice Act
Title: "Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 4 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Expired 1/1/96
Continuing Education for Renewal: None
Year Passed: 1995
State Board or Agency:
Nevada State Board of Architecture, Interior Design & Residential Design
2080 E. Flamingo Road, Suite 120
Las Vegas, NV 89119
T: (702) 486-7300 Gina Spaulding
F: (702) 486-7304
E: nsbaidrd@nsbaidrd.nv.gov
NEW JERSEY
Type of Act: Title Act
Title: "Certified Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Open until May 3, 2007 - Requires 10 years of full-time diversified professional experience.
Continuing Education for Renewal: Yes
Year Passed: 2002
State Board or Agency:
New Jersey State Board of Architects
P.O. Box 45001
Newark, NJ 07101
T: (973) 504-6385
NEW MEXICO
Type of Act: Title Act
Title: "Licensed Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Expired
Continuing Education for Renewal: 8 hours per year
Year Passed: 1989
State Board or Agency:
New Mexico Board of Interior Design
2550 Cerrillos Road
Santa Fe, NM 87505
T: (505) 476-4865
F: (505) 476-4600
E: interior.design@state.nm.us
NEW YORK
Type of Act: Title Act
Title: "Certified Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 7 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Expired 1/1/96
Continuing Education for Renewal: None
Year Passed: 1990
State Board or Agency:
New York State Education Department
Board of Interior Design
Office of the Professions
State Board for Interior Design
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234-1000
T: (518) 474-3817 x140 Lorraine O'Keefe
F: (518) 473-6282
E: indsgnbd@mail.nysed.gov
OKLAHOMA
Type of Act: Title
Title: "Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Expires June 30, 2009 - To become registered under the grandfather clause, applicants must have an interior design education that the board deems equivalent to an accredited professional degree in interior design and passage of the NCIDQ exam. Or in lieu of any professional degree, applicants must have six years of diversified and appropriate interior design experience and passage of the NCIDQ exam. Additionally, the board may waive the educational and experience requirements if the applicant can demonstrate 15 years of diversified and appropriate interior design experience prior to July 1, 2007 in order to use the title "interior designer."
Continuing Education for Renewal: None
Year Passed: 2006
State Board or Agency:
Oklahoma Board of Governors of the Licensed Architects, Landscape Architects and Interior Designers
Landmark Towers
P.O. Box 53430
Oklahoma City, OK 73152
T: (405) 949-2383
F: (405) 949-1690
E: okla@boardofarch.com
PUERTO RICO
Type of Act: Title/Practice Act
Title: "Interior Designer"/"Interior Decorator"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years or 480 hours
Total Education Plus Experience: 2 years (no experience specified)
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Expired
Continuing Education for Renewal: .45 hours per year
Year Passed: 1973, amended 1976
State Board or Agency:
Puerto Rico State Department
Examining Board of Interior Designers
P.O. Box 3271
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00902
T: (787) 722-2122, x237 (Ruth Andino, Espanol)
F: (787) 722-4818 (Jasmine, English)
TENNESSEE
Type of Act: Title Act
Title: "Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Expired 12/31/93
Continuing Education for Renewal: 24 hours per year
Year Passed: 1991, amended 1995, amended 1997
State Board or Agency:
Tennessee Board of Architectural & Engineering Examiners
500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243-1142
T: (615) 741-3221 Joyce Shrum
F: (615) 532-9410
E: ce.aeboard@state.tn.us
TEXAS
Type of Act: Title Act
Title: "Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Expired 8/31/94
Continuing Education for Renewal: 8 hours per year
Year Passed: 1991
State Board or Agency:
Texas Board of Architectural Examiners
P.O. Box 12337
Austin, TX 78711-2337
T: (512) 305-9000 Mary Helmcamp
F: (512) 305-8900
VIRGINIA
Type of Act: Title Act
Title: "Certified Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 4 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Expired 7/1/95
Continuing Education for Renewal: None
Year Passed: 1990, amended 1994
State Board or Agency:
Virginia APELSCIDLA Board
3600 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23230-4917
T: (804) 367-8512 or (840) 367-8506
F: (804) 367-2475
WASHINGTON, DC
Type of Act: Title/Practice Act
Title: "Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years (as required by NCIDQ to take exam)
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Expired
Continuing Education for Renewal: .5 CEU’s per biennium
Year Passed: 1986
State Board or Agency:
DC Office of Boards and Commissions
c/o DC Board of Architecture and Interior Design
441 4th Street NW, Suite 530 South
Washington, DC 20001
T: (202) 727-1372
F: (202) 442-4528
Note: Click here for the DC interior design statute, board regulations and licensure information.
WISCONSIN
Type of Act: Title Act
Title: "Wisconsin Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Grandfather Clause: Expired 5/1/97
Continuing Education for Renewal: 9 hours per biennium
Year Passed: 1996
State Board or Agency:
Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing
P.O. Box 8935
Madison, WI 53708-8935
T: (608) 266-5511 Cletus Hansen
F: (608) 267-3816
E: web@drl.state.wi.us