State Licensing Regulations
Below is the state licensure and board information for states with regulation, as available.
ALABAMA
Type of Act: Allows for Sign, Seal and Permitting
Title: "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
Continuing Education for Renewal: Yes
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: Professional State Recognition
Title: "Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 4years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Continuing Education for Renewal: .5 CEUs per year
State Board or Agency:
Arkansas Board of Architects, Landscape Architects and Interior Designers
P.O. Box 250220
Little Rock, AR 72225-0220
T: (870) 226-6875
CALIFORNIA
Type of Act: Allows for Sign and/or Seal
Self-Certification: "Certified Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: None
Total Education Plus Experience: 6-8 years depending on education
Examination Required: IDEX
Continuing Education for Renewal: 10 hours per biennium
Private Certification Company:
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: Allows for Sign and/or Seal
Title: None
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Continuing Education for Renewal: None
CONNECTICUT
Type of Act: Allows for Sign and/or Seal
Title: "Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required: Follows NCIDQ requirements
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Continuing Education for Renewal: None
State Board or Agency:
Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
Professional Licensing Div.- Interior Design
165 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
T: (860) 713-6145
F: (860) 713-7230
FLORIDA
Type of Act: Allows for Sign, Seal and Permitting
Title: "Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Continuing Education for Renewal: Not less than 20 hours per biennium
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: Allows for Sign and/or Seal
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
Continuing Education for Renewal: 12 hours per biennium
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: Professional State Recognition
Title: "Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Continuing Education for Renewal: None
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
INDIANA
Type of Act: Professional State Recognition
Title: "Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ or ARE
Continuing Education for Renewal: None
State Board or Agency:
Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
T: (317) 232-2980
IOWA
Type of Act: Professional State Recognition
Title: "Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
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: Allows for Sign and/or Seal
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
Continuing Education for Renewal: 12 hours per year
State Board or Agency:
Kentucky Board of Architects and Certified Interior Designers
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: Allows for Sign, Seal and Permitting
Title: "Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Continuing Education for Renewal: .5 CEU’s per year
State Board or Agency:
Louisiana State Board of Interior Designers
5222 Summa Court, Suite 358
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
T: (225) 763-5550
F: (225) 763-5551
MAINE
Type of Act: Professional State Recognition
Title: "Certified Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 4 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Continuing Education for Renewal: None
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
F: (207) 624-8637
MARYLAND
Type of Act: Allows for Sign and/or Seal
Title: "Certified Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 4 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Continuing Education for Renewal: 10 hour per biennium
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: Allows for Sign and/or Seal
Title: "Certified Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: Board determined
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Continuing Education for Renewal: 24 hours per biennium
State Board or Agency:
Minnesota AELSLAGID
Office of the Board
85 East 7th Place, Suite 160
St. Paul, MN 55101
T: (651) 296-2388
F: (651) 297-5310
MISSISSIPPI
Type of Act: Professional State Recognition
Title: "Mississippi Certified Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 4 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Continuing Education for Renewal: 8 hours per year
State Board or Agency:
Mississippi State Board of Architecture
2 Professional Parkway #2B
Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157
T: 601-856-4652
F: 601-856-1510
Toll free: 888-272-2627
E: msboa@archbd.state.ms.us
MISSOURI
Type of Act: Professional State Recognition
Title: "Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Continuing Education for Renewal: 10 hours per biennium
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: Allows for Sign, Seal and Permitting
Title: "Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 4 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Continuing Education for Renewal: None
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
F: (702) 486-7304
E: nsbaidrd@nsbaidrd.nv.gov
NEW JERSEY
Type of Act: Allows for Sign and/or Seal
Title: "Certified Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Continuing Education for Renewal: Yes
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: Professional State Recognition
Title: "Licensed Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Continuing Education for Renewal: 8 hours per year
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: Allows for Sign and/or Seal
Title: "Certified Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 7 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Continuing Education for Renewal: None
State Board or Agency:
New York State Education DepartmentBoard of Interior Design
Office of the Professions
State Board for Interior Design
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234-1000
T: (518) 474-3817 x140
F: (518) 473-6282
E: indsgnbd@mail.nysed.gov
OKLAHOMA
Type of Act: Professional State Recognition
Title: "Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Continuing Education for Renewal: None
State Board or Agency:
Oklahoma Board of 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: Allows for Sign, Seal and Permitting
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
Continuing Education for Renewal: .45 hours per year
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
F: (787) 722-4818
TENNESSEE
Type of Act: Professional State Recognition
Title: "Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Continuing Education for Renewal: 24 hours per year
State Board or Agency:
Tennessee Board of Architectural & Engineering Examiners
500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243-1142
T: (615) 741-3221
F: (615) 532-9410
E: ce.aeboard@state.tn.us
TEXAS
Type of Act: Allows for Sign and/or Seal
Title: "Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Continuing Education for Renewal: 8 hours per year
State Board or Agency:
Texas Board of Architectural Examiners
P.O. Box 12337
Austin, TX 78711-2337
T: (512) 305-9000
F: (512) 305-8900
VIRGINIA
Type of Act: Allows for Sign and/or Seal
Title: "Certified Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 4 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Continuing Education for Renewal: None
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: Allows for Sign, Seal and Permitting
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
Continuing Education for Renewal: .5 CEU’s per biennium
State Board or Agency:
Board of Architecture and Interior Design
441 4th Street NW, Suite 530 South
Washington, DC 20001
T: (202) 727-1372
F: (202) 442-4528
WISCONSIN
Type of Act: Professional State Recognition
Title: "Wisconsin Registered Interior Designer"
Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: 2 years
Total Education Plus Experience: 6 years
Examination Required: NCIDQ
Continuing Education for Renewal: 9 hours per biennium
State Board or Agency:
Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing
P.O. Box 8935
Madison, WI 53708-8935
T: (608) 266-5511
F: (608) 267-3816
E: web@drl.state.wi.us