Advance your career and the interior design profession by earning the NCIDQ Certification. Be prepared and confident to pass the NCIDQ Exam with ASID. 

Presenting the NCIDQ Exam Prep by ASID program – open to all, with special discounts for current ASID members. Winter and Summer course cycles offered. Limited spots are available!

Price: $299 | ASID Member Price: $249 

Fee includes 6 months of access to Design Learning by ASID online program content, live and recorded webinars, and placement in a virtual study group.

STEP 1: Register for the program.

STEP 2: Purchase your course materials.

STEP 3: Begin working in the online course right away. Instructions are provided for each module in the course.

STEP 4: Meet your study coach and peer study group. You will be supporting each other during the program, right up to exam time!

STEP 5: Plan to attend the live webinars scheduled for each section of the exam. Be sure to complete your pre-webinar assignment before each webinar!

GET STARTED

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)  

EXAM SECTION COVERAGE

1.  Do you cover all sections of the exam equally?  
   Yes. The course includes structured prep for all three NCIDQ Exam sections: IDFX (Fundamentals), IDPX (Professional Practice), and the PRAC (Practicum). Each has its own module with independent assignments, a live webinar, and follow-up study activities to ensure balanced support across all sections.  
2. I only plan to take one section of the exam during the upcoming testing period. Would it still be helpful for me to take this exam prep program?  
   Yes. The course is designed to support participants preparing for one, two, or all three sections of the NCIDQ Exam. While you can focus solely on the module(s) related to the section you're taking, we highly recommend attending all live webinars and study sessions to fully benefit from expert guidance, study tools, webinars, and peer support. Design concepts and important test-taking skills apply across all sections.   

 PROGRAM FORMAT AND TIMING  

1. What is the format for completing the coursework? Are there any live components?  
   The course includes both on-demand (asynchronous) and live (synchronous) components. Many of the assignments are on-demand and self-paced with deadlines, but there are also live webinars for each exam section and virtual study group sessions that provide real-time interaction with instructors, Study Coaches, and peers.  

2. What is the time commitment to participate in the program?  

• Live virtual meetings:  The webinars are 1.5 hours in length. Study coaches set their own schedules for the small group sessions; they are typically held weekly for 1 - 2 hours over 7 - 8 weeks.   

• On-demand course content:  You can expect to spend up to 1.5 - 2 hours completing the on-demand content available in Module 1, Getting Started.   

• Independent study time:  It is estimated that you should plan 5 – 10 hours per week studying for the NCIDQ Exam leading up to your exam date. NCIDQ Exam Prep by ASID includes a live webinar covering each NCIDQ exam section with an associated homework assignment. Allow 1 – 2 weeks to study and complete the homework assignment, in addition to 1 - 2 weeks post-webinar to thoroughly review content and complete the independent work assigned.  

3. If I’m unable to attend one of the live webinars, will I have access to a recording?  
   Although the webinars are recorded, participants are strongly encouraged to attend all scheduled live webinars and study group sessions to ensure their questions and needs are addressed in real time. Study coaches may record their meetings upon request.   

 PRICING AND LOGISTICS  

1. What supplemental materials or textbooks will I need to purchase?  
   The course requires the additional purchase of four textbooks by David Kent Ballast, which are used extensively in assignments and mock exams:  

• NCIDQ Interior Design Reference Manual, Seventh Edition (2022, Kaplan/PPI; ISBN: 978-1-59126-842-0)  
• NCIDQ Fundamentals Practice Questions and Mock Exam, Third Edition (2022, Kaplan/PPI; ISBN: 978-1-59126-843-7)  
• NCIDQ Professional Practice Questions and Mock Exam, Third Edition (2022, Kaplan/PPI; ISBN: 978-1-59126-844-4)  
• NCIDQ Practicum Mock Exam, Third Edition (2022, Kaplan/PPI; ISBN: 978-1-59126-845-1)  

2. I am based outside the United States. Will I be able to fully participate in the program?   
   The course is fully online and accessible internationally. All on-demand materials are available 24/7, and live webinars are recorded for later viewing. However, please note that all live sessions, including webinars and study groups, are scheduled based on U.S. Eastern Time and may be more difficult to attend live if you are in an international time zone. You will get the most out of the course if you are able to attend webinars and study group sessions live.  

(Visit the Design Learning by ASID FAQs for more information).