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Scottsdale Community College (SCC) is launching the Professional Interior Design Certificate program in the Spring 2021 semester to assist those who wish to take the National Council for Interior Design Certification exam (NCIDQ), the professional exam requirement for many practitioners across the U.S. The certification also helps qualify interior designers for membership in the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).
At 21 credits, the Professional Interior Design Certificate has been created for graduates of the SCC Interior Design Associate degree who intend to take the exam, and has been designed for both current students and practicing professionals.
The exam’s core purpose is to protect the health, life, safety and welfare of the public, by ensuring designers possess minimum standards for practice. In addition to the learning outcomes provided in the associate’s degree, interior designers wishing to take the exam must also possess knowledge of building codes, building systems, and aspects of commercial design. The exam requires a minimum of 60 credits of interior design education.
According to the ASID website, the NCIDQ certification gives interior designers a sense of personal achievement and contributes not only to the individual’s professional recognition but also to the recognition of the profession as a whole. Passing the NCIDQ exam provides interior designers with peer recognition and promotes public acceptance through awareness of a profession with certified practitioners.
All courses in SCC’s new certificate program are available in online or hybrid learning formats. Students may begin the Professional Certificate track before graduating with their associate degree. Courses include: Residential Design, Advanced Custom Design, Interior Codes and Regulations, Building Systems, Lighting Design, Commercial Design, and Basic Revit or Introduction to Sketchup.
The new program is part of SCC’s Center of Excellence for Interior Design, which provides the highest quality design educational opportunities for students to explore their creativity and nurture design innovation through combined resources and expanded facilities. The Center of Excellence for Interior Design is a rigorous two-year program culminating in an Associate of Applied Science degree in Interior Design. The program focuses on residential design, emphasizing design fundamentals, design technology and real-world design experiences.
“The new Professional Interior Design Certificate provides an important next step in helping our students become successful interior design professionals,” said Rachel Simmons, Interior Design Program Director.
More Information
Visit the SCC Interior Design program page for complete details on this area of study.