NCIDQ – The Mark of Professionalism

Shelley Siegel, FASID

We have heard the phrase over and over again - protect the health, life, safety and welfare of the public. It is an integral part of our design education as well as the foundation for our Florida Practice Act. It is this same principle that is the core purpose of NCIDQ establishing standards of competence in the practice of interior design.

The National Council for Interior Design Qualification serves to identify to the public those interior designers who have met the minimum standards for professional practice by passing the NCIDQ Examination.

So why won’t you want to be part of that group of Design Professionals who have successfully passed the exam? Is it that you are too busy? Perhaps you think you are too old to start a new chapter in your life. You might think that the exam is too expensive or that it really doesn’t mean anything. No matter what your excuse is, there are many more reasons to take the exam.

The first on the list should be personal achievement! Imagine the satisfaction of passing the NCIDQ exam and becoming part of an international group of people awarded this honor. Other reasons include keeping up with the body of knowledge of the interior design profession, advancing at your job, and maybe the most important reason is to meet the criteria for licensing.

You have probably heard stories about the exam and the low percentage rate of passage. Well, let me reassure you that those days are gone. NCIDQ continually updates the examination to reflect expanding professional knowledge and design development techniques.

The revised NCIDQ program consists of two comprehensive multiple-choice sections and a practicum section. The first of the multiple-choice sections addresses the domains of programming, schematic design and design development. The second multiple-choice section is titled Contract Documents and Administration. It addresses the domains of contract documents, contract administration and professional practice. Many questions on both of these examinations incorporate drawings, pictures, symbols and textual formats typical in the interior design profession, requiring candidates to recall, apply and analyze information. The NCIDQ examination also features a practicum section named Schematics and Design Development that requires candidates to produce a design solution. The problem requires candidates to (a) interpret the program into schematics; (b) produce plan drawings; and (c) develop appropriate specifications. Work products must address the principles of universal design. The examination is scored according to standardized guidelines by Qualified Council Jurors who have completed a comprehensive training program. (NCIDQ 2007)

In 2006 more than 1,000 interior designers joined the ranks of NCIDQ Certificate holders, proving that they have completed the education, experience and examination needed to be a professional interior designer. Nearly 1,400 exam candidates registered for the Fall 2006 NCIDQ Examination--the greatest number of registrants in NCIDQ history! Don’t be left out – join your colleagues and commitment to take the NCIDQ Exam.



Preparing for the NCIDQ Exam – Part 2

So you have finally made the decision to sit for the NCIDQ exam! Now, where do you begin studying? The most important thing you can do is to start early. The NCIDQ exam is not one that you can take a last minute cram course and expect to be successful. True commitment requires months of preparation. But, do not let that scare you off. Planning ahead will allow you to comfortably adapt a schedule that works for you.

Remember, all your years of experience have given you a wealth of knowledge and experience that will be invaluable when beginning your NCIDQ journey. You may just need to apply that knowledge to different situations.

Also understand that we all learn differently. In fact, researchers have identified three unique learning styles. Your preferred style is the way in which you learn best. The three styles are auditory, visual and tactile/kinesthetics.

Auditory Learners learn best when information is presented in an auditory language format. Do you seem to learn best in classes that emphasize teacher lectures and class discussions? Does listening to audio tapes help you learn better? Do you find yourself reading aloud or talking things out to gain better understanding? If YES, you are probably an Auditory Learner.

Visual Learners learn best when information is presented in a written language format or in another visual format such as pictures or diagrams. Do you do best in classes in which teachers do a lot of writing at the chalkboard, provide clear handouts and make extensive use of an overhead projector? Do you try to remember information by creating pictures in your mind? Do you take detailed written notes? If YES, you are probably a Visual Learner.

Tactile/Kinesthetic Learners learn best in hands-on learning settings in which they can physically manipulate something in order to learn about it. Do you learn best when you can move about and handle things? Do you learn better when you have an actual object in your hands rather than a picture of the object or a verbal or written description of it? If YES, you are probably a Tactile/Kinesthetic Learner.

Whatever style or combination of styles describes you, your learning style is your strength. Go with it whenever you can.

If there were just one piece of advice to give you, it would be: Don’t do it alone. There are many resources available to you. There are some successful programs in place especially geared towards the NCIDQ exam that you may want to look into. The first is the STEP: Self-Testing Exercises for Pre-Professionals program developed by ASID National. The STEP workshop is periodically conducted nationwide and is comprised of 20 hours of instruction over a 2 1/2-day period. According to ASID, participants have the opportunity to experience practice exams patterned after the newest NCIDQ and, with the guidance of experienced instructors, determine which areas require further preparation. Workshop participants are provided with a comprehensive workbook that includes practicum exercises and multiple-choice sections similar to those in the NCIDQ exam. These practice tests are administered and reviewed during the workshop. The workbook also includes helpful practice exams that participants may take home with them. Participants are encouraged to have their STEP workshop experience 4 – 12 months prior to taking the NCIDQ exam. This allows sufficient time for resources to be acquired and skill areas requiring further preparation to be fully studied. For more information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Another option would be a local workshop that presents the subject matter covered on the exam over the course of several months and combines the benefits of an educator lead sessions, practice exams, as well as facilitated study groups made up of your peers. A study group can be beneficial in many ways. A support group can “pick you up” when you find that your motivation to study is slipping. The other group members can be a source of encouragement. If you have a question on the study material, chances are one or more group members are likely to understand something you do not. They may bring up ideas you never considered. You may become more committed to study because the group members are depending on your presentation and participation. You will not want to let them down. Group members will listen and discuss information and concepts during the study sessions. These activities add a strong auditory dimension to your learning experience. You can learn valuable new study habits from the other group members. You can compare your class notes with those of the other group members to clarify your notes and fill in any gaps. Teaching/explaining information and concepts to the other group members will help you reinforce your mastery of the information and concepts. Let’s face it – studying can sometimes be boring. Interacting with the other group members can make studying enjoyable. For more information contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

So why haven’t you taken the road to advancing your professionalism? STOP PROCRASTINATING! Procrastination is putting off or avoiding doing something that must be done. It is natural to procrastinate occasionally. However, excessive procrastination can result in guilt feelings about not doing a task when it should be done. It can also cause anxiety since the task still needs to be done. Further, excessive procrastination can cause poor performance if the task is completed without sufficient time to do it well. In short, excessive procrastination can interfere with your life, your career and your personal success. Which ever method of study you choose, it is never too soon to begin.

A quote by Mary Anne Radmacher-Hershey hanging in my office says it all:

"The jump is so frightening between where I am and where I want to be, because of all I may become I will close my eyes and leap."

Isn’t it time you time you take the leap into the success of NCIDQ Certification?

For more information about the NCIDQ exam, contact NCIDQ at (202) 721-0220 or visit them on the Web at www.ncidq.org. Here you can find a lot of information about the exam, including eligibility requirements, application and registration procedures, and different publications NCIDQ provides to help designers study for the exam.

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