Certified Interior Designer

Requirements

Education Overview

Applicants for certification must hold a bachelor's degree in interior design from a program accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) or its equivalent.

Examination Overview

The Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ) offers three routes to applying for the NCIDQ Exams which are administered in two exam periods each year – one in April, and one in October. Application deadlines are January 31 for the April exams, and July 31 for the October exams.

Experience Overview

You must provide evidence that you meet the qualifying experience requirements. Experience must be diversified in the practice of interior design for public spaces and include the following knowledge areas: (1) space planning; (2) building code research and analysis; (3) programming; (4) schematic design and design development; (5) preparation of construction documents; (6) cost estimating; (7) specification of building materials and finishes; (8) specification of furnishings, fixtures, and equipment; (9) bidding/negotiating procedures; and (10) construction administration.

Experience must be under the direct supervision of a certified interior designer, NCIDQ certificate holder, licensed architect, or (if earned prior to June 1, 2013) an interior designer.

Initial applicants will need two years of qualifying experience, while Comity applications are reviewed based on the Experience requirements that were in place in Minnesota at the time of original licensure.

For Additional Information

Please visit each tab – Initial License, and License (Comity) – for complete details on the Education, Examination, and Experience requirements.

Initial Certification

Certification as an Interior Designer in Minnesota is voluntary; however the use of the title "Certified Interior Designer” is restricted to those who have met the requirements in Minnesota statutes and rules.

Education Overview

Applicants for certification must hold a bachelor's degree in interior design from a program accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) or its equivalent. If the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ) required an education evaluation from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or World Education Services (WES) to determine your eligibility to sit for the exam, you must request that the education evaluator send a copy of the evaluation to the Board as part of your application for certification. See MN Rule 1800.2100 Subp. 2(A) for education details.

Experience Overview

You must provide evidence that you meet the qualifying experience requirements. Experience must be diversified in the practice of interior design for public spaces and include the following knowledge areas: (1) space planning; (2) building code research and analysis; (3) programming; (4) schematic design and design development; (5) preparation of construction documents; (6) cost estimating; (7) specification of building materials and finishes; (8) specification of furnishings, fixtures, and equipment; (9) bidding/negotiating procedures; and (10) construction administration.

Experience must be under the direct supervision of a certified interior designer, NCIDQ certificate holder, licensed architect, or (if earned prior to June 1, 2013) an interior designer.

Initial applicants will need two years of qualifying experience. Use the Experience Reference form, which is part of the Application for the Use of the Title "Certified Interior Designer" packet, to report your experience. You must customize and send a copy to every supervisor verifying your experience. The completed form must be sent by the supervisor directly to the Board; it may not be submitted by the applicant. Please review the Experience Reference Form Sample for guidance.

Examination Routes Overview

CIDQ offers three routes to applying for the NCIDQ Exams which are administered in two exam periods each year – one in April, and one in October. Application deadlines are January 31 for the April exams, and July 31 for the October exams.

Route 1: IDFX, IDIX (formerly PRAC), IDPX

For candidates who meet both education and work experience requirements at the time of application.

Steps to Apply for IDFX, IDIX, IDPX:

1. Submit official transcript(s). You’ll be notified once CIDQ uploads them.
2. Complete work verification. Your supervisor or sponsor must verify. You’ll receive a confirmation once complete.
3. Pay application fee and submit application.
4. Receive status update via email after review.

Route 2, Part 1: IDFX Only

For candidates who meet the education requirement (or are in their final year of an interior design degree program) but do not yet have the required work experience.

Steps to Apply for IDFX Only:

1. Submit official transcript(s). You’ll be notified once CIDQ uploads them.
2. Pay application fee and submit application.
3. Receive status update via email after review.

Route 2, Part 2: IDIX (formerly PRAC) & IDPX

After approval of IDFX Only and completion of work experience, submit a new application to take the IDIX and IDPX.

With each exam registration, you pay an examination fee. This fee is set by and paid to CIDQ. Please note that CIDQ fees are final and must be paid to be reviewed. They are non-refundable. Questions must be addressed directly to CIDQ.

See the Instructions Overview for more information on how to apply.

Certification

After you have completed the Education, Experience, and Examination requirements summarized above, you may submit an Application for the Use of the Title "Certified Interior Designer". Once the Board has determined that you meet all requirements for certification, you will be sent a Certificate Fee Letter. To obtain your professional certificate once you receive the letter, you must submit a check or money order for $120 made payable to “MN Board of AELSLAGID” along with a copy of the certificate fee letter referenced above. At this time, the Board is unable to accept cash, credit card, or other forms of electronic payment for the certificate fee.

Once the Board receives your certificate fee, a certificate number will be generated, and a certificate card will be mailed to you. A wall certificate signed by the Board Chair and Secretary and suitable for framing will be sent to you following the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. NOTE: You are not certified and cannot practice or hold out as certified until the Board processes your certificate and issues your certificate number.

Regardless of when it is obtained, your certificate expires June 30th of every even-numbered year unless renewed.

Certification (Comity)

Certification by Comity (Reciprocity)

Whether you already hold a license or certification in another jurisdiction or are an initial applicant for certification, the same Application for the Use of the Title "Certified Interior Designer" is used. Read the instructions on that form and supply the information requested for those applying by “Reciprocity or Comity." Please note that comity (reciprocal) applicants should refer to MN Rule 1800.2100 Subp. 2(B) to determine the amount of qualifying experience they need.

Comity applications are reviewed based on the Education, Examination, and Experience requirements that were in place in Minnesota at the time of your original licensure. (For example: If you were originally certified or licensed in 1998, your credentials will be evaluated based on the Education, Examination, and Experience requirements that were in place in Minnesota in 1998). See MN Rule 1800.2100 for details.

Certification

Once the Board has determined that you meet all requirements for certification, you will be sent a Certificate Fee Letter. To obtain your professional certificate once you receive the letter, you must submit a check or money order for $120 made payable to “MN Board of AELSLAGID” along with a copy of the certificate fee letter referenced above. At this time, the Board is unable to accept cash, credit card, or other forms of electronic payment for the certificate fee.

Once the Board receives your certificate fee, a certificate number will be generated, and a certificate card will be mailed to you. A wall certificate signed by the Board Chair and Secretary and suitable for framing will be sent to you following the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. NOTE: You are not certified and cannot practice or hold out as certified until the Board processes your certificate and issues your certificate number.

Regardless of when it is obtained, your certificate expires June 30th of every even-numbered year unless renewed.

MN Architects

Certification of MN Licensed Architects as Interior Designers

Architects who are already licensed in Minnesota and wish to request use of the title “Certified Interior Designer” may use the Application for Certification as an Interior Designer for MN Licensed Architects and submit the $50 application fee. No additional Education, Experience, or Examination is required – see MN Statute 326.02 Subd 4b(b). However, by holding dual licensure, you will need to renew both your Architect license and your Certification as an Interior Designer by June 30 of every even-numbered year, and meet the PDH requirements for dual licensees.

Certification

Once the Board has determined that you meet all requirements for certification, you will be sent a Certificate Fee Letter. To obtain your professional certificate once you receive the letter, you must submit a check or money order for $120 made payable to “MN Board of AELSLAGID” along with a copy of the certificate fee letter referenced above. At this time, the Board is unable to accept cash, credit card, or other forms of electronic payment for the certificate fee.

Once the Board receives your certificate fee, a certificate number will be generated, and a certificate card will be mailed to you. A wall certificate signed by the Board Chair and Secretary and suitable for framing will be sent to you following the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. NOTE: You are not certified and cannot practice or hold out as certified until the Board processes your certificate and issues your certificate number.

Regardless of when it is obtained, your certificate expires June 30th of every even-numbered year unless renewed.

Temporary Permit

What Is a Temporary Permit?

MN Rule 1800.0900, Subpart 7 and MN Statute 326.13, clause (1) define the conditions under which you may seek a temporary permit and the permit application requirements. Temporary permits are only granted to individuals who meet the requirements for application by comity/EEE in Minnesota and who demonstrate need.

A temporary permit allows a qualified individual to accept and undertake a project in the state when the time between the offer of work and the commencement of work is so short that, following the regular license application process, a license may not be approved by the Board in time.

Temporary permits are project specific. A temporary permit does not grant the individual the right to undertake (or solicit) any other project than the one listed on the permit application until full licensure is granted.

IMPORTANT! Pre-Notification to the Board When Soliciting Work in Minnesota

Please be aware that those licensed in another jurisdiction but not in Minnesota may not solicit work in Minnesota without first notifying the Board in writing. They are further required to deliver a copy of that notice to every potential client for whom they are seeking to provide services, and they must apply for licensure/certification within ten days if selected as the design professional for a project in this state. See MN Statute 326.13, clause (2) for details.

Requesting a temporary permit neither negates nor replaces this notification requirement.

Who Can Apply

Individuals licensed or certified in a jurisdiction recognized by the Board and who would otherwise qualify for licensure by comity/EEE may apply for a temporary permit, if circumstances require one and if their profession is one of the following:

• Architect
• Professional Engineer
• Professional Geologist
• Professional Soil Scientist
• Certified Interior Designer

How to Apply

Applicants must submit BOTH the paper Application for Temporary Permit (and $120 license fee) as well as the paper Application for the Use of the Title "Certified Interior Designer" (no fee). In the event that your application is denied, only the $120 license fee will be refunded.

About the Permit

If your temporary permit is approved, the Board will issue you a permit which you must sign and return to the Board within five days. Retain a signed copy for your records. Temporary permits expire 60 days from the date listed on the permit, or as soon as you receive your license number and license card – whichever comes first. Temporary permits cannot be renewed. As noted above, temporary permits are project specific. Holding a permit does not allow you to undertake or solicit additional projects.

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