A. In Virginia, we have a title act. Interior designers who meet the qualifications may apply for and be granted the right to call themselves “certified interior designer”, and use an official seal on their drawings. Because it's not a practice act, which would restrict the right to practice without benefit of a license, anyone may call themselves an interior designer. That is, anyone can practice our profession with a regular business license, but only those who have received the state certificate and paid the applicable fees can use “CID” after their name.

Q. It's very confusing. There are different requirements for taking the NCIDQ exam, for becoming professional members of ASID, and for becoming state certified. Why?

A. It would be very helpful if the requirements for all three were identical, but they are different organizations, each with its own governance board, and each with slightly different requirements. You can take the NCIDQ exam with a combination of as little as a 2 year associates degree in interior design plus a required amount of experience. Allied membership in ASID requires similar education and experience. See the websites for current information and applications. www.asid.org www.ncidq.org

Some states and jurisdictions allow interior designers to become certified or licensed with fewer restrictions than we have in Virginia. Our state is among the most restrictive of the 26 states and jurisdictions plus the eight Canadian provinces with laws recognizing interior designers. For Virginia certification requirements, see the final question.

A. ASID has full-time employees who work with our chapters around the country to support interior design legislation. If you go to the website, www.asid.org and put “legislation” in the search box you'll find numerous documents of interest. States and jurisdictions understand that competent professionals improve the health, safety and welfare of the public in spaces they design. Legal recognition establishes standards of minimum competency, including education, experience and examination, and legislation helps consumers differentiate the responsibilities and services of each of the design professions.

A. Possibly. Legal recognition enables a state or jurisdiction to discipline an interior designer in order to protect the public. By holding yourself out to your clients as having the best credentials, you are also vowing to uphold the highest standards of the profession, a code of ethics, and fiduciary responsibility.

A. The requirements to gain certification in placeStateVirginia are these. You must be a graduate of a CIDA (formerly known as FIDER) accredited four-year interior design program. There is also text in the law which states that those who have graduated from an equivalent program, in the opinion of our state board, may be approved. Any expense in proving the equivalencies at the time of your graduation will be borne by the applicant. If your university was granted its accreditation within a year following your graduation, you will be eligible.

The second requirement is that you must have worked for 2 years under the direct supervision of a certified interior designer or a licensed architect. You may have some work experience granted by working under a professional engineer, but the time and credit is limited.

A. The state board which oversees certified interior designers and other related professions is called the Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects (APELSCIDLA Board). Use the web address below to find the application as well as a copy of the regulations pertaining to all the professions regulated by this board.