CIDQ Scholarships
Apply Only If You’re Ready to Commit
These scholarships are a valuable opportunity for candidates prepared to take the next step in their academic journey. Before applying, please ensure:
- You are committed to completing the required exams.
- You have the time and resources to prepare.
- You truly need this support to achieve your goals.
If you’re not ready, we kindly ask you to wait and let someone else who is prepared benefit from this chance. Your honesty helps us support those who need it most.
CIDQ Scholarship ACCESS Program (SAP)
Empowering Diverse Voices in Design
CIDQ is committed to creating a more inclusive interior design profession—one that reflects a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. The Scholarship ACCESS Program (SAP) aims to reduce barriers and expand access to career opportunities for historically underrepresented minorities and underserved communities.
We encourage individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, gender identities, sexual orientations, and those with disabilities to apply.
Program Goals
- Support Underrepresented Minorities
- Provide access and opportunity to advance their careers
- Diversify the Talent Pool
- Increase access within the profession
Scholarship Details
- Scholarships cover exam fees only (not application fees, study materials, or other expenses).
- Awards are annual and apply to spring and/or fall 2027 exams.
- Scholarships must be used in the fiscal year awarded.
- Decisions are based on clarity of ideas, communication of experiences, and teaching impact.
Eligibility Requirements
To apply, you must:
- Belong to a historically underrepresented group
- Have a CIDQ-approved NCIDQ Exam application at the time of scholarship submission
- Individuals awarded the scholarship in the previous year are not eligible to reapply for the current award cycle
A note to scholarship recipients: When a voucher code is used, and the exam is subsequently canceled, CIDQ incurs a cost for that seat. As a result, vouchers will not be replaced or reissued after they have been used to schedule an exam.
Emerging Interior Design Educator Scholarship Program
Empowering Educators, Elevating Futures
Program Goals
- Help full-time emerging educators become NCIDQ Certified, advancing their academic careers
- Ensure students are mentored by certified faculty who champion the interior design profession and promote engagement
Scholarship Details
- Scholarships cover exam fees only (not application fees, study materials, or other expenses).
- Awards are annual and apply to spring and/or fall 2027 exams.
- Scholarships must be used in the fiscal year awarded.
- Decisions are based on clarity of ideas, communication of experiences, and teaching impact.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a full-time interior design educator
- Must have CIDQ-approved NCIDQ Exam application at the time of submission
- Individuals awarded the scholarship in the previous year are not eligible to reapply for the current award cycle
A note to scholarship recipients: When a voucher code is used, and the exam is subsequently canceled, CIDQ incurs a cost for that seat. As a result, vouchers will not be replaced or reissued after they have been used to schedule an exam.
Dreaming big?
2027 Scholarship Programs open in fall 2026.
Mark your calendar and check back for details!