WHO

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For candidates who are unable to traditionally document the minimum educational requirement for either jurisdictional interior design registration, exam eligibility, or both.

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WHAT

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An alternative option is available to evaluate applicants who have the same competencies as measured by traditional application routes, but took an unconventional path to gain that experience and education. Applicants must have a minimum of 8,800 hours (approximately 5 years) of work experience in interior design and must be able to document competencies based on current CIDA standards in the areas of:

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• Health, Safety and Welfare

• Human Behavior

• Design Process

• Space and Form

• Construction Documentation; Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment; Bidding; and Construction Administration

• Environmental Systems and Controls

• Interior Construction and Building Systems

• Professionalism and Business Practice

 

Documentation will then be reviewed by a group of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). The review process consists of an education evaluation, a dossier review of work experience, and if further information is required, a personal interview. 

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HOW

New Applicants

Who Have Not Yet Applied or Taken the NCIDQ Exam

 

Step One:  

Read all the instructions carefully.

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Step Two:  

Submit the $225 application fee for the traditional review via http://www.cidq.org/apply.

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Step Three: 

Document all post-secondary interior design education on the Education Review Form and submit with all related materials with the additional $595 ARP fee.

 

Education will be reviewed by the SME Evaluators to determine which competencies were met with any post-secondary education. An evaluation will be provided to applicant.

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Step Four:

Wait to submit your Dossier Review Form until you receive your education evaluation. Once you have the education evaluation and your education is deemed eligible, respond to any missing competencies from your education review with the Dossier Review Form within 3 weeks of the education evaluation receipt. 

 

SME Evaluators will review an applicant’s experiential background to determine which competencies were met as a result of interior design practice experience.

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Step Five:

Final decision given.

 

If applicant is approved by the SME Evaluators, the applicant is permitted to sit for the NCIDQ Examination and result will be communicated to regulatory board (Nevada or the Canadian CIDQ ARP Program only).

 

Applicants

Who Have Already Passed the NCIDQ Exam

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Step One:   

Read all the instructions carefully.

​

Step Two: 

Document all post-secondary interior design education on the Education Review Form and submit with all related materials with the additional $595 ARP fee.

 

Education will be reviewed by the SME Evaluators to determine which competencies were met with any post-secondary education. An evaluation will be provided to applicant.

 

Step Three:

Wait to submit your Dossier Review Form until your receive your education evaluation. Once you have the education evaluation and your education is deemed eligible, respond to any missing competencies from your education review with the Dossier Review Form within 3 weeks of the education evaluation receipt. 

 

SME Evaluators will review an applicant’s experiential background to determine which competencies were met as a result of interior design practice experience.

​

Step Four:

Final decision given.

 

If applicant is approved by the SME Evaluators, results will be communicated to regulatory board (Nevada or the Canadian CIDQ ARP Program only).

 

​Alternative Review Program (ARP) Forms

Download, Review & Complete

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• Canadian Designers Seeking Registration Red Application Instructions + Review Forms

• Nevada  Designers  Seeking Licensure Gold Application Instructions + Review Forms

• Other Designers (not from Canada or Nevada) Seeking NCIDQ Certification Blue Application Instructions + Review Forms