A Guide to Obtaining Your New York Interior Design License
To be able to carry the title of a "Certified Interior Designer" in the state of New York and provide services as such, you have to obtain the New York interior design license.
To get this license, you must meet certain educational, professional, and work experience criteria. The purpose of these requirements is to ensure that interior designers comply with safety and quality standards within their profession.
In this article, we'll break down the requirements for obtaining an interior design license in New York. We'll also explain how the Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions by Harbor Compliance can help you manage multiple certifications and licenses across the U.S.
What Is a New York Interior Design License
The New York interior design license is issued by the New York State Education Department (NYSED), or more precisely, its Office of the Professions. This regulatory body is responsible for preparing individuals for certification, issuing licenses to professionals, and regulating their practice in the workforce.
1. Age and Satisfactory Moral Character
Applicants for an interior design license in New York must be at least 21 years old and of "good moral character."
2. Education
Generally, applicants must have at least seven years of combined education and experience credits.
Of these seven years, at least two (but no more than five) years of credit must be obtained from postsecondary education in an approved program of interior design, including an associate degree or its equivalent.
In addition, a program must meet any of the following criteria to qualify as educational credit:
- Registration as licensure-qualifying by the New York State Education Department
- Accreditation by an acceptable accrediting agency, such as the CIDA
- Acceptance as an "equivalent" program
According to the NYSED, a program may be considered equivalent if it meets the following requirements:
- Baccalaureate degree—The curriculum of such a degree must include at least 48 hours of coursework in the following areas:
- Drafting and presentation techniques
- Fundamentals of Space Planning and Design
- Materials and Methods of Construction
- Furniture, Finishes, and Equipment
- History of Architecture and Decorative Arts
- Codes - Construction, Fire Safety, and Accessibility
- Environmental and Building Systems
- Color Theory and Application
- Business Practices and Ethics
- Construction Documents
- Associate degree—The curriculum should include at least 30 semester hours of coursework, spanning the same course areas as listed for the baccalaureate degree, except for the final four.
3. Experience
Relevant experience must account for at least two years of the required education/work experience and be acceptable to the State Board for Interior Design. Practical experience must satisfy the following requirements to be eligible:
- It should have been obtained under the supervision of an interior designer, architect, or a professional engineer.
- According to Section 8303 of the New York Education Law, such experience must fall within the spectrum of interior design practice, including all aspects of project planning and execution.
- Work experience must demonstrate increasing levels of professional growth.
4. Examination
All applicants must take and pass the Council for Interior Design Qualifying (CIDQ) examination. The NCIDQ is a three-part exam that tests candidates' understanding of the application of interior design standards and codes of practice, especially in advancing public health and welfare.
The examination comprises the following three sections:
- Fundamentals—IDFX
- Professional—IDPX
- Practicum—PRAC 2.0
To take the exam, individuals must fulfill educational and work experience in any of the following qualification pathways:
a. Holders of a CIDA or non-CIDA bachelor's degree
- 60 semester hours in interior design
- 3,520 hours of work experience (two years of full-time experience)
The same criteria apply to holders of a bachelor's or master's degree in a different major, including an interior design certificate, degree, or diploma.
b. Holders of an associate degree, certificate, or diploma
- 60 semester hours in interior design
- 5,280 work experience hours (three years of full-time experience)
In addition to meeting these requirements, applicants must pay the required examination fee. There are two routes to taking the NCIDQ examination; the applicable fees will depend on an individual's choice.
Route 1: This would mean taking the three exams at once. It usually applies to those who have met the relevant work experience and semester hours criteria at the time of application. In this case, the application fee is $225, while the exam fees for each section are:
- IDFX—$295
- IDPX—$355
- PRAC—$655
Route 2: This involves taking the exam in two parts. This route is usually taken by individuals who do not have the required work experience/semester hours at the time of application, such as recent graduates.
In this scenario, the IDFX exam is taken first, then the IDPX and PRAC exams (taken together). The application fee is $95 for the IDFX exam and $145 for the IDPX and PRAC exams, while the exam fees are the same as in Route 1.
To apply for the exam, create an account on the NCIDQ page, submit your official transcript, pay the application fee, and wait for confirmation.
5. License Fees
Paying the license fee is an essential step in the application process. The NYSED sets a fee of $377.
However, partial refunds may be granted for individuals who want to withdraw their licensure. If such individuals reapply, they will be considered fresh applicants and must pay the applicable license fees at the time of such application.
Managing Your License Lifecycle With Harbor Compliance
Maintaining your interior design license involves a system of procedures for tracking the ever-changing state licensure requirements. Firms and individuals must constantly keep up with these changes, which can divert them from their primary responsibilities, especially if they're running a multistate interior design operation.
That is where Harbor Compliance can make a difference. Our Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions help you navigate the complexities of maintaining your interior design and other licenses across the U.S.
These solutions allow you to outsource the entire licensing process, track renewal deadlines, and gain complete visibility into the status of your firm and individual licenses from a single platform. In turn, you can drastically reduce your compliance workload and save valuable time and resources.
Benefits of Using Harbor Compliance To Manage Your New York Interior Design License
Partnering with Harbor Compliance comes with an array of benefits, including:
- Expert guidance and support in navigating the licensing process, which can save you time and help you focus on growing your business
- Visualization tools for multientity licensing and deadline management to prevent renewal gaps and lapses
- Access to Compliance Core™, a proprietary algorithm that compares your company data against a nationwide database of over 22,000 compliance and regulatory requirements in all U.S. states
You can also opt for Harbor Compliance's Compliance Software Suite, which comes with additional tools to help you stay on top of licensing and business compliance duties. It is offered separately and includes three major modules:
- License Manager—Simplifies your license management by helping you manage and track multiple license portfolios from a single, centralized platform. It allows you to apply for, maintain, and renew company licenses effortlessly.
- Entity Manager—This module is designed for multistate license and entity management, giving you full visibility of corporate filings, reports, and other related information. It also makes it possible to automate the process of tracking your filing and renewal dates and ultimately maintain good standing across the board.
- Tax Manager—With this module, you can access all tax-related information, including tax identification numbers. Additionally, you can store documents such as payroll, sales, and corporate income accounts.
The Process of Ordering Harbor Compliance's Services
We offer three service options depending on the extent to which you want to outsource your licensing workload:
- Fully Managed—With this option, you delegate all your licensing tasks to us, and we help you manage everything—from the initial application to renewals. This type of service is available only to companies.
- Self-Managed—Here, you'll handle most of your licensing tasks yourself, but our software solutions are there to streamline your research, documentation, and task management.
- Hybrid—This option lets you divide your licensing workload by managing some of your tasks yourself and delegating the rest to our team of experts.
To find out more about our solutions, take the following steps to schedule a consultation with our team:
- Go to our Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions page.
- In the Contact Us form, provide your name, email address, and phone number. You can also add your company name and website.
- Tell us when you would like to meet, and include any questions you have for us.
Additional Harbor Compliance Services
| Product | Services |
|---|---|
| Nonprofit formation | We help nonprofit firms file for incorporation and obtain tax exemptions. |
| BOI reporting | Our services help firms report their beneficial ownership information in accordance with the Corporate Transparency Act. |
| Entity lifecycle management | We support organizations throughout their lifecycles with services like name reservation, incorporation, initial and annual reports, dissolution, and withdrawal. |
| Tax registration | We help organizations obtain Employment Identification Numbers (EIN) and handle payroll and sales and use tax registration. |
| Document retrieval and filing | We can help you obtain documents such as certificates of good standing, certified true copies, and articles of reinstatement. |
| Business licensing support | Apart from helping you start your business, we can assist you with securing and maintaining business licenses for various industries, such as construction. |
| Registered agent services | If you appoint us as your registered agent, we'll receive and forward all your notices so you can stay on top of your legal requirements. |
New York Interior Design License FAQs
This section answers some frequently asked questions about the New York interior design license. For more information, visit our Information Center.
Yes. Once issued, a New York interior design must be renewed every three years.
No, New York does not issue interior design licenses to firms. However, individual interior designers must obtain a license before they can use the "Certified Interior Designer" title.
An individual must be at least 21 years old to be eligible for the license.
Entrusting Harbor Compliance With Your Licensing Needs
The regulatory environment in the U.S. is constantly changing, and it takes dedicated effort to stay up-to-date with licensing requirements and maintain good standing. Moreover, holding licenses in multiple states means even more portfolios to manage and more hours to spend on licensing tasks.
You can reclaim this time with Harbor Compliance's expert support and game-changing software solutions.
To get started with our licensing services, you can request a demo session and see our software in action. You can also use our free Harbor Compliance Score™ to check whether you meet all your licensing requirements across jurisdictions.
For details on obtaining and maintaining architecture licenses in other U.S. states, check out the articles in the table below:
ARE (Architect Registration Examination) - Assesses candidates for their knowledge, skills, and ability to provide the various services required to be a practicing architect.
AXP (Architectural Experience Program) - NCARB program for architectural internship, a requirement for licensure that occurs after filling the educational requirements.
BEFA (Broadly Experienced Foreign Architect) - An alternative NCARB certification that allows foreign architects to independently practice architecture.
COA (Certificate of Authorization) - The most common name of the registration required for firms to practice architecture in a given state.
Design Firm - Architectural firm registration is sometimes grouped with engineering and land surveying on a single “design firm” application form.
NCARB Certification - Licensed architects have the option to become Certificate holders to signify that they have met national standards established by U.S. licensing boards for protecting public health, safety, and welfare. Certification also facilitates reciprocal registration in all 54 jurisdictions, 11 Canadian jurisdictions, and can be used to support an application for licensure in other countries.
Reciprocity - This is when a licensed architect in one state can provide documentation (often a NCARB certificate) to more easily apply for licensure in another jurisdiction.
State Board - Often referred to as the State Architects Licensure Board or Board of Architects, an individual state’s board serves as the regulatory authority for architects. The board qualifies and licenses individuals seeking architectural licensure. The board is responsible for preserving the public health, safety, and welfare of individuals who occupy built environments.
National Architecture Accrediting Board
NAAB establishes criteria for and accredits professional architecture degree programs in the United States.
The American Institute of
Architecture Students (AIAS)
AIAS is an independent, student-run group that promotes excellence in architecture education, training, and practice.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA)
AIA is a voluntary professional organization for architects providing advocacy, information, and community.
The Association of Collegiate
Schools of Architecture (ACSA)
ACSA represents architectural education programs across the globe.
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)
NCARB is the national organization representing the state registration boards.
