Examination Information

The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ), an independent, not-for-profit organization of state and provincial credentialing bodies, provides the public with the means to identify interior designers who have demonstrated the minimum level of competence needed to practice interior design. In fulfillment of this purpose, NCIDQ provides a professional examination in interior design. One hundred percent of the examination covers those aspects of the practice of interior design that affect the public health, life safety and welfare.

Practice Analysis

The development of a quality registration or licensing examination must follow certain logically sound and well researched procedures. These principles and methods are outlined in federal regulation (Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures) and manuals, such as Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (published by the American Educational Research Association, 1999). Through its relationship with a professional testing company, NCIDQ follows these standards in developing examinations.

To ensure that the examination accurately reflects current practice, NCIDQ conducts a comprehensive survey of the practice of interior design. The Practice Analysis, undertaken every five years by NCIDQ, results in a great deal of data. The last Practice Analysis was completed in 2008 and is available for download: Practice Analysis for the Profession of Interior Design (2008).

Test Specifications

The final phase of a practice analysis is the development of test specifications that identify the proportion of questions from each area of practice that will appear on the NCIDQ Examination. Test specifications are developed by combining evaluations of importance and criticality of each area of practice and converting the results into percentages. For Sections 1 and 2 of the examination, these percentages are used to determine the number of questions related to the content area.

In conducting the 2008 Practice Analysis, NCIDQ determined that seven content areas characterize the work of interior design:

• Building Systems
• Codes
• Contract Administration
• Construction Standards
• Design Application
• Professional Practice
• Project Coordination

The NCIDQ Examination consists of two comprehensive multiple-choice sections and a practicum section. Sections 1 and 2 are the multiple-choice sections of the exam. Both sections are 3 1/2 hours long and consist of 150 questions (125 scored questions and 25 unscored experimental questions mixed throughout the exam). The unscored questions in the multiple-choice sections allow NCIDQ to develop a large pool of questions for use in future examinations. Unscored questions are not identified on the examination; candidates should give their best effort on all test questions. Many questions on both of these sections incorporate drawings, pictures, symbols and textural formats typical in the interior design profession, requiring candidates to recall, apply and analyze information. Section 1 addresses the content areas of Codes, Building Systems, Construction Standards and Contract Administration. Section 2 addresses the content areas of Design Application, Project Coordination and Professional Practice.

The NCIDQ Examination also includes a practicum section (Section 3) that requires candidates to produce several design solutions. Section 3 is 8 hours long and consists of seven exercises. Candidates are given a series of unique exercises covering Space Planning, Lighting Design, Egress, Life Safety, Restroom (Washroom) Design, Systems Integration and Millwork Design. All candidates for a given test date receive the same exercises. The exercises require candidates to interpret a program into schematics; produce plan drawings, select appropriate specifications and develop schedules. All project descriptions, project code requirements, project design requirements and the list of drawings are provided in examination booklets. The size of the drawing sheets is 18"x 24", and the scales vary according to the project size and amount of detail required to be shown. Work products must address codes and the principles of universal design. The practicum examination is scored according to standardized guidelines by graders who are practicing interior design professionals, who have passed the NCIDQ Examination and who have completed a comprehensive training program.

Scores

Scores are made available to candidates within 14 weeks of the test date. Scores are reported for all three sections on a range from 200 to 800, with the passing point anchored at 500. The passing standard for all NCIDQ Examination sections is established using criterion-referenced procedures that are thoroughly researched and well accepted by the professional testing community. New forms of each portion of the examination program are equated to ensure that all versions are equivalent in content and difficulty. Each multiple-choice form includes 25 experimental questions that will not affect candidates’ scores, and each form of the practicum is pretested prior to its actual use. These psychometric procedures are designed to ensure the high quality of NCIDQ’s examination program.

Scores may not be appealed once they have been issued to the candidates. Candidates who are concerned that environmental circumstances or testing procedures may have seriously affected their performance must contact NCIDQ in writing by the date given in the Examination Registration Guide for that particular exam administration (usually about ten business days). Those concerns will be investigated by NCIDQ and, if determined to be valid, candidates may be permitted to retake the affected section(s) at no additional cost. Under no circumstances will tests scores be reconsidered once they have been issued.

Examination Materials

Examination materials are the property of NCIDQ. Materials are not returned to candidates. Materials are stored by NCIDQ for three years.

Examination Schedule

Please note: If you arrive after the instructions have been given, you will not be permitted to take the exam. We recommend you arrive at least 5-10 minutes before instructions are to begin.