Privacy Policy

Thank you for visiting the Web site of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (“NCIDQ”). This privacy policy ("Privacy Policy") explains NCIDQ practices for information collected via the Web site, how such information is used, the circumstances under which NCIDQ discloses such information to third parties and the choices Customers can make about the way NCIDQ uses and shares such information. Please take the time to read and understand this Privacy Policy to understand how NCIDQ uses personal information. The goal of this policy is to allow NCIDQ to provide valuable services to its Members and Customers without compromising the safety or privacy of any individual. Personal information will be protected by the security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information. NCIDQ will maintain adequate physical, procedural and technical security with respect to its offices and information storage facilities so as to prevent any loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, or modification of personal information collected and retained. Continued use of the Web site indicates a Customer’s acceptance of this Privacy Policy and of the collection, use, disclosure, management and storage of a Customer’s personal information as described herein. This Privacy Policy will remain in full force and effect as long as a Customer is a user of the Web site, even if such use of or participation in any particular service, feature, function or promotional activity terminates, expires, ceases, is suspended or deactivated for any reason.

Personal Information: During the exam application and record maintenance, IDEP, CE tracking, exam registration, publication ordering and other services and products processes offered by NCIDQ, NCIDQ gathers personal information regarding Certificate holders, potential Certificate holders, Web site users, and other individuals who are interested in NCIDQ's services and products (hereinafter collectively referred to herein as "Customers"). "Personal Information" includes any factual or subjective information, that identifies the Customer as a specific individual (for example: name, address, telephone number, email address, education, work experience, exam passing dates, order history, and any other information that would allow someone to identify or contact the Customer). Personal information also includes information about a Customer’s personal preferences, survey or application responses and the Customer’s transactions or relationship with NCIDQ, if the Customer has been a user of the Web site or has provided this type of information to NCIDQ or its affiliates.

Use of Personal Information: NCIDQ uses the demographic and professional information collected by NCIDQ for aggregate analysis, to personalize NCIDQ's records for better service and to create targeted postal and email mailing lists and to protect the public by allowing Web site users to search for active Certificate holders.

In addition to the primary purpose stated or implied at the time the information is collected, NCIDQ uses postal and e-mail addresses to confirm orders, follow up on a request, etc., as the context determines, and to send Customers information about NCIDQ programs or products, surveys, etc. With approval of the Board of Directors, NCIDQ may also make its postal or e-mail addresses available to allied not-for-profit organizations, non-Member Boards governing interior designers or to companies offering NCIDQ Customers benefits.

NCIDQ may use the information it obtains from its Customers, including personal information, to tailor their experience on the Web site, to display content that may be of interest to the Customer, or to let NCIDQ customize what the Customer sees when he/she visits the Web site according to the Customer’s preferences. NCIDQ will use the personal information Customers provide online only for the purpose(s) they have submitted. Examples of using personal information for the purpose(s) submitted include sending the Customer an email about updates to the Web site or about an upcoming event if the Customer has signed up for updates. NCIDQ also may conduct an occasional survey of its registered users to see how the Web site can better serve its Customers. In addition, NCIDQ may send Customers an e-mail offering products or services that Customers may be interested in. Finally, NCIDQ may share its Customers’ information with organizations that are affiliated with or related to NCIDQ, its affiliates in connection with the provision of their respective information, products, materials and services or for marketing and/or administrative purposes. If a Customer wants NCIDQ to stop using the personal information he/she provided in these ways, he or she should contact NCIDQ at info@ncidq.org.

NCIDQ may collect certain non-personally identifiable information (i.e., generic information that does not identify a Customer personally) when Customers visit the NCIDQ Web site, such as the type of browser a Customer is using (e.g., Netscape, Internet Explorer), the type of operating system a Customer is using (e.g., Windows 2000 or Mac OS), and the domain name of a Customer’s Internet service provider (e.g., America Online or Earthlink). NCIDQ also may collect personal information about a Customer when he/she visits the Web site and inputs information, whether the Customer is registering to use any services, features or functions of the Web site, or otherwise in the course of any other exchanges of information, transactions and activities

Release of Personal Information: NCIDQ shall endeavor at all times to maintain a candidate's personally identifying information as confidential. NCIDQ shall hold candidate scores in confidence, available only to the candidate and to persons or organizations approved in writing by candidate. NCIDQ shall maintain in confidence all biographical data such as sex, grade or education level attained, date of birth, race/ethnic group, or years of experience on the answer sheet for examinations; provided, however, NCIDQ may publish aggregated, non-identifying information based on such data.

In addition, NCIDQ will not share the personal information provided except (a) as otherwise permitted under this Privacy Policy; (b) if it is for the purpose(s) the Customer provided it; (c) with the Customer’s consent (as defined below); (d) as may be required by law or as NCIDQ determines is necessary to protect NCIDQ or others from injury (e.g., in response to a court order or subpoena, in response to a law enforcement agency request, or when NCIDQ believes that someone is causing, or about to cause, injury to or interference with the rights or property of another); (e) with other persons or companies or affiliated or related organizations with whom NCIDQ contracts to carry out internal Web site operations or NCIDQ business activities (for example, third-party contractors -- see below); (f) In the event of a bankruptcy, merger, acquisition, transfer of control, joint venture or other business combination involving NCIDQ or its affiliates; and/or (g) to notify a Customer when NCIDQ makes changes to one of its subscriber agreements or this policy. NCIDQ business needs may change from time to time and NCIDQ reserves the right to make changes to its Privacy Policy. NCIDQ will not use a Customer’s personal information in a manner inconsistent with this Privacy Policy, however, without first obtaining the Customer’s consent to do so. If intended uses differ from this policy, NCIDQ will seek to obtain the Customer’s consent at the place where the information is collected either by an "opt-in" or "opt-out" method, or by other means (such as sending the Customer an email).

NCIDQ operations and maintenance contractors sometimes have limited access to its Customers’ personal information in the course of providing products or services to NCIDQ. These contractors include vendors and suppliers that provide NCIDQ with email distribution technology, services, and/or content for the operation and maintenance of the NCIDQ Web site. Access to Customers’ personal information by these contractors is limited to the information reasonably necessary for the contractor to perform its limited function for NCIDQ. NCIDQ also contractually requires that NCIDQ operations and maintenance contractors, 1) protect the privacy of its Customers’ personal information consistent with this Privacy Policy, and 2) not use or disclose its Customers’ personal information for any purpose other than providing NCIDQ with products and services as required by law.

NCIDQ is committed to protecting its Customers’ privacy. NCIDQ maintains reasonable physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to guard its Customers’ personal information and while no data transmission over the Internet is 100% secure from intrusion, NCIDQ has used and will continue to use reasonable efforts to ensure the protection of its Customers’ personal information.

NCIDQ allows active Certificate holders to make public certain information in their MyNCIDQ account to display in the QSearch feature.

Consent

• NCIDQ will obtain written consent to release Personal Information on the NCIDQ Exam application; or
• NCIDQ will endeavor to obtain consent by allowing active Certificate holders the option to make public certain information for display on a searchable database; or
• Customer provides implied consent: NCIDQ can reasonably conclude that the Customer has given consent by some action, or decision not to take action. NCIDQ will rely on an individual's implied consent to use and disclose Personal Information.

Withdraw of Consent: Customer may withdraw consent by providing written direction to NCIDQ to withhold such Personal Information, provided there are no legal requirements to prohibit disclosure. Please be aware that NCIDQ will provide information regarding a Customer to its Members or other state or provincial organizations that have jurisdiction over interior designers without the Customer's further consent.

Access to and Correction of Information: Upon written request, a Customer may review his/her personal information that NCIDQ has on file at NCIDQ Headquarters at a convenient date and time for both parties; provided, however, that any Personal Information collected in connection with, or in anticipation of, any claim or legal proceeding will not be made available. If the Customer notifies NCIDQ in writing, and if applicable, provides supporting documentation, that any Personal Information is incorrect, NCIDQ will review it and if NCIDQ agrees to the change, NCIDQ will correct its records. If NCIDQ does not agree, the Customer may submit a short statement of dispute, which NCIDQ will include in any future disclosure of the disputed Personal Information.

Modifications: NCIDQ reserves the right to change this Privacy Policy at any time. NCIDQ will post the latest version of this Policy on its Web site and any changes will be duly noted on the Web site for thirty days from the date of any change.