How to Get Your Interior Decorator Degree
Obtaining a degree in interior decorating is not difficult. However, it does require you to be naturally creative and passionate about design. Interior decorator degrees can be obtained from fashion-related schools, art institutes, online degree programs and large universities.
Things You'll Need:
- School transcripts
- Internet access
- Creative skills
- Eye for design
- Choose your path. Interior decorators and interior designers are not the same position, according to the National Council for Interior Design Qualification. Interior designers have formal requirements to become licensed and accredited, while the title of interior decorator has no licensing or educational requirements.
- Research schools. Visit the NCIDQ website to find accredited school programs for interior design and decorating. You can also check with local community colleges, art institutes and universities to see what interior design programs are offered on campus and online.
- Contact local interior designers and decorators. Gather recommendations from interior decorators and designers in your area. Each had to go through a professional decorating or design program and could provide opinions about which programs are the best.
- Select a program. There are accredited online and on-campus programs for interior design students. Some students may work toward an associate degree program in interior design depending on the school. Check with schools that offer interior design programs, and find out whether credit hours must be completed on campus, online or a combination of both.
- Consider the NCIDQ interior design exam qualification. Students who graduate from an accredited school for interior design must still compete 3,500 hours of verified interior design work. This could be done through an internship, a paying position or through volunteer work. Once a student's program coursework and required work hours are completed, he is eligible to take the NCIDQ certificate exam.