Registration for Interior Designers

Practice Act: Individuals under this section shall be qualified by education, experience and examination to become registered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to practice interior design. Only those registered under this section can hold themselves out as Registered Interior Designers.

Requirements:
1. Graduation from a professional degree Interior Design Program from a FIDER or NASAD accredited institution or equivalent.
2. Completion of the fulltime diversified interior experience internship program from NCIDQ titled “IDEP.”
3. Passage of the NCIDQ Exam.
Note: An applicant who has successfully completed the NCIDQ examination prior to the effective date of this Act shall be eligible for registration without having to fulfill the stipulations of items 1 and 2 as noted above.

Grandfather Clause: For a period of 12 months from the first meeting of the Interior Design Board of Registration, an applicant may apply for registration without fulfilling the above requirements if he or she can demonstrate 10 years of full-time verifiable professional interior design services. Additionally, said applicant, after issuance from the Board of a “provisional” registration, will have 3 years to successfully complete Section I of the NCIDQ examination to receive full licensure.

Continuing Education Credits: An Interior Designer must complete a minimum of five continuing education credits hours per year, of which a minimum of 1.5 hours must be directly related to the protection of the health and safety of the public.

Certificates and Registration Seal: Each Interior Designer will be issued a “Certificate of Registration” and a reproducible seal which shall contain the name and license number of the Interior Designer for the purpose of stamping non-structural interior design documents.

Impact on Closely Allied Professions: This section does not prevent registered architects or registered professional engineers nor the employees of those practicing under the supervision of registered interior designers, registered architects or registered professional engineers from working on the alteration, modification or enlargement of the interior space of buildings. Nor does it prevent interior decorators or retail establishments from offering interior decorating services.