Any help would be great!! thanks

thank you very much!!!!

Well I know for a fact I want to do a job more pertaining to interior architecture. Plus, I want to work for Gensler, or under a big-well known firm...sorry does that help?

no-such thing as interior architect, it's just interior design re-branded.

soo..their the same thing? just different names used interchangeably?

^yes

no one cares about Oregon.

Interior decorators 

interiordesignit:

I'm a registered interior designer and a licensed architect. I don't agree with the previous poster that initial employment with big name firms is unlikely.  A new interior design grad with a good portfolio often has a better chance of getting a foot in the door of a well-known firm than more seasoned professionals, both because there are more entry level jobs available in those firms than upper level positions, and because the firms prefer to bring people into their culture early and raise a select few through their ranks, rather than bring outsiders into senior roles. 

There are a few schools that have an "interior architecture" major - this is usually a mix of the core courses and studios that one would usually find in a pre-professional architecture degree program and an interior design major.  People who graduate from interior architecture majors sometimes go directly into interior design roles, and sometimes go on to get a master in architecture, and sometimes end up in entirely different fields.  There's really no reason that grads of Interior Design programs can't pursue any of those options too though.

I know a number of people in various firms who do use the title "Interiors Architect", and that was my title in one job awhile back.  But everyone I've known who has had that title has been a licensed architect with an interiors focus.  If you don't pursue an architecture degree and license, your title is generally going to be Interior Designer if your focus is interiors - regardless of whether your particular role leans more toward selecting fabrics and finishes or more toward space planning and interior architectural detailing.  

An NCIDQ certificate is sometimes "preferred" by employers, but rarely absolutely required.  Some of the states that license or register interior designers require NCIDQ for that, but others have alternate routes.  The two most recognized professional organizations for interior designers, IIDA and ASID, both required NCIDQ for professional interior designer membership.  Neither of these professional memberships is essential, and not typically a requirement for employment, though they have some recognition from the general public.  Licensing or registration of interior designers also isn't always essential to employers.

Try to get internships or part-time or summer work with interior designers while you're still in school.  Focus on developing a strong portfolio, preferably with a mix of student work and professional work done during internships and student jobs.  Be sure to accurately credit others involved in those projects, and identify your role in them.  Don't worry too much about the title of your interiors major, or even in what your title is in entry-level jobs. Don't narrow your focus too much at first. It may take some years and more than one job change, but your direction will become clearer and you'll develop a role for yourself in the aspects of interior design/interior architecture that most interest you.

Also: contrary to what another poster has stated, NCIDQ does not accredit schools or their interior design programs.  It also is not  and never has been a requirement for earning the NCIDQ certficate that  one's interior design education be from a CIDA-accredited program (CIDA is the current incarnation of the organization that used to be known as FIDER.)  And while there may be a 5-year interior design major in some school somewhere, that is by no means required or "typical" for pursuit of an NCIDQ certificate. In fact a bachelor's degree isn't even required for NCIDQ eligibility - there are multiple routes to the certificate, one of which requires only an associate degree and 4 years of experience.

Thank you all again! I my plan is to go to Woodbury University for interior architecture...and see where the road takes me. :) this is not my first choice school, however, It still seems to like  a good fit for me ALL things considered.

nothing symbolizes this fucking rip off economy better than "licensed interior design"  

could be worse jla.  there could be licensed building designers.

cosmetology is a regulated profession....

"Licensed interior decorators " 

soon some dumb kid will get clonked in the head with a can of beans...his dumb mom will sue...and the dumb state will require a license to stock groceries....of course there will be a fee and membership dues...only twist...the toxic shit being stocked by the regulated professional certified stock boy will give you colon cancer because its pumped full of unregulated perservatives and unregulated genetically modified organisms.  AMERICA YEAH!

it can't be that bad jla.  at least there will be a national organization to make stock person reciprocity between states more streamlined.  for an annual fee of course.

Richard: NCIDQ doesn't approve, accept, certify, or otherwise evaluate degrees.  NCIDQ certification can be pursued with ANY interior design major (or architecture), from any school, regardless of CIDA status. NCIDQ does not evaluate curricula - they accept all interior design majors from all schools.

The only difference between eligibility for those with a degree from a CIDA member program and graduation from any other interior design program is that candidates who graduate from CIDA member interior design majors do not have to meet any particular threshold for number of credits earned in their major, while those who graduate from non-CIDA interior design programs have to show that they completed a minimum number of credits and courses in their interior design major.  NCIDQ eligibility is purely based on quantity, not content or quality of coursework.

NCIDQ is rather unnecessary anyway.  There are only 3 states that limit the practice of interior design - all the others just limit what you call yourself.  That said, I did have to become a "registered interior designer" in order to be eligible to respond to state government rfps for projects they classify as primarily interior design. But I obtained state registration without NCIDQ certification - which I'd recommend in the states that allow it.  NCIDQ requires two exams which cost +/- $1000, while going the alternate route only cost the fee to have a transcript sent and a <$100 fee to the state.

If one really wants to pursue NCIDQ, these are the eligibility requirements, direct from the source:

CIDA Degree (Route 1)

• Education: A bachelor’s or master’s degree from a CIDA-accredited interior design program. To qualify, the degree program must have been CIDA-accredited at the date of graduation or must have become CIDA-accredited within two years of graduation. A list of accredited programs is available from CIDA.
• Experience: 3,520 hours of qualified interior design work experience. This can be completed in approximately two years if you work full-time. Up to half of the required hours (1,760 hours) may be earned while you are still in school. You must have completed at least 96 semester [144 quarter credits] of education before you can begin to count work experience toward this requirement. In addition, if you receive academic credit for work experience, you cannot count that work experience toward this requirement. In all cases, the final 1,760 hours of qualified work experience must be earned after the education program is completed.

Interior Design Degree – Non-CIDA (Route 2)

• Education: A bachelor’s degree (minimum) in an interior design program NOT accredited by CIDA that includes no less than 120 semester or 180 quarter credits, of which no less than 60 semester [90 quarter credits] are interior design coursework.
• Experience: 3,520 hours of qualified interior design work experience. This can be completed in approximately two years if you work full-time. Up to half of the required hours (1,760 hours) may be earned while you are still in school. You must have completed at least 96 semester [144 quarter credits] of education before you can begin to count work experience toward this requirement. In addition, if you receive academic credit for work experience, you cannot count that work experience toward this requirement. In all cases, the final 1,760 hours of qualified work experience must be earned after the education program is completed.

Other Degree + Interior Design Degree (Route 3)

• Education: A bachelor’s degree (minimum) in any other major AND no less than 60 semester or 90 quarter credits of interior design coursework that culminates in a certificate, degree or diploma. This route is primarily intended for career changers with a bachelor’s degree in another field (English, nursing, psychology, etc.) who have returned to school for an interior design degree.
• Experience: 3,520 hours of qualified interior design work experience. This can be completed in approximately two years if you work full-time. Up to half of the required hours (1,760 hours) may be earned while you are still in school. You must have completed at least 30 semester [45 quarter credits] of interior design education before you can begin to count work experience toward this requirement. In addition, if you receive academic credit for work experience, you cannot count that work experience toward this requirement. In all cases, the final 1,760 hours of qualified work experience must be earned after the education program is completed.

Associate’s Degree (60 Hours) in Interior Design (Route 4)

• Education: No less than 60 semester [90 quarter credits] of interior design coursework that culminates in a certificate, degree or diploma.
• Experience: 5,280 hours of qualified interior design work experience. This can be completed in approximately three years if you work full-time. All work experience must be earned after the education program is completed.

Associate’s Degree (40 Hours) in Interior Design (Route 5)

• Education: No less than 40 semester [60 quarter credits] of interior design coursework that culminates in a certificate, degree or diploma.
• Experience: 7,040 hours of qualified interior design work experience. This can be completed in approximately four years if you work full-time. All work experience must be earned after the education program is completed.

NAAB or CACB Degree

• Education: A bachelor’s or master’s degree from an NAAB- or CACB-accredited architecture program.

Experience: 5,280 hours of qualified interior design work experience. All work experience must be earned after the education program is completed.