The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ®) exam is used as part of the certification process of interior designers, ensuring they are qualified and competent in protecting public health, safety, and welfare.
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Exam Eligibility
To be eligible to sit for the exam, you must meet the minimum education and experience requirements. You must have accrued at least 90 quarter credit hours (or 60 semester credit hours) in either interior design or architecture:
| Degree | Experience |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s or master’s degree (CIDA or non-CIDA) | 3,520 work hours (2 years full-time) |
| Bachelor’s or master’s degree (other major) + interior design certificate, degree, or diploma | |
| Associate degree, certificate, or diploma | 5,280 work hours (3 years full-time) |
| Degree | Experience |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s or master’s degree (NAAB or CACB) | 5,820 work hours (3 years full-time) |
| Bachelor’s or master’s degree (non-NAAB or non-CACB) | 7,040 work hours (4 years full-time) |
NCIDQ Exam Outline
The NCIDQ exam is split into three sections, which may be taken all at once or in separate testing sessions. The first two sections are made up of multiple-choice questions, while the third section contains alternative question types, such as fill-in-the-blank, hot spot, and drag-and-place.
Each section is split into multiple content areas:
IDFX
The Interior Design Fundamentals exam contains 115 multiple-choice questions and has a time limit of 3 hours. The exam is split into six content areas:
I. Existing Conditions (14%)
- Performing site analysis
- Evaluating existing building conditions
- Performing initial code analysis
II. Pre-Design (15%)
- Establish best practices of design
- Performing project research and development
- Determining design intent
III. Programming (16%)
- Validating project program
- Creating programmatic diagrams
- Determining user needs
IV. Space Planning (19%)
- Completing space planning
- Creating initial drawings
V. Preliminary FF&E and Finishes (16%)
- Identifying finish materials
- Identifying significant FF&E
VI. Schematics (20%)
- Refining design intent
- Performing code review
- Visualizing design
IDPX
The Interior Design Professional exam contains 115 multiple-choice questions and has a time limit of 3 hours. The exam is split into five content areas:
I. Feasibility Studies (17%)
- Evaluating project feasibility and due diligence
- Identifying project stakeholders
- Managing project team
II. Scheduling and Budgeting (17%)
- Managing project schedule
- Managing project budget
III. Contracts, Procurement, and Permitting (28%)
- Facilitating procurement/bid (tender) process
- Managing proposals and contracts
- Obtaining project approvals
- Participating in permit process
IV. Construction Process (21%)
- Facilitating the construction process
- Participating in change management
V. Site Observation and Close-Out (17%)
- Performing site visits
- Conducting project close-out
IDIX
The IDIX exam contains 130 fill-in-the-blank, hot spot, and drag-and-place questions and has a time limit of 4 hours. The exam is split into five content areas:
I. Codes and Life Safety (16%)
- Initiating life safety and/or occupancy plan
- Performing code review
II. Integration and FF&E (19%)
- Integrating equipment, appliance, and building systems
- Developing finish plan and specifications
- Developing furniture plans and specifications
III. Construction Documents (32%)
- Developing details and sections
- Developing elevations
- Developing demolition plan
- Developing construction plans
- Developing RCP
IV. Consultant Drawing Coordination (18%)
- Coordinating consultant drawings and specifications
- Developing power, data, and communication plan
- Develop signage and wayfinding
V. Construction Specifications and Schedules (15%)
- Developing construction specifications
- Developing schedules
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Registration
The NCIDQ exam is taken twice a year, in April and in October, with application deadlines in January and July.
During the application process, you will have to pay an application fee for the sections of the exam you are taking. To apply for all three at once, the fee is $235. To apply for them separately, it is $100 for the IDFX. After you have successfully passed this, you may apply and pay for the next two, at $150.
Once your application has been approved, you will receive an eligibility notification up to 6 weeks later letting you know how to schedule your exam(s).
The total examinations fees are as follows:
| Exam | Fee |
|---|---|
| IDFX | $305 |
| IDIX | $470 |
| IDPX | $365 |
Test Day
In-person Testing
On the day of your exam, you should arrive at the testing center about 30 minutes before the scheduled appointment to complete the check-in process. You will be asked to provide one form of valid, government-issued ID with a signature.
You will then be asked to place all personal items and electronic devices in a secure locker outside the testing area, and you may be asked to remove your eyeglasses and other accessories for a quick inspection.
For all three exams, you will be provided with an on-screen calculator, and you may request a hand-held calculator for the IDIX exam. You will also be given scratch paper for all three exams.
Once you have completed the pre-test procedures, you are directed to your testing station, and your test begins.
Remote Testing
You can sign into the test delivery platform 30 minutes before your appointment. You will need the confirmation number from the email you received after registering, and you must present one valid, government-issued ID with a signature to the proctor via your webcam. Your first and last name on the ID must match the first and last name you registered under.
All personal items and electronic devices must be removed from your testing area. An online scratchpad tool is provided in the test program for note-taking, and you will have access to an on-screen calculator for all three exams.
Before the exam begins, the proctor will ask you to scan your testing space using your webcam, to ensure there are no prohibited items. You may be asked to pull your hair back, roll your sleeves up and turn your pockets inside out.
Once the proctor is satisfied with your space and workstation and you have completed the pre-test activities, your exam begins.
How the Exam is Scored
Your NCIDQ score is based on the modified Angoff method and is solely determined based on your performance on the three exam sections. A passing score is determined by subject matter experts, who evaluate questions on the exam to establish a number of correct responses that would adequately demonstrate the required level of proficiency.
Since each version of the exam is different, the number of correct responses needed to obtain a passing score will vary slightly for each version. As such, your raw score (the number of questions you answered correctly) is converted to a scaled score for each exam section. To pass the NCIDQ exam, you must achieve a scaled score of at least 500 on each section.
Your score will be made available six weeks after testing. Your score report includes a pass/fail status, scaled score, and a breakdown of each section.
Retaking the Test
If you did not pass the exam, you may retake any section of the exam as many times as it takes for you to pass.
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FAQs
Q
How many questions are on the NCIDQ exam?
A
There are 360 questions on the exam.
Q
How long is the NCIDQ exam?
A
The time limit for the all parts of the exam combined is 10 hours.
Q
What is the passing score for the NCIDQ exam?
A
To pass the exam, you must achieve a minimum scaled score of 500 on each section.
Q
What is the NCIDQ exam pass rate?
A
These are the pass rates for each section of the exam:
- IDFX: 55%
- IDPX: 65%
- IDIX: 67%
Q
How much does the NCIDQ exam cost?
A
The application fee for the exam as a whole is $235. The examination fees vary per exam.
NCIDQ and NCIDQ Examination are registered trademarks of Council for Interior Design Qualification, Inc., which is not affiliated with Mometrix Test Preparation and does not endorse this page.
