How to Become an Interior Designer in California

Interior designers work closely with architects, contractors, real estate companies, design firms and even electricians to enhance the function, safety and aesthetics of interior spaces. While creativity is a must, interior designers are required to have technical knowledge as well as a psychological understanding of people and their behavior in order to create functional spaces.

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To work as an interior designer in California you will need to complete certain educational and work requirements to be eligible to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination through the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ).

Requirements for Becoming an Interior Designer in California

While it is possible to work as an interior decorator without formal training, you cannot use the title “interior designer in California unless you are a registered with the California Council for Interior Design Certification (CCIDC).

In order to become a licensed interior designer in California, you will need to acquire a minimum of a two-year associate’s degree in interior design with at least 40 semester hours, plus four years of work experience in the field under a licensed interior designer or architect. The more education you have, the less time you will need to work in the field before qualifying to take the exam.

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Interior Design Schools in California

Being such a large state with many vibrant and thriving cities, there are quite a few interior design schools in California to choose from. students interested have the following options to choose from:

  • Academy of Art University, San Francisco. Academy of Art University offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Interior Architecture and Design that can be completed online or on campus. This degree program applies a visually rich online classroom where students can present work with digital documentation. Upon completion of the program, students will qualify to take the NCIDQ exam and start their career as an interior designer.
  • California State University, Long Beach. California State University Long Beach offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Interior Design that has garnered an international reputation, enticing undergraduate students from around the globe. Supporting opportunities for employment in the professional practice of interior design, the school works hard to prepare students for the NCIDQ exam or to pursue a graduate degree.
  • Sacramento State University, Sacramento. Sacramento State University offers a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interior Design with a concentration in Interior Architecture. The Interior Architecture focus provides students with the technical, creative and critical thinking skills needed to successfully enter the interior design profession. Courses include design history and theory, aesthetics, graphics, lighting, space preparation, computer-aided design, interior composition and more. The school also encourages internships that can begin during the course of study.

Certification for Interior Designers in California

While an associate’s degree in interior design as well as four years of full-time work experience is the minimum requirement to take the National Council for Interior Design Qualification certification, there are many education and work combinations that can be used for qualification, including:

  • An interior design bachelor’s degree from a CIDA-accredited program plus two years of full-time work experience (3,520 hours under a certified interior designer)
  • An interior design bachelor’s degree that is not accredited plus two years of full-time work experience (3,520 hours under a certified interior designer)
  • A bachelor’s degree (minimum) in any other major and no less than 60 semester hours of Interior design work and two years of full-time work experience
  • An interior design associate degree (60 semester hours) and three years of full-time work experience (5,280 hours under a certified interior designer)
  • An interior design associate degree (40 semester hours) plus four years of full-time work experience (7,040 hours under a certified interior designer)
  • A Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Architecture degree with three years of full-time work experience (5,280 hours under a certified interior designer)

The NCIDQ exam is split into three sections, including the Interior Design Fundamentals Exam (IDFX), the Interior Design Professional Exam (IDPX) and the Practicum (PRAC) exam. The registration fees for each of these are as follows: $295 for the IDFX, $350 for the IDPX and $455 for the PRAC exam. There is a penalty of $150 for each cancelled exam.

Career Outlook and Salary Expectations

The career outlook for interior designers in California remains highly favorable, with the state not only maintaining its status as a top employer for the profession but also offering competitive wages that surpass the national average. In 2022, interior designers in California earn an average annual salary of $75,260, significantly higher than the national average of $61,590. The salary range in California extends from $48,820 for the lowest 10% of earners to $116,270 for the highest 10%, indicating a broad spectrum of earning potential based on experience, specialization, and location within the state.

National vs. California Salaries for Interior Designers

Location Annual Low (10%) Annual Median Annual High (90%)
United States $36,610 $61,590 $101,550
California $48,820 $75,260 $116,270

Salaries and Percentiles by Region in California for Interior Designers

Region Annual Low (10%) Annual QL (25%) Annual Median (50%) Annual QU (75%) Annual High (90%)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $50,900 $56,150 $74,900 $90,630 $114,420
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA $51,330 $64,580 $88,290 $105,360 $125,120

Interior Designer Trends in California

The employment outlook for Interior Designers in California is notably positive, with a projected growth of 11% from 2020 to 2030. This growth rate is significantly higher than the national average of 4% for the same period. In 2020, California employed 11,800 interior designers, and this number is expected to increase to 13,100 by 2030. The state not only continues to be a leading employer for interior designers but also shows a robust expansion in the sector. Annually, there are projected to be 1,250 job openings in California for interior designers over the decade, which includes new positions due to growth as well as replacements for vacancies created by workers leaving the field. This data underscores the strong demand for interior designers in California, reflecting the state’s dynamic and growing design industry.

Employement Trends

Location Employment (Start Year) Projected Employment (End Year) Projected Growth Projected Annual Job Openings
California 11,800 (2020) 13,100 (2030) 11% 1,250
United States 94,900 (2022) 98,700 (2032) 4% 9,000

Souces of data:

The data provided in the summaries and tables comes from the O*NET Online website, specifically from the pages detailing employment trends and wage information for Interior Designers in California and nationwide. The employment trend data is sourced from Projections Central and the wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for the year 2022-2032. These sources are reputable for their comprehensive and up-to-date labor market information, including occupation-specific employment projections and wage statistics across the United States.

Working as an Interior Designer in California

If you are interested in working as an interior designer in California, you can count on a flexible career choice that will also provide you with financial security. There is an abundance of employment opportunities throughout the state, but a large portion of jobs can be found in the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Burbank, Hollywood and Long Beach.

Working as an interior designer in California could mean working with a kitchen and bath design company, a hospitality business, a contracting corporation or even with The Walt Disney Company as an interior architectural designer. Regardless of what you decide you’d like to specialize in, working as an interior designer in The Golden State will provide you with near limitless opportunities.

Search Certified Residential Interior Designer Programs

Get information on Certified Residential Interior Designer programs by entering your zip code and request enrollment information.

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FAQs

What is the most important thing in interior design?

The most important element of interior design would be a functional space. Functional space acts as the base of the entire interior design.

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