How to Become an Interior Designer in Georgia

Interior designers create aesthetically pleasing rooms and spaces for their clients. They work to meet their clients’ needs, as well as maintain a safe and functional space, while using artwork, color schemes, furniture placement, lighting and other design elements. Interior designers may create indoor or outdoor spaces. They may be tasked with designing a space for new homeowners or office and waiting spaces in corporate buildings. Interior designers may work independently or as a part of an architectural and design firm. Since they need to be familiar with the elements of design as well as building and safety codes, most of these professionals hold at least a bachelor’s degree in interior design.

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Requirements for Becoming an Interior Designer in Georgia

Interior design is not nationally regulated, but statewide requirements will vary by state. There are no educational or licensure requirements in the state of Georgia; however, there is legislation that recognizes and defines interior design separate from architecture.

While there is not a statewide license for interior designers in Georgia, interior designers do have the option of becoming registered and using the title of Registered Interior Designer (RID). Registration is regulated by the Georgia Board of Architects & Interior Designers (GBAID).

A bachelor’s degree in interior design is not required to work in the state but is preferred by most employers, and it is required to become registered. Passing the National Council for interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam is also a requirement for registration.

See the National Council for Interior Design Qualification for more information.

Professional Interior Design Organizations prefer to hire candidates with a bachelor’s degree in interior design from an accredited program. that being said, it is probably best for one to pursue an Interior design degree program or some other form of higher education.

Interior design students can expect to learn about the following topics:

  • Furniture design
  • Space planning
  • Interior spaces
  • Building codes
  • Lighting
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Interior Design Schools in Georgia

If you want to present yourself as a highly qualified interior designer, you may want to consider taking an educational program in interior design. For those interested in becoming a registered interior designer, you must complete an interior design program at an institution that is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). Here are a few of the CIDA approved interior design programs in Georgia:

  • Brenau University. The Gainesville and North Atlanta campuses of Brenau University offer a four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program. This program is offered in day, evening and weekend classes. Classes are small and are taught by NCIDQ-qualified instructors.
  • Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). The SCAD has campuses in Atlanta and Savannah that offer bachelor and master’s degree programs in interior design. The bachelor’s degree program consists of 180 credit hours and can be completed in four years.
  • Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia. The University of Georgia offers a four-year bachelor’s in fine arts degree program in interior design. This program has a heavy focus on computer-aided design (CAD), and students get to work on their studio projects in an instructional lab. This program currently has a 100 percent graduation rate.

Registration and Certification Information for Interior Designers in Georgia

Georgia does not offer an interior design license, but the option to become a RID in the state is available through the GBAID. Georgia also passed legislation allowing registered interior designers to professionally seal their work, stating that it meets safety codes and regulations.

To become registered, you must complete a CIDA-accredited educational program in interior design and take the NCIDQ exam. The NCIDQ exam is regulated by the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ) and has three sections:

  • The Interior Design Fundamentals Exam (IDFX)
  • The Interior Design Professional Exam (IDPX)
  • The Practicum (PRAC) exam

To take all three parts you must pay an application fee of $225. After you have applied, you have a 10-exam window to register and take all three sections. The registration fees are $295 for the IDFX, $350 for the IDPX and $455 for the PRAC. If you cancel, you will have to pay a $150 cancellation fee for each exam you cancel. You will receive certification once you have passed all three parts within the allotted time. To renew certification, you will need to pay an annual fee of $75 and show proof of having completed 10 continued education credits.

After you have passed the NCIDQ exam, you may register as an interior designer in Georgia. The registration fee is $50.00. To keep your registration current, you must pay an annual fee of $90.00 and take 12 continued education credits every two years.

Career Outlook and Salary Expectations

The career outlook for interior designers in Georgia reflects a positive trend, with an expected increase in employment and competitive wages. The state is projected to see a 10% growth in the number of interior designers by 2030, indicating a healthy job market for professionals in this field. In 2022, interior designers in Georgia earn an average annual salary of $56,560, with entry-level positions starting at $29,330 or less, and the most experienced professionals earning up to $85,740 or more. This salary range is slightly below the national average but still offers a promising career path for those in the state.

National vs. Georgia Salaries for Interior Designers

Location Annual Low (10%) Annual Median Annual High (90%)
United States $36,610 $61,590 $101,550
Georgia $29,330 $56,560 $85,740

Salaries and Percentiles by Region in Georgia for Interior Designers

Region Annual Low (10%) Annual QL (25%) Annual Median (50%) Annual QU (75%) Annual High (90%)
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $30,230 $44,520 $60,220 $75,760 $86,440
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $26,160 $39,270 $50,030 $62,270 $77,960

Interior Designer Trends in Georgia

The employment outlook for Interior Designers in Georgia is positive, with a projected growth of 10% from 2020 to 2030. This growth rate indicates a healthy job market for interior designers in the state, with the number of employed professionals expected to increase from 2,700 in 2020 to 2,980 by 2030. Annually, there are projected to be 290 job openings in Georgia 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 robust demand for interior designers in Georgia, 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
Georgia 2,700 (2020) 2,980 (2030) 10% 290
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 Georgia 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 Georgia

As an interior designer you can expect to find work in places such as architectural and design firms, furniture stores and retail stores. You may work as a corporate designer, a healthcare facility designer, kitchen designer, residential designer, historic preservationist or a space planner. You may also consider working as a freelance interior designer.

Work for interior designers in Georgia is more commonly found in cities like Atlanta, Augusta and Savannah. However, with an interior design degree and your own personal creativity, you should be ready to find work almost anywhere in the state.

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

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FAQs

Is Interior Design a good career profession

Interior design is a great proffession to go into if you are hardworking, creative and conceptual.

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