How to Become an Interior Designer in Illinois

An interior designer is a creative professional who wears many hats. While many people might think of an interior designer as a ‘decorator,’ an interior designer has both an inventive and technical background and often works with contracting companies and architectural firms to review blueprints before a new home or office is built. Of course, their job responsibilities go beyond the technical, working with design firms and even realtors to ensure that the space that they showcase provides a seamless flow that is practical and visually engaging. Many designers also create their own brand and freelance after building a portfolio, making it a flexible career choice that will also generate a steady stream of income.

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Requirements for Becoming an Interior Designer in Illinois

While it is possible for someone to work as an interior decorator in Illinois without being registered or certified, in order for someone to use the title Registered Interior Designer they will need to complete certain educational and internship requirements.

To become a registered interior designer in Illinois, you will need to obtain a minimum of a two-year associate’s degree in interior design in addition to four years of internship with an interior design firm. Once this is completed, you will be eligible to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination through the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ). More education, such as a bachelor’s degree in interior design, will reduce the required length of internship.

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Interior Design Schools in Illinois

There are many colleges and universities in Illinois that offer interior design programs that will satisfy registration requirements in the state:

  • Columbia College, Chicago. Columbia College Chicago is one of the top schools in Illinois for interior design, offering a Bachelor of Fine Art in Interior Architecture. This degree program is accredited by the Council of Interior Design Accreditation (CIDQ), which means that program graduates are qualified to take the NCIDQ exam. Interior architects are the same as interior designers, creating environments that are easy on the eye and supportive of client requirements. A grade of C or better is required on all major coursework, and a GPA of 3.0 or higher is a requirement for students to graduate from the program.
  • Joliet Junior College, Joliet. JJC’s Associate of Science Degree in Interior design program will prepare students for professional examinations, including the NCIDQ. Graduates of this two-year program can also transfer their credits to seek a bachelor’s degree in interior design through the college’s 2+2 options.
  • Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. SIU offers a bachelor’s degree program that can be completed in four years for incoming freshman or three years for transfer students. The coursework within the interior design program is centered on studio-based learning in a work-lab setting, providing students with hands-on experience with small class sizes. While internships are not a requirement for students, they are encouraged. For students who decide to obtain an internship during their course of study, hours of work can be counted toward the requirements for the NCIDQ exam.

Certification for Interior Designers in Illinois

The Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ) regulates the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) certification exam and requires that interior designers complete both educational and work experience requirements to take the exam. The minimum requirement is an associate degree in interior design with 40 semester hours plus four years of full-time work experience under a certified interior designer. The more education you receive, however, the less work experience you will need to obtain before taking the interior design qualification examination.

The education and work combinations to qualify include:

  • 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, 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:

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

Once you’re eligible to sit for the exam you will activate a timeframe in which you will need to register for and take the above three sections. The registration fees are $295 for the IDFX exam, $350 for the IDPX exam and $455 for the PRAC exam. After passing the NCIDQ exam, you will be eligible to register with the State of Illinois and use the title of Registered Interior Designer.

Career Outlook and Salary Expectations

The career outlook for interior designers in Illinois showcases a significant update in both employment and salary data. Illinois remains one of the top states for interior design employment, with an average annual salary of $64,250 for interior designers as of 2022, surpassing the national average. This figure indicates a competitive wage landscape for professionals in the field. In Illinois, the lowest 10% of earners make $33,510 or less, while the highest 10% can earn up to $100,730 or more, highlighting the potential for salary growth based on experience, specialization, and location within the state.

National vs. Illinois Salaries for Interior Designers

Location Annual Low (10%) Annual Median Annual High (90%)
United States $36,610 $61,590 $101,550
Illinois $33,510 $64,250 $100,730

Salaries and Percentiles by Region in Illinois for Interior Designers

Region Annual Low (10%) Annual QL (25%) Annual Median (50%) Annual QU (75%) Annual High (90%)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI $33,510 $50,490 $64,920 $84,460 $100,940
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $29,450 $38,370 $45,850 $60,840 $86,950
Rockford, IL $30,990 $31,010 $31,010 $60,370 $78,770
Springfield, IL $31,100 $40,660 $59,890 $71,090 $81,420
St. Louis, MO-IL $38,040 $47,620 $56,340 $79,010 $110,810

Interior Designer Trends in Illinois

The employment outlook for Interior Designers in Illinois is positive, with a projected growth of 6% from 2020 to 2030. This growth indicates a steady demand for interior designers in the state, with the number of employed professionals expected to increase from 2,650 in 2020 to 2,800 by 2030. Annually, there are projected to be 260 job openings in Illinois 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 Illinois, 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
Illinois 2,650 (2020) 2,800 (2030) 6% 260
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 Illinois 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 Illinois

Registered interior designers in Illinois can be found working in a variety of industries, including architecture, commercial real estate and residential real estate, but many interior designers can also be found working in the kitchen and bath design industry or within art galleries and furniture stores as a showroom manager. It is also not uncommon for interior designers to freelance or to get into teaching or into art direction with a design firm

Whatever your specific interests might be, Illinois is home to many job opportunities for interior designers, especially in the Chicago metropolitan area. If you consider yourself to be imaginative

and have always enjoyed designing your own home, signing up for a degree program in interior design is a great option and will jump start your transition into this exciting career field.

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FAQs

What is the best Interior Design Qualification?

The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (or NCIDQ) is one of the most respected and important certifications in the interior design industry. In fact, it's considered the highest certification for interior designers.

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