How to Become an Interior Designer in Texas
Interior designers appreciate building spaces that will be functional, enjoyable and convenient for their inhabitants. To do this, interior designers must use their knowledge of accessibility standards, safety requirements and human behavioral tendencies. More specific knowledge of the type of people who will be interacting with a particular space will help interior designers create a perfect harmony between humans and buildings. This can be done through aesthetic elements included in a home, office or other type of building, ceiling heights, flooring types, colors, textures and much more.
Requirements for Becoming an Interior Designer in Texas
In the state of Texas, the interior design profession is regulated through the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners (TBAE). This board requires that interior designers sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam before registering with the state. Once you have successfully completed this exam, you will need to submit an application for registration with the TBAE, along with a $100 application fee. Additionally, the TBAE requires all applicants to undergo a criminal history check before becoming registered with the state.
Each year, you will be required to renew registration with the state by submitting a $105 renewal fee and completing at least 12 hours of continuing education. The TBAE provides an online list of all the possible ways to earn your continuing education hours.
Penn Foster Career School – Online Interior Decorator Career Diploma
Develop your natural talent for interior design with the Penn Foster’s regionally and nationally accredited Interior Decorator Program and Become Certified in as little as five months! You also receive a paid six-month Certified Interior Decorator (C.I.D.) professional membership upon successful completion of the program and the certification exam. Call 1-800-851-1819 today.
Professional interior design organizations prefer that their members have a bachelor’s degree in interior design or related field. Which is why it’s important to look into individual schools and their curriculums, as well as what is required for certification within your state. Interior design courses may cover the following topics:
- Space planning
- Furniture and architectural history
- Building codes
- Technology
- Color theory
- Materials and textiles
Earning a master’s degree or completing an internship program will help you distinguish yourself from the competition. Adding further qualifications to your resume in addition to national certification will boost your credibility, allowing employers and clients alike to develop a deeper level of confidence in your skillset and expertise.
Interior Design Schools in Texas
Enrolling in a CIDA accredited program is a great way to jumpstart your career in this field. Each interior design program below is CIDA(Council for Interior Design Accreditation) accredited and will lay the foundation for you to successfully complete the National Council for Interior Design Qualification examination. Interior design students have the following educational options available to them.
- Abilene Christian University offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design, which will take four years to complete. Students are expected to complete an internship for credit after finishing their junior year, and tuition and fees are currently about $35,000 per year.
- The Art Institute of Austin offers students a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design. The program can be completed in as little as 45 months. Tuition and fees are currently about $88,000 per year, with books and supplies totaling an additional $3,000.
- Texas Christian University is located in the city of Forth Worth and offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design. This is a four year program, and students will be required to complete an internship before graduating. Tuition and fees are currently about $47,000 per year.
National Certification for Interior Designers in Texas
To earn NCIDQ certification, you must go through the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ). Eligibility requirements to sit for this exam include a bachelor’s degree along with two years of work experience as an interior designer. Alternative options for eligibility include completion of a degree program that took less than four years of study, along with three-to-four years of work experience within the trade.
The first step to earning NCIDQ certification is to pay a $225 application fee. Next, you will need to register for each section of the exam individually. The exam sections include the following:
- Interior Design Fundamentals exam (IDFX)
- Interior Design Professional exam (IDPX)
- Practicum exam (PRAC)
The IDFX portion requires a registration fee of $295, the IPDX carries a registration fee of $350, and the PRAC will require a registration fee of $455. You will receive NCIDQ certification when you have successfully completed all three sections of the exam process. To maintain this certification, you will also need to pay an annual fee of $75.
Those who have recently graduated a bachelor’s or master’s degree program, or those who are in the last year of a degree program and have not yet had the opportunity to fulfill the work experience requirements needed in order to earn certification, will be allowed to sit for the IDFX portion of the exam only. This requires a $95 application fee as well as the registration fee of $295. To earn NCIDQ certification, you will need to return to complete the IDPX and PRAC portions of the exam when you have fulfilled work experience requirements.
Career Outlook and Salary Expectations
The salary data for interior designers in Texas, as compared to the national average, offers a comprehensive view of the earning potential within the state. In Texas, interior designers earn an average annual salary of $60,200, which is slightly below the national average of $61,590. The salary range in Texas extends from $34,830 at the 10th percentile to $95,950 at the 90th percentile, indicating a wide range of earning potential based on experience, specialization, and other factors.
National vs. Texas Salaries for Interior Designers
| Location | Annual Low (10%) | Annual Median | Annual High (90%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $36,610 | $61,590 | $101,550 |
| Texas | $34,830 | $60,200 | $95,950 |
Salaries by Region in Texas for Interior Designers
| Region | Annual Low (10%) | Annual Median | Annual High (90%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | $46,270 | $63,400 | $90,670 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $31,350 | $74,430 | $141,270 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $35,410 | $59,830 | $96,150 |
| El Paso, TX | $27,550 | $37,540 | $75,480 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $35,580 | $60,520 | $100,550 |
Interior Designer Trends in Texas
In Texas, the employment outlook for Interior Designers (27-1025.00) is set for significant growth, with a projected increase of 14% from 2020 to 2030. The number of interior designers in the state is expected to rise from 7,200 employees in 2020 to 8,190 employees by 2030. Annually, there are projected to be 790 job openings for interior designers in Texas during this period, which includes openings due to both industry growth and the need to replace workers leaving the profession. This growth rate is substantially higher than the national average of 4% for the same period, indicating a robust demand for interior designers within the state.
Employement Trends
| Aspect | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Employment (2020 for TX, 2022 for US) | 7,200 employees | 94,900 employees |
| Projected Employment (2030 for TX, 2032 for US) | 8,190 employees | 98,700 employees |
| Projected Growth | 14% | 4% |
| Projected Annual Job Openings (2020-2030 for TX, 2022-2032 for US) | 790 | 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 Texas 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 Texas
Texas cities like Bellaire, Houston and Alief are where some of the highest paid interior designers in this state can be found working.
Interior designers will be employed at a professional practice such as architecture firms, kitchen and bath retailers, home furnishing retailers and more. If you enjoy using your critical thinking skills to create spaces that are innovative, and using your creativity to design spaces that are aesthetically pleasing, you may want to consider getting started as an interior designer today.
FAQs
Is Interior Design a competitive field?
Interior design is a competitive field. The more competitive interior design jobs start in the specialized areas of the industry such as commercial, residential, hospitality and healthcare interior design.