North Dakota Interior Design Schools and Salary Guide

Interior designers are tasked with transforming a space.

Their focus is placed on safety, functionality, and visual appeal.

This is achieved by assessing the space and its requirements, deciding how and where to place furniture, determining which decorative style and items will achieve the desired aesthetic appearance, and applying color theory.

These design elements must meet and comply with building codes, blueprints, as well as inspection requirements.

North Dakota Requirements For Interior Designers

In the United States, there are two laws that govern the field of interior design:

• Practice Acts
• Title Acts

Certain jurisdictions comply with the Practice Act and require both certification and registration.

Each state is governed differently.

Legislation is put in place to protect the consumer.

As a consumer, you are able to determine if the individual or company that you intend on hiring is professional, certified, registered, and complies with all other requirements.

It is important to check the laws of the state in which you intend on operating.

In the state of North Dakota, as of the date of this article, there is no legislation in place that regulates interior design.

In addition, no further education requirements are set either.

However, in most cases, employers may require that you hold a bachelor’s degree in order to obtain a job in this field.

If you may be interested in obtaining your national certificate, you may do so through the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ).

You will be required to sit for an exam provided that you have previously qualified with a bachelor’s degree in interior design from a suitably qualified and recognized institution.

You may also qualify to take this exam with a two-year associate’s degree coupled with four years of working experience in the field of interior design.

There are three sections in The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination:

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

Apart from the individual prices set per examination, there is an additional annual fee that will need to be paid in order to maintain registration.

5 Interior Design Schools in North Dakota

The following five schools offer interior design as a course, including 4-year bachelor’s degree programs, 2-year associate’s degree programs, and certifications.

North Dakota State University

The North Dakota State University offers a 4-year undergraduate bachelor’s degree program in interior design that is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).

The course requires that students participate in a series of integrated studio experiences that combine to ultimately create a capstone interior design project.

The projects will each have different design goals and varying levels of complexity.

Students are also expected to complete a three-credit field experience between junior and senior years during the summer.

Tuition for this course is $8 000 per annum for in-state students and $11 500 for non-resident students.

Penn Foster College

Penn Foster College offers a two-year associate’s degree.

This course is offered online and students can earn 45 credits towards the 60 credits that are required for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) Certification.

Students who graduate are eligible to apply for membership with the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

In addition, students who graduate may forward their transcripts to the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) in order to receive education hours towards the NKBA certification requirements.

Furthermore, a drawing kit tool is supplied to first-year students at no additional cost as part of their program materials.

The price per semester for the 2022 intake is $1,699.

Bismarck State College

Bismarck State College offers an online introductory course on interior design.

There are two options to choose from.

The first is an instructor-led course with six weeks’ access to the program and the second is a self-paced course with three months’ access to the program.

Both courses are priced at $115.

Students are introduced to color theory, spatial arrangements, traditional and modern interior design ideas, industry trends, floor plans, lighting, and sustainable green designs.

Students are required to complete a design project which includes a fully designed space, lighting, spatial design, and finished selections.

University of North Dakota

The University of North Dakota offers the same online introductory to interior design course as Bismarck State College.

The course is only available online and runs for a duration of six weeks or, alternatively, three months at a self-paced level.

Both courses are $115.

Online courses

There are a variety of schools and institutions that offer courses in interior design online.

While some short courses may be accredited, not all are.

For example, Alison.com offers an online diploma course in interior design that is absolutely free.

The course covers both the practical side of the business and launching your own interior design business, as well as the visual aspect of interior design.

Because this is an online course, it does not restrict the student to any geographical area.

The primary focus of the course is on residential spaces, but the content can be applied to commercial spaces as well.

Students can download a copy of their diploma upon completion of the course.

Interior Design Schools in North Dakota – Summary Table

Salary

Candidates working in this field can expect to earn an entry salary of $29,469 while the average industry salary for those with some industry experience sits at $48,769.

Those at the top can expect to earn $57,774 per annum as an interior designer.

Regional Salary in North Dakota

Interior Design Schools by State