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A career as an interior designer can be a very lucrative and rewarding career for those who have an eye for detail, a flair for trends, and an understanding of the fundamentals of spatial design, color theory, design elements, fabrics, lighting, and knowledge of sustainable practices.
Article Table of Contents
Oklahoma Requirements for Interior Designers
In the state of Oklahoma, those that wish to practice as interior designers must first register with the Oklahoma Board of Architects (OBA).
Candidates must complete a degree course from a suitably qualified tertiary education institution that is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) prior to signing up for membership as well as sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam.
In addition to this, applicants are required to have completed 24 months of work within the interior design industry.
The registration process is initiated by submitting an application form along with a $100 application fee.
When candidates receive approval notification, they are required to pay a $325 registration fee in order to register with the state of Oklahoma.
Candidates are required to provide proof of continued education on a 24-month cycle including having completed 24 hours of continued education within the 2 year period.
5 Interior Design Schools in Oklahoma
Various schools in the state of Oklahoma offer interior design courses, including a 4-year bachelor’s degree, a 2-year associate’s degree, online courses, and certificates.
University of Central Oklahoma
The University of Central Oklahoma offers a bachelor of fine arts in interior design.
This is a four-year degree that is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).
The university is located in the city of Edmond.
The course is designed to prepare students for residential and commercial planning and merchandising.
At the time of writing this article, the price range per student per year was $8 000.
Oklahoma Christian University
The university is located in Oklahoma City.
The four-year degree program is CIDA accredited and prepares students by creating an understanding of spatial design and building structure.
The course focuses on residential or commercial interior architecture.
Students are required to complete 126 hours of coursework including minor, major, and core work.
In addition to completing the coursework, students are required to complete three credit hours of internship.
As of the time of writing this article, the tuition for Oklahoma Christian University was $12 000 per year.
Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State University offers a four-year bachelor of science in design, housing, and merchandising at their OSU Stillwater Campus.
The course is CIDA accredited.
The major of this course is interior design and the minors include fashion design and production, fashion merchandising, and visual merchandising.
The course prepares candidates for an entry-level position in the field of interior design.
Students are required to complete an internship in order to qualify for this degree.
The course also offers and highlights sustainable design in this field.
Students have access to top-rated technology features that help them throughout their course, including augmented reality, digital prototyping, virtual reality, and real-life testing opportunities in the Human Environmental Factors Lab.
In-state students can expect to pay $24,920, while out-of-state students will pay $40,440 per year.
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma offers a four-year bachelor’s degree program in interior design.
Students can expect to pay $21,836 per year for this course.
This course is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and prepares students to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ) exam.
In addition, the institution offers students the ability to travel through studies to a variety of destinations during the course of their studies.
This course prepares students for this industry through collaboration with other students in architecture, environmental design, construction science, landscape architecture, and regional and city planning students.
Tulsa Community College
The course offered by Tulsa Community College is in fact a two-year associate’s degree.
The course is offered in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The course fee, at the time of writing this article, was $6 313 per year.
Students are required to complete 72 hours of coursework towards graduation.
The course prepares students for a career in the field of interior design.
Upon completion, students will be familiar with a range of points including, cost estimation, space planning, floor plans, isometrics, historic periods of design, life safety and handicap codes, textiles, knowledge of lighting, one and two-point perspective sketching, etc.
Students are required to complete both an internship as well as field trips towards their graduation.
Interior Design Schools in Oklahoma – Summary Table
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| University of Central Oklahoma | 100 N University Dr, Edmond, OK 73034 |
| Oklahoma Christian University | 2501 E Memorial Rd, Edmond, OK 73013, |
| Oklahoma State University | Stillwater, OK 74078 |
| University of Oklahoma | 660 Parrington Oval, Norman, OK 73019 |
| Tulsa Community College | 3727 E Apache St, Tulsa, OK 74115 |
Salary
There are three salary ranges, including entry-level, median, and experienced.
Students starting out in this industry can expect to earn $29,469.
Individuals who are educated with some experience may expect a median salary of $29,469, and those who are highly experienced may earn up to $57,774 per year.
Keep in mind that many factors will influence the salary, including whether the candidate is self-employed or working for a company, which state the candidate is working in, the amount of experience, and the type of degree will all influence the pay rate per candidate.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $44,551 |
| Tulsa | $46,789 |
| Norman | $44,258 |
| Lawton | $41,502 |
| Broken Arrow | $46,643 |
| Edmond | $44,404 |
| Amber | $44,551 |
| Enid | $44,112 |
| Mooreland | $42,514 |
| Stillwater | $44,112 |
Regional Salary in Oklahoma
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, OK | 250 | $55,400 | $26.63 | $71,720 | $36,670 |
| Tulsa, OK | 180 | $59,190 | $28.46 | $78,790 | $37,050 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be licensed to work in the state of Oklahoma as an interior designer?
You simply need to be registered with the Oklahoma Board of Architects (OBA).
Can I register with the Oklahoma Board of Architects (OBA) if I only have an associates degree?
Yes, provided that you have a sufficient amount of working experience.
This range is anywhere from three to four years in the industry.
What if I do not provide proof of continued learning to the Oklahoma Board of Architects (OBA)?
You will still be able to work as an interior designer, but you may not claim the title.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Certified Interior Designer
Interior Design Schools by State