STEP Updates

The NCIDQ exam is changing in 2010, and the STEP program will be adapting to meet the new requirements.

You might be asking yourself,” Why is this change necessary?” Every five years, NCIDQ takes a close look at the exam and how it relates to the everyday practice of interior designers. NCIDQ is responsible for making sure that the exam stays relevant regarding the “competence of entry level interior design professionals to protect the public’s health, life safety and welfare”.


There are three areas that the exam has changed:

1. Sections 1 +2: Multiple Choice

• Section 1 will cover building codes, building systems, construction standards and construction administration (Section 1 was previously Principles and Practices of Interior Design)
• Section 2 will cover design application, project coordination and professional practice (Section 2 was previously Contract Documents and Administration)

2. Section 3: The Practicum Portion

• The new practicum will be composed of three parts consisting of seven separate exercises. The three parts are:

- Part A (Four hour exam; (3) hours recommended for the space plan exercise, (1) hour for the lighting exercise)

1. Space Planning Exercise

2. Lighting Design Exercise

- Part B (Two hour exam; (1) hour recommended for the egress exercise, (30) minutes each for the life safety and restroom exercises)

3. Egress Exercise

4. Life Safety Exercise

5. Restroom (Washroom) Exercise

- Part C (Two hour exam; (1) hour recommended for the egress exercise, (1) hour for the millwork exercise)

6. Systems Integration Exercise

7. Millwork Exercise

• Each exercise will be independent of the others. For example, the design scenario for the space planning exercise won’t be the same as the scenario for the millwork exercise. The idea behind this is to break down each part into more manageable exercises. “These smaller exercises allow exam candidates to clearly demonstrate their entry-level competence on discrete subject areas,” says Jeffery Kenney, Executive Director for NCIDQ.
• Although, the new practicum will continue to be hand drafted, it will now be done on 18” x 24” paper instead of the previous 11” x 17” size. Scale for the different sections will vary based on the level of detail required for that specific exercise.
• 8 hours will now be allotted for the practicum as opposed to the 4 hours previously allowed.
• The practicum will continue to be graded / evaluated using the same system as before.

3. Five (5) Year Rolling Clock: As per the NCIDQ website, the new system works as follows...

• Candidates who have taken at least one section of the exam: Candidates who have taken at least one section of the NCIDQ Examination must pass all three sections by December 31, 2014. After that date, NCIDQ will void any sections passed more than five years earlier, and candidates must retake those sections and complete the exam within a new five-year window.
• Candidates who will begin testing in 2010: Candidates who begin testing for the first time starting in 2010 must complete all sections of the exam within a five-year window. After five years, NCIDQ will void any sections passed more than five years earlier and the candidate must retake those sections and complete the exam within a new five-year window.
• Candidates who do not take any sections of the examination within five years of being made eligible by NCIDQ will lose their eligibility status. Candidates who lose their eligibility status due to non-testing must reapply, meet the requirements in effect at that time and pay any application fees.

The exam dates for 2010 are April 9-10 and October 1-2. Complete applications and supporting materials are due to NCIDQ by December 1, 2009 for the April administration and by June 1, 2010 for the October 2010 administration.

ASID continues to encourage designers to sit for the NCIDQ exam and will also continue to offer the STEP program as strong preparatory resource for the exam. STEP workshops are currently being set up for 2010 and will reflect the changes to the exam. For a complete list of workshops in your area, please visit www.asid.org. If you are planning on taking the Fall, there is a workshop scheduled in:

June 18-20
Hosted by: Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas
Deadline for registration: June 4, 2010

We've also scheduled the following workshop:

July 23-25
Hosted by: University of North Texas
Denton, Texas
Deadline for registration: July 9, 2010

We are working to schedule two more workshops in the Dallas / Fort Worth area as well. If you have questions regarding STEP, please contact Jennifer Roecker, Allied Member ASID, at jennifer@castorcollection.com. For more information about the NCIDQ exam, please visit www.ncidq.org.