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What to Ask Interior Design Programs

Once you have decided on the interior designer degree that you want to earn, you can begin the task of assessing your college options. Location will be an important factor, especially if the college has to be within commuting distance from your El Mirage AZ residence. Obviously if you have decided on attending an online school, or are able to move to attend classes, then location may not be a qualification. The expense for tuition will decrease your options as well. But choosing the least expensive college or the one that is nearest to home are not the ideal ways to make your selection. There are other factors that you need to look at as well, such as the reputation and accreditation of the program. Following are a list of concerns that you may want to ask the programs you are reviewing to obtain those answers in addition to others in order to help you assess and subsequently select the appropriate degree program.

Is the Interior Design School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the interior designer program and school that you choose has earned accreditation from either a regional or national agency. One of the most highly regarded in the field is the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Colleges obtaining accreditation from the NASAD have gone through a rigorous assessment of their programs and instructors. Just confirm that both the college and the degree program have been accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Not only will it help confirm that the reputation of the college and the quality of the education are exceptional, it might also help when requesting financial assistance or a student loan. Often they are not available for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of El Mirage Arizona employers will only hire graduates of accredited schools for entry level positions.

Does the College Prepare you for Licensing? As we previously mentioned, several States do require that interior designers become licensed. This would require a passing score on the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam as well as a degree from an accredited school. And in some of those States calling for licensing, a minimum of 2 years of occupational experience may be required also. Therefore aside from providing an outstanding education, the El Mirage AZ college you choose should also provide the suitable instruction to pass the NCIDQ examination and meet the minimum licensing requirements for Arizona or the State where you will be employed.

What is the School's Job Placement Rate? After you have graduated and attained your interior design certification, you will no doubt want some assistance in finding your first position. Ask the schools that you are reviewing if they have a job assistance program. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher rate is a good indication that the school and its programs are held in high regard within the interior design field and its students are in demand. It could also indicate that the college has a large network of El Mirage AZ business contacts where they can refer students to obtain internships or employment after they graduate.

Is Financial Aid Available? Contact the financial aid departments for the El Mirage AZ colleges you are looking at and find out what kind of aid they provide. A number of interior design colleges offer financial assistance to their new students. Certain colleges provide partial scholarships while others provide help in securing grants or federal student loans. Again it must be stressed that choosing an accredited college is important for qualification in most cases. Often a school that has a higher tuition may effectively be cheaper than its counterparts because they offer more generous financial aid.

How Big are the Classes? Smaller classes are more personal and conducive to personalized instruction. If classes are large, you may receive limited individual instruction from the teachers. Find out from the El Mirage AZ colleges you are looking at what their average student to teacher ratios are. If practical from your El Mirage home, go to the college and attend a few classes. Take the opportunity to talk with a few students and find out what their experiences have been. Ask the instructors what their teaching approaches are and what their experiences have been in interior design.

Are Classes Offered that Accommodate your Schedule? Finally, make sure that the interior design program you enroll in offers classes the fit your active schedule. This is especially important if you will continue working while going to school. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near El Mirage AZ, confirm that those classes are available. If working full-time means you can only enroll part-time, verify that is an option as well. Finally, check what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of work, family or illness.