How to Find the Best Interior Design School

Now that you have decided to enroll in an interior design school near Fair Oaks CA, it's time to begin the process of choosing a school. Even if you have always had a talent for designing residential or commercial interiors, it's essential that you receive the proper training to put your skills to work. And since a number of states do require that interior designers become licensed, depending on your state of residence you could need training to pass a licensing examination also. So it's essential that you carry out the appropriate research in order to analyze and compare each school that you are looking at before you make your final choice. But exactly where do you start? A number of potential students will kick off their research by looking for interior design schools near their home and then comparing tuition costs. While location and cost are relevant factors when making a determination, they are by no means the only ones. Qualifications such as reputation and accreditation must be considered also. We will cover those issues and other vital questions that you should be asking the interior design schools you are reviewing later in this article. But before we do, let's cover a little bit more about what interior design is and what degree and class alternatives are available.

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Interior Design compared to Interior Decoration

Often people confuse interior decoration for interior design. The principal difference between the two is the level of training required. Any person can do business as an interior decorator if they possess a general knowledge of or a talent for decorating interior spaces. However, working as an interior designer necessitates formal training and in many states one must have an accredited Associate or Bachelor's Degree as well as be licensed. Interior designers are taught to make work or living spaces attractive as well as functional. On many projects they may team up with architects and building engineers. There are two broad categories that an interior designer in Fair Oaks CA may specialize in:

• Residential Designing. Interior Designers typically work on existing homes as well as new construction. They can design basically any area of a house, including bedrooms, closets and basements. Or they can specialize in designing one particular room, for instance bathrooms or kitchens.
• Commercial Designing. When working on public or commercial areas, designers normally concentrate primarily on either aesthetic appeal or functionality but take notice of both. For example, business reception areas and meeting rooms are areas where aesthetics may be stressed over function. Designs for hospitals and banks may focus more on functionality over looks as the primary concern.

There are many areas of commercial and residential interior design that a designer must learn, for example color schemes, lighting, acoustics and furniture. Designers must be able to use graphic design and read blue prints in order to create their visions. From choosing wall paper and carpeting to incorporating Feng shui concepts, Fair Oaks California interior designers employ a wide range of skills that help bring about their ultimate designs.
 

Interior Designer Degree Programs

There are four degree alternatives offered in interior design to receive the training required to launch your new career in Fair Oaks CA. Your choice will undoubtedly be driven by your career goals as well as the time and money that you have budgeted to commit to your education. But no matter which degree program you choose to enroll in, make certain to pick one that is accredited. Accreditation is mandated in order to qualify for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam mandated in a number of states. More will be discussed on additional benefits of accreditation later. Following are short explanations of the interior design degrees that are offered.

• Associate Degree. Interior Design Associate Degrees provide the minimum amount of education required to enter the profession. They take roughly 2 years to complete and programs are available at a number of California community colleges and vocational schools. Graduates can normally obtain entry level employment as design assistants.
• Bachelor's Degree. Bachelor's degrees are 4 year programs that deliver more extensive training than the Associate Degree. They deal with the technical and creative aspects of the business needed to become a designer. They are the minimum degree needed by a college graduate in order to obtain an entry level job as an interior designer.
• Master's Degree. These two year programs furnish advanced design training after attaining the Bachelor's Degree. Master's Degrees offer alternatives in specialized majors in general areas such as business offices or residential bathrooms. A number of students enroll to improve their skills to be more competitive in the job market.
• Doctorate Degree. Doctoral programs are mainly for those professionals who want to teach interior design at a university or college level. The programs differ in length but are normally completed in three to five years.

To work as a professional and adopt the title of "Interior Designer", a number of states mandate that graduates of accredited schools become licensed. In several instances, two or more years of field experience may be called for before a candidate can sit for the licensing examination.

Questions to Ask Interior Designer Colleges

When you have decided on the interior design degree that you want to earn, you can start the process of analyzing your school options. Location will be an important factor, especially if the campus must be within driving distance from your Fair Oaks CA home. Obviously if you have decided on attending an online school, or are willing to relocate to attend classes, then location might not be a qualifier. The expense for tuition will narrow down your options also. But choosing the most affordable college or the one that is closest to your house are not the best ways to make your selection. There are other issues that you need to consider also, such as the reputation and accreditation of the school. Following are a list of concerns that you may want to address with the colleges you are reviewing to get those answers in addition to others in order to help you assess and subsequently select the right degree program.

Is the Interior Designer Degree Program Accredited? It's imperative to verify that the interior designer college and program that you choose has been accredited by either a regional or national organization. One of the most respected in the field is the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Colleges obtaining accreditation from the NASAD have gone through an extensive evaluation of their programs and teachers. Just verify that both the college and the degree program have been accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Not only will it help confirm that the reputation of the school and the quality of the education are excellent, it may also help when requesting financial aid or a student loan. Often they are not available for non-accredited schools. Also, many Fair Oaks California employers will only employ graduates of accredited colleges for entry level jobs.

Does the College Prep you for Licensing? As we previously mentioned, several States do mandate that interior designers become licensed. This would require a passing score on the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination as well as a degree from an accredited school. And in some of those States mandating licensing, 2 or more years of work experience may be required as well. Therefore in addition to providing an exceptional education, the Fair Oaks CA college you choose should also furnish the proper training to pass the NCIDQ exam and satisfy the minimum licensing requirements for California or the State where you will be employed.

What is the College's Job Placement Rate? Once you have graduated and attained your interior designer certification, you will undoubtedly need some assistance in finding your first job. Ask the schools that you are reviewing if they have a job assistance program. If yes, find out what their job placement rates are. A high rate is an excellent indication that the college and its programs are held in high regard within the interior design field and its graduates are sought after. It could also signify that the school has a significant network of Fair Oaks CA business connections where they can place students to secure internships or jobs after graduation.

Is Financial Assistance Available? Get in touch with the financial aid departments for the Fair Oaks CA schools you are evaluating and ask what kind of assistance they provide. A number of interior designer programs provide financial assistance to their incoming students. Various schools offer partial scholarships and others provide assistance in acquiring grants or federal student loans. It must be stressed again that selecting an accredited school is important for qualification in most cases. Often a school that has a higher tuition may effectively be less expensive than its counterparts because they provide more generous financial aid.

How Big are the Classrooms? Small classes are more personal and conducive to one on one instruction. If classes are large, you may receive little individual attention from the teachers. Find out from the Fair Oaks CA programs you are reviewing what their average student to teacher ratios are. If practical from your Fair Oaks home, go to the school and sit in on 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 philosophies are and what their credentials are in interior design.

Are Classes Available that Accommodate your Schedule? Finally, verify that the interior designer school you select provides classes the fit your active schedule. This is especially important if you plan to continue working while attending school. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Fair Oaks CA, make sure that those classes are available. If working full-time means you can only attend part-time, verify that is an option also. Finally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes missed due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Enroll in the Best Interior Design Program near Fair Oaks California

Picking the ideal interior designer program is a critical first step toward starting your career in this creative and fulfilling profession. Finding a college where you will receive your training and cultivate your skills in a particular area of study is a difficult job no matter what field you have chosen. As with any undertaking to acquire a higher education, there are a number of things to think about before selecting a course, program or school. At a minimum, check that the design college and program are both accredited and highly esteemed in the field. However it is still essential that you complete your due diligence analysis. By doing so and following the remaining recommendations provided in this article, you will be able to properly assess and compare interior design schools so that you can make the appropriate ultimate selection. And with quality training and your desire to succeed, you can reach your goal of becoming an interior designer in Fair Oaks California.