How to Pick the Right Interior Design College

Now that you have decided to enroll in an interior design college near Aurora CO, it's time to start the process of choosing a school. Even if you have always had a gift for designing residential or commercial spaces, it's essential that you get the proper training to put your natural abilities to work. And since some states do mandate that interior designers be licensed, based upon your state of residence you could need preparation to pass a licensing exam as well. So it's crucial that you perform the proper research in order to evaluate and compare each school that you are considering before you make your ultimate selection. But exactly where do you begin? A number of prospective students will start their research by searching for interior design schools near their residence and then comparing tuition expenses. While location and cost are relevant variables when making a determination, they are by no means the sole ones. Qualifications such as reputation and accreditation should be considered as well. We will discuss those issues and other crucial questions that you must ask the interior design schools you are reviewing later in this article. But first, let's cover a little bit more about what interior design is and what degree and training alternatives are available.

Start Your Interior Design Career By Requesting Free Info on Local Schools Below

Interior Decoration vs Interior Design

Some people confuse interior decoration for interior design. The key distinction between them is the amount of training required. Anyone can work as an interior decorator if they possess a basic knowledge of or a skill for decorating interior areas. However, working as an interior designer requires a formal education and in a number of states one must have an accredited Associate or Bachelor's Degree and be licensed. Interior designers are taught to make work or residential areas attractive as well as functional. On some projects they may work together with building engineers and architects. There are two broad categories that an interior designer in Aurora CO may specialize in:

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

There are many areas of residential and commercial interior design that a designer needs to learn, including color schemes, lighting, acoustics and furniture. They have to be able to read blue prints and use graphic design in order to produce their visions. From selecting wall paper and carpeting to integrating Feng shui principles, Aurora Colorado interior designers utilize a wide variety of skills that contribute to their final designs.
 

Interior Design Degree Programs

There are 4 degree options available in interior design to obtain the training required to start your new career in Aurora CO. Your choice will undoubtedly be motivated by your career goals in addition to the time and money that you have to commit to your education. But no matter which degree program you decide to enroll in, be sure to pick one that is accredited. Accreditation is mandated in order to take the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination mandated in several states. More will be covered on additional accreditation benefits later. Following are brief explanations of the interior design degrees that are available.

• Associate Degree. Interior Design Associate Degrees supply the minimum level of training required to enter the profession. They take about two years to finish and programs are offered at a number of Colorado community colleges and vocational schools. Graduates can normally qualify for entry level employment as design assistants.
• Bachelor's Degree. Bachelor's degrees are 4 year programs that provide more extensive training than the Associate Degree. They cover the creative and technical facets of the business needed to become a designer. They are the lowest credential needed by a college graduate in order to secure an entry level job as an interior designer.
• Master's Degree. These 2 year programs furnish advanced design training after achieving a Bachelor's Degree. Master's Degrees offer choices in specialized majors in general areas such as business offices or residential bathrooms. Many students enroll to advance their skills to be more competitive in their careers.
• Doctorate Degree. Doctorate degrees are mostly for those professionals who want to teach interior design at a university or college level. The programs differ in length but are generally completed in 3 to 5 years.

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

Questions to Ask Interior Designer Colleges

Now that you have decided on the interior designer degree that you would like to earn, you can start the task of analyzing your college options. Location will be an important issue, especially if the school must be within driving distance from your Aurora CO residence. Naturally if you have decided on attending a school online, or are able to relocate to attend classes, then location may not be a qualifier. The cost of tuition will limit your choices also. But choosing the least expensive school or the one that is closest to your residence are not the ideal ways to make your decision. There are other things that you need to look at also, including the reputation and accreditation of the program. Below are a few concerns that you may want to ask the programs you are reviewing to obtain those answers as well as others in order to help you assess and subsequently select the ideal degree program.

Is the Interior Design College Accredited? It's important to confirm that the interior design school and program that you enroll in has earned accreditation from either a national or regional organization. One of the most respected in the field is the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Schools obtaining accreditation from the NASAD have undergone an extensive evaluation of their teachers and programs. Just make sure that both the college and the degree program have been accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Not only will it help confirm that the reputation of the school and the quality of the training are outstanding, it may also help when securing financial aid or a student loan. Often they are not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of Aurora Colorado employers will only employ graduates of accredited programs for entry level jobs.

Does the School Prepare you for Licensing? As we previously mentioned, a number of States do require that interior designers get licensed. This would necessitate a passing score on the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination in addition to a degree from an accredited program. And in several of those States calling for licensing, 2 or more years of work experience may be required as well. Therefore in addition to providing an excellent education, the Aurora CO program you choose should also furnish the appropriate instruction to pass the NCIDQ examination and fulfill the minimum licensing requirements for Colorado or the State where you will be working.

What is the School's Job Placement Rate? After you have graduated and received your interior designer certification, you will no doubt want some help in finding your first job. Ask the schools that you are looking at if they have a job assistance program. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high rate is a good sign that the college and its programs are held in high regard within the interior design profession and its graduates are sought after. It could also indicate that the school has a sizable network of Aurora CO business connections where they can place students to obtain internships or employment after they graduate.

Is Financial Assistance Available? Get in touch with the financial assistance offices for the Aurora CO schools you are evaluating and find out what kind of assistance they offer. Many of interior designer programs offer financial assistance to their incoming students. Certain colleges offer partial scholarships and others provide support in acquiring federal student loans or grants. It must be emphasized again that choosing an accredited program is important for qualification in most cases. In some cases a program that has a higher tuition may effectively be cheaper than its counterparts because they provide more generous financial aid.

How Big are the Classes? Smaller classes are more intimate and conducive to one on one instruction. If classes are large, you may receive limited individual attention from the teachers. Ask the Aurora CO schools you are considering what their average student to teacher ratios are. If practical from your Aurora home, go to the college and monitor a few classes. While there talk with a few students and ask what their experiences have been. Ask the instructors what their teaching styles are and what their credentials are in interior design.

Are Classes Offered that Accommodate your Schedule? Last, make sure that the interior designer college you enroll in provides classes the fit your hectic schedule. This is particularly significant if you will continue working while going to college. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Aurora CO, make certain that those classes are offered. If you have a full-time job and can only enroll part-time, verify that is an alternative as well. Finally, check what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of work, family or illness.

Enroll in the Best Interior Designer College near Aurora Colorado

Selecting the ideal interior design program is an important first step toward launching your career in this creative and gratifying profession. Finding a school where you will obtain your training and cultivate your talents in a specific area of study is a challenging task regardless of what field you have chosen. As with any endeavor to attain an advanced education, there are many points to consider before choosing a course, program or school. At a minimum, confirm that the program and design college are both accredited and highly regarded in the business. However it is still essential that you complete your due diligence research. By doing so and following the balance of the suggestions provided in this article, you will be able to properly evaluate and compare interior design programs so that you can make the appropriate final selection. And with quality training and your drive to succeed, you can achieve your goal of becoming an interior designer in Aurora Colorado.