Alafaya Altamonte Springs Apopka Aventura
Boca Raton Bonita Springs Boynton Beach Bradenton
Brandon Buenaventura Lakes Cape Coral Carol City
Carrollwood Clearwater Clermont Coconut Creek
Cooper City Coral Gables Coral Springs Country Club
Cutler Bay Dania Beach Davie Daytona Beach
Deerfield Beach Deland Delray Beach Deltona
Doral Dunedin East Lake Egypt Lake Leto
Estero Ferry Pass Fort Lauderdale Fort Myers
Fort Pierce Fountainebleau Four Corners Fruit Cove
Gainesville Golden Glades Greenacres Hallandale Beach
Hialeah Hollywood Homestead Jacksonville
Jupiter Kendale Lakes Kendall Kendall West
Kissimmee Lakeland Lakeside Lake Worth
Land O Lakes Largo Lauderdale Lakes Lauderhill
Lehigh Acres Margate Meadow Woods Melbourne
Merritt Island Miami Miami Beach Miami Gardens
Miami Lakes Miramar Navarre North Fort Myers
North Lauderdale North Miami North Miami Beach North Port
Oakland Park Ocala Ocoee Orlando
Ormond Beach Oviedo Palm Bay Palm Beach Gardens
Palm Coast Palm Harbor Panama City Parkland
Pembroke Pines Pensacola Pine Hills Pinellas Park
Plantation Plant City Poinciana Pompano Beach
Ponte Vedra Beach Port Charlotte Port Orange Port Saint Lucie
Richmond West Riverview Riviera Beach Royal Palm Beach
Saint Cloud Saint Petersburg Sanford Sarasota
South Miami Heights Spring Hill Sunrise Tallahassee
Tamarac Tamiami Tampa The Acreage
The Hammocks The Villages Titusville Town N Country
University Valrico Wellington Wesley Chapel
Westchester West Little River Weston West Palm Beach
Winter Garden Winter Haven Winter Park Winter Springs


 

Subjects to Ask Interior Design Schools

When you have decided on the interior designer degree that you would like to earn, you can start the process of assessing your college options. Location will be an important factor, particularly if the college needs to be within commuting distance from your FL residence. Of course if you have decided on attending a school online, or are prepared to relocate to attend classes, then location might not be a qualifier. The fee for tuition will decrease your choices as well. But choosing the least expensive school or the one that is nearest to your residence are not the optimal ways to make your decision. There are other factors that you need to look at as well, including the accreditation and reputation of the school. Below are a few 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 compare and ultimately choose the ideal degree program.

Is the Interior Designer Degree Program Accredited? It's necessary to verify that the interior design program and college that you choose has earned accreditation from either a regional or national agency. One of the most respected in the industry is the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Schools obtaining accreditation from the NASAD have gone through a demanding 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 agency. Not only will it help verify that the reputation of the college and the quality of the education are outstanding, it may also help when obtaining financial assistance or a student loan. Often they are not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, many Florida employers will only hire graduates of accredited schools for entry level jobs.

Does the School Ready 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) exam in addition to a degree from an accredited college. And in several of those States calling for licensing, 2 or more years of professional experience may be required as well. So besides providing an excellent education, the  FL program you enroll in should also provide the proper training to pass the NCIDQ exam and meet the minimum requirements for licensing for Florida or the State where you will be working.

What is the Program's Job Placement Rate? After you have graduated and received your interior designer certification, you will no doubt want some assistance in finding your first position. Ask the colleges that you are looking at if they have a job placement program. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high rate is a good indication that the school and its programs are highly regarded within the interior design trade and its graduates are sought after. It may also indicate that the college has a significant network of  FL business contacts where they can refer students to obtain internships or employment after they graduate.

Is Financial Aid Available? Get in touch with the financial assistance offices for the  FL colleges you are reviewing and ask what type of aid they provide. Many of interior design colleges provide financial assistance to their new students. Various colleges offer partial scholarships while others provide help in obtaining grants or federal student loans. It must be stressed again that enrolling in an accredited school is essential for qualification in most cases. Sometimes a college that has a higher tuition may ultimately be less expensive than its competitors because they provide more generous financial assistance.

How Small are the Classes? Smaller classes are more intimate and conducive to personalized instruction. If classes are larger, you may receive limited individual instruction from the teachers. Find out from the FL programs you are looking at what their average student to teacher ratios are. If practical from your home, go to the college and monitor a few classes. Take the opportunity to talk with a few students and ask what their experiences have been. Ask the instructors what their teaching philosophies are and what their backgrounds are in interior design.

Are Classes Accessible that Accommodate your Schedule? Finally, make certain that the interior design school you select offers 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 at night or on weekends near FL, make certain that those classes are offered. If you have a full-time job and can only attend part-time, check that is an alternative as well. Finally, find out what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of work, family or illness.