How to Choose the Right Interior Designer College

Once you have decided to enroll in an interior designer school near Eau Claire WI, it's time to begin the process of choosing a school. Even if you have always had a gift for designing commercial or residential spaces, it's imperative that you get the proper training to put your talents to work. And since several states do require that interior designers be licensed, depending on your state of residence you may need training to pass a licensing examination also. So it's vital that you carry out the appropriate research in order to evaluate and compare each college that you are looking at prior to making your ultimate selection. But exactly where do you start? A number of future students will begin their research by looking for interior design programs near their home and then comparing tuition expenses. While cost and location are important factors when making a determination, they should not be the only ones. Qualifiers such as reputation and accreditation need to be taken into consideration also. We will discuss those issues and other vital questions that you must ask the interior design schools you are looking at later in this article. But before we do, let's talk a little bit more about what interior design is and what degree and training choices are available.

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Interior Design and Interior Decoration

Some people confuse interior decoration for interior design. The key difference between them is the amount of training required. Any person can work as an interior decorator if they possess a general knowledge of or a talent for decorating interior spaces. On the other hand, doing business as an interior designer requires formal training and in numerous states one must have an accredited Bachelor's or Associate Degree as well as be licensed. Interior designers are taught to make work or residential spaces functional as well as attractive. On some projects they may work together with architects and building engineers. There are two general areas that an interior designer in Eau Claire WI can specialize in:

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

There are numerous areas of residential and commercial interior design that a designer must learn, such as lighting, color schemes, acoustics and furniture. They need to be able to read blue prints and use graphic design in order to create their visions. From selecting carpeting and wall paper to incorporating Feng shui principles, Eau Claire Wisconsin interior designers implement a wide range of skills that help bring about their ultimate creations.
 

Interior Design Degrees

There are four degree alternatives offered in interior design to obtain the training necessary to launch your new career in Eau Claire WI. Your decision will no doubt be driven by your career goals as well as the money and time that you have to commit to your education. But no matter which degree program you opt to enroll in, be sure to pick one that is accredited. Accreditation is needed in order to qualify for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination mandated in a number of states. More will be covered on additional accreditation benefits later. Following are brief descriptions of the interior design degrees that are available.

• Associate Degree. Associate degrees in interior design provide the minimum level of training needed to enter the profession. They take approximately 2 years to finish and programs are available at many Wisconsin vocational schools and community colleges. Graduates can commonly obtain entry level positions as design assistants.
• Bachelor's Degree. Bachelor's degrees are 4 year programs that furnish more in depth training than the Associate Degree. They cover the technical and creative components of the trade needed to become a designer. They are the minimum credential needed by a graduating student in order to obtain an entry level position as an interior designer.
• Master's Degree. These two year programs provide advanced design training after achieving the Bachelor's Degree. Master's Degrees offer choices in specialized majors for such things as business offices or residential bathrooms. A number of students enroll to advance their skills to be more competitive in their careers.
• Doctorate Degree. Doctorate programs are mainly for those professionals who desire to teach interior design at a college or university level. The degree programs differ in length but are typically completed in 3 to 5 years.

To work as a professional and use the title of "Interior Designer", a number of states mandate that graduates of accredited schools become licensed. In some instances, 2 or more years of field experience may be required before an applicant can sit for the licensing examination.

Online Interior Designer Classes

For individuals who wish to attend classes in the convenience of their Eau Claire WI homes, there are accredited online interior design classes. Studying online can be a good solution for those students that are working or have hectic schedules that make attending classes on campus challenging. Classes can instead be accessed on a home computer or laptop when convenient for the student. For some students online colleges may be the sole alternative if no interior design schools are within driving distance. And as an added benefit, the tuition may be cheaper than for more conventional options. Added costs for such things as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated as well. Just be sure that the school you pick is accredited by a highly regarded accrediting agency, such as the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (more on accreditation later). Online programs may also acquire accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. If you have the dedication to acquire your degree without the structure of a physical classroom setting, then an online interior design program may be the right alternative for you.

Subjects to Ask Interior Designer Programs

When you have decided on the interior designer degree that you wish to earn, you can begin the process of evaluating your college options. Location will be a critical factor, particularly if the college has to be within driving distance from your Eau Claire WI home. Naturally if you have decided on attending an online school, or are prepared to relocate to attend classes, then location may not be a qualification. The cost of tuition will limit your options also. But picking the most affordable college or the one that is closest to home are not the ideal ways to make your selection. There are other factors that you need to look at also, such as the reputation and accreditation of the program. Below are a few concerns that you may want to ask the colleges you are reviewing to get those answers as well as others in order to help you assess and ultimately select the right degree program.

Is the Interior Design Degree Program Accredited? It's necessary to verify that the interior designer program and school that you select has been accredited by either a regional or national organization. One of the most highly regarded in the industry is the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Colleges receiving accreditation from the NASAD have undergone an extensive evaluation of their instructors and programs. Just make sure that both the degree program and the college have been accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Not only will it help verify that the reputation of the school and the quality of the training are excellent, it might also help when requesting financial aid or a student loan. Often they are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, a number of Eau Claire Wisconsin employers will only employ graduates of accredited colleges for entry level jobs.

Does the School Ready you for Licensing? As we mentioned earlier, some States do require that interior designers get licensed. This would necessitate a passing score on the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination as well as a degree from an accredited college. And in some of those States calling for licensing, at least 2 years of professional experience may be required also. Therefore besides providing an exceptional education, the Eau Claire WI college you select should also furnish the suitable instruction to pass the NCIDQ examination and comply with the minimum licensing requirements for Wisconsin or the State where you will be working.

What is the School's Job Placement Rate? After you have graduated and attained your interior designer certification, you will undoubtedly want some support in finding your first job. Ask the programs that you are reviewing if they have a job assistance program. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high rate is a good indication that the college and its programs are held in high regard within the interior design profession and its students are sought after. It might also indicate that the college has a large network of Eau Claire WI business relationships where they can place students to obtain internships or jobs after they graduate.

Is Financial Assistance Offered? Contact the financial assistance offices for the Eau Claire WI schools you are looking at and find out what kind of assistance they offer. A number of interior designer programs provide financial assistance to their new students. Certain colleges offer partial scholarships and others provide assistance in obtaining grants or federal student loans. Again it must be stressed that choosing an accredited college is essential for qualification in most cases. Sometimes a program that has a higher tuition may actually 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 personalized instruction. If classes are larger, you probably will receive limited individual attention from the teachers. Find out from the Eau Claire WI schools you are reviewing what their typical student to teacher ratios are. If practical from your Eau Claire home, go to the campus and monitor a few classes. Take the opportunity to speak with some students and ask what their experiences have been. Ask the instructors what their teaching philosophies are and what their experiences have been in interior design.

Are Classes Offered that Fit your Schedule? Finally, confirm that the interior designer college you enroll in offers classes the fit your busy schedule. This is especially significant if you plan to continue working while attending school. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Eau Claire WI, make certain that those classes are offered. If you have a full-time job and can only attend part-time, confirm that is an option as well. Finally, check what the protocol is for making up classes missed due to work, sickness or family obligations.

Enroll in the Best Interior Design School near Eau Claire Wisconsin

Selecting the right interior designer college is a crucial initial step toward starting your career in this creative and fulfilling occupation. Finding a college where you will receive your education and develop your skills in a specific area of study is a difficult job no matter what field you have chosen. As with any endeavor to receive an advanced education, there are a number of factors to think about before selecting a course, program or school. At a minimum, make sure that the program and design school are both accredited and highly regarded in the profession. However it is still imperative that you perform your due diligence research. By doing so and following the rest of the recommendations presented in this article, you will be able to properly evaluate and compare interior design colleges so that you can make the right final selection. And with excellent training and your determination to succeed, you can accomplish your goal of becoming an interior designer in Eau Claire Wisconsin.