Shadow of Scrib, GTM's mascot, walking across the top of the header, inspecting with a magnifying glass.

The Green Tape Measure

Research.  Educate.  Advance.

Did you know...

An interior decorator is not an interior designer.

Interior designers are technical, educated, and credentialed professionals who create safe, functional, and accessible interiors.

Interior decorating is often more a hobby than a job and focuses on aesthetics.

The regulation of the title "Interior Designer" is considered unconstitutional under the First Amendment.

All states regulate architecture, and the title "Architect."

In most states, an interior architecture degree does not allow use of the title "Interior Architect."

Many states reserve the use of the titles “architectural designer” and "design professional" for registered architects.

Only 36% of universities with accredited architecture degree programs also have an accredited interior design program.

The exam for interior designers is a 3-part, 11 hour exam covering interiors regulations. Interior design education and 2 years of work experience are required.

The exam for architects is a 6-part, 20 hour exam covering a range of regulations. 2 years of work experience is required. Educational requirements vary.

There are over 38,000 active NCIDQ certificate holders, most of whom are women.

There are over 120,000 licensed architects, most of whom are men.

Most interior designers are required to pay an architect or an engineer to stamp and sign their drawings.

From 1995 to 2021, the AIA openly opposed interior design legislation.

ASID and IIDA, leading interior design organizations, offer the top-tier membership to both NCIDQ designers and licensed architects.

AIA, the most well-known organization for architects, offers the top-tier membership to licensed architects only.

There is growing support for "reasonable" regulation, meaning no restriction on the title "interior designer" or practicing "interior design.”

Interior design has been stolen.

(and no, it's not ai.)

Learn the facts.

Hire accordingly.

Support equal regulation.

Save the interior design profession.

Meet Scrib - GTM's mascot. Scrib is a fictional animal character that looks similar to a monkey in detective clothing. Scrib first pops out on the right side of the screen with a magnifying glass then disappears off screen. Scrib then jumps into view and introduces itself as the Green Tape Measure's fact checker. Scrib then has a thought bubble that says: Reasonable regulation? Sounds like deregulation.

TM

About

Research and analyze.   Educate stakeholders.   Advance the industry.

The Green Tape Measure (GTM) is a research organization dedicated to improving work environments and expanding job opportunities for qualified interior designers in the United States while also protecting the health, safety, and welfare (HSW) of the public.

GTM believes that aligning public perception with facts will increase support for regulation and achieve our mission.

is a stakeholder.

Quiz

  • Use the arrow buttons to see the next or previous definition.

  • Drag a job title to where it says “place job title here”.

    Screen reader users: use the dropdown menus under each definition.

Definitions

A licensed architect who practices interior design.

Correct
Wrong

place job title here

Designs interiors that are safe and functional. Education and certification are common but not legally required.

Correct
Wrong

place job title here

Designs buildings. Requires a license.

Correct
Wrong

place job title here

Furnishes a space with fashionable or attractive items. No education or experience is needed.

Correct
Wrong

place job title here

Terms

Six balloons (2 green, 2 orange, and 2 dark green) that pop-in at the bottom of the screen, float up to the top of the screen, then pop-out and disappear.
  • Darbandi, Maryam et al. The Emergence of Interior Architecture. ResearchGate, July 2023. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372914515_The_Emergence_of_Interior_Architecture (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • NCARB. Why Architecture. NCARB (2025). Available at: https://www.ncarb.org/become-architect/why-architecture (Accessed 27 September 2025).

Timeline

Click an arrow button to see a date, then click the tape measure to see more information.

sound is on

1857

1897

1903

1911

1919

1931

1940

1957

1970

1974

1975

1980

1982

1987

1989

1994

1999

2003

2009

2013

2017

2021

2023

today

  • AFL-CIO. Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. AFL-CIO (2025). Available at: https://aflcio.org/about/history/labor-history-events/triangle-shirtwaist-fire (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • History.com Editors. Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. History.com, 2 Dec. 2009. Available at: https://www.history.com/articles/triangle-shirtwaist-fire (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • NCARB. History of NCARB. NCARB (2025). Available at: https://www.ncarb.org/about/history-ncarb (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • CIDA. Our Story. Council for Interior Design Accreditation (2025). Available at: https://cida.org/cida-history (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • CIDQ. 50th Anniversary. Council for Interior Design Qualification (2025). Available at: https://www.cidq.org/50th-anniversary (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • Best, Richard, and Demers, David P. Investigation Report on the MGM Grand Hotel Fire. National Fire Protection Association, 15 Jan. 1982. https://www.firefighternation.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/lasvegasmgmgrand.pdf (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • IIDA Alabama Chapter. Advocacy & Legislation. IIDA Alabama Chapter (2025). Available at: https://www.iida-al.org/resources/advocacy-legislation (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • Gillman, Todd J. Architects Fight D.C. Law Licensing Interior Designers. The Washington Post, 23 Aug. 1987. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1987/08/24/architects-fight-dc-law-licensing-interior-designers/b4afb5fa-aa7e-4b59-9536-3fd85ecd9963 (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • IIDA. Our Story. IIDA (2025). Available at: https://iida.org/about/our-story (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • FindLaw. Eva Locke v. Joyce Shore. FindLaw (2011). Available at: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-11th-circuit/1557399.html (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • ASID FLS. Response to Interior Design Deregulation. American Society of Interior Designers: Florida South (2025). Available at: https://fls.asid.org/resources/advocacy/response-to-interior-design-deregulation (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • CIDQ. Advocacy. Council for Interior Design Qualification (2025). Available at: https://www.cidq.org/advocacy (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • IIDA. Advocacy: About. IIDA (2025). Available at: https://iida.org/advocacy (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • The Consortium for Interior Design. Working Together to Protect the Public. CIDQ (2025). Available at: https://www.cidq.org/_files/ugd/0784c1_0558650d7ba1424da5a7149e4e5c8869.pdf (Accessed 27 September 2025).

Analysis

Can interior design kill?

42 Building Fires

Percentage of fires by building type

A pie chart of the percentage of fires by occupancy type: 38% Hotels and Apartments; 21% Theaters, Nightclubs, and Restaurants; 17% Schools; 14% Hospitals; and 10% Factories.

Legend

Factories

Factories

Schools

Schools

Hospitals

Hospitals

Hotels and Apartments

Hotels, Apartments

Theaters, Nightclubs, and Restaurants

Theaters, Nightclubs, Restaurants

3,636 Deaths

Percentage of deaths by building type

A pie chart of the percentage of deaths by occupancy type: 19% Hotels and Apartments; 52% Theaters, Nightclubs, and Restaurants; 12% Schools; 11% Hospitals; and 6% Factories.

Legend

Factories

Factories

Schools

Schools

Hospitals

Hospitals

Hotels and Apartments

Hotels, Apartments

Theaters, Nightclubs, and Restaurants

Theaters, Nightclubs, Restaurants

125 Years

Number of deaths by decade Number of deaths by decade

A bar chart showing the quantity of deaths by decade from the 1900s to the 2020s. Each bar is further subdivided to show the proportion of deaths by occupancy type. Overall, the number of deaths has decreased over time, but this has not been consistent as there have been some spikes.

Legend

Factories

Factories

Schools

Schools

Hospitals

Hospitals

Hotels and Apartments

Hotels, Apartments

Theaters, Nightclubs, and Restaurants

Theaters, Nightclubs, Restaurants

Cause of Death

% of Total Fires

Proportion of fires by cause of death

Circles representing the proportion of fires by cause of death: 26% lack of alarms or sprinklers and interior materials; 24% interior materials and inability to exit; 19% inability to exit; 12% inability to exit and lack of alarms or sprinklers; 7% lack of alarms or sprinklers; 7% interior materials; and 5% all three causes.

Reasons

Icon of person trying to exit

Unable to exit

A bell icon

Lack of alarms or sprinklers

A paint roller icon

Flammable or toxic interior materials

Cause of Death

% of Total Deaths

Proportion of deaths by cause of death

Circles representing the proportion of deaths by cause of death: 19% lack of alarms or sprinklers and interior materials; 47% interior materials and inability to exit; 14% inability to exit; 6% inability to exit and lack of alarms or sprinklers; 2% lack of alarms or sprinklers; 5% interior materials; and 7% all three causes.

Reasons

Icon of person trying to exit

Unable to exit

A bell icon

Lack of alarms or sprinklers

A paint roller icon

Flammable or toxic interior materials

What was blamed?

% of Total Fires

Proportion of fires by reason

A triangle showing the proportion of fires by reason: 50% due to lack of code enforcement, 48% due to outdated building codes, and 2% due to lack of code enforcement and architect error.

Legend

An icon of a building with shield

Lack of code enforcement

A gavel icon

Outdated building codes

A architectural compass icon

Architect

What was blamed?

% of Total Deaths

Proportion of deaths by reason

A triangle showing the proportion of deaths by reason: 67% due to lack of code enforcement, 32% due to outdated building codes, and 1% due to lack of code enforcement and architect error.

Legend

An icon of a building with shield

Lack of code enforcement

A gavel icon

Outdated building codes

A architectural compass icon

Architect

Conclusion

Interior design can kill and should be regulated to prevent unqualified individuals from practicing.

But...

Regulating professions is not enough.

Cities must both enforce and adopt updated codes to prevent fires and loss of life.

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Is an architectural license enough to practice interior design?

Interior Design (CIDA) Education

81 hours of interior design courses

Percentage of interior design course hours by topic

A pie chart of the percentage of interior design course hours in each topic: 25% Fundamentals, 22% Systems, 19% Non-Residential Projects, 17% Graphics, 9% Residential Projects, and 8% Professional Practice.

Legend

an icon of a building

Non-residential Projects

blocks icon

Fundamentals: Color Psych, Programming, Space Planning, Interior Design History

a computer monitor icon

Graphics: Software, Drawing, Portfolios, Presentations

icon of person wearing a tie

Professional Practice: Business, Ethics, Project Management, Internship

a house icon

Residential Projects

a gear icon

Systems: Construction, Lighting, Heating & Cooling, Sustainability, Interior Materials, Codes, Accessibility

Architecture (NAAB) Education

122 hours of architecture courses

Percentage of architecture course hours by topic

A pie chart of the percentage of architecture course hours in each topic: 37% Projects, 23% Fundamentals, 16% Systems, 10% Professional Practice, 6% Graphics, and 8% overlap with Interior Design.

Legend

an icon of a building

Projects: Overall Form, Site Context, Urban Design, Thesis

blocks icon

Fundamentals: Space & Form, Site Analysis, Architecture History

a computer monitor icon

Graphics: Freehand Drawing, Fabrication

icon of person wearing a tie

Professional Practice: Business, Ethics, Project Management, Internship

a gear icon

Systems: Structures, Urban Planning, Landscape, Building Envelope, Building Technology

a ven diagram icon

Interior Design Overlap: Environmental Design, Sustainability, Materials, Construction, Egress, Accessibility, Color Theory, Building Systems (heating, cooling, lighting, acoustics)

Selection of Schools

Boston Architectural College

Cal Poly

Cornell University

Pennsylvania State University

Rice University

Rhode Island School of Design

Syracuse University

Tulane University

University of Notre Dame

Virginia Tech University

Interior Design Exam (NCIDQ)

3 Parts, 660 Minutes, 420 Questions

Percentage of NCIDQ exam content by topic

A pie chart of the percentage of NCIDQ exam content in each topic: 78% Design, 16% Project Management, and 6% Professional Business Practices.

Legend

an icon of a person wearing a tie

Professional Business Practices

an icon of a list

Project Management

an icon of an architectural compass

Design: Codes & Regulations, Human Behavior, Sustainability, Programming, Selections, Drawings, Construction, Systems

  • CIDQ. NCIDQ Exam Study Resources. CIDQ / NCIDQ Exam (2025). Available at: https://www.cidq.org/study (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • CIDQ. IDFX Interior Design Fundamentals Exam. CIDQ / NCIDQ Exam (2025). Available at: https://www.cidq.org/_files/ugd/0784c1_db232724506941b69fd9e9860e2f4dcd.pdf (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • CIDQ. IDPX Interior Design Professional Exam. CIDQ / NCIDQ Exam (2025). Available at: https://www.cidq.org/_files/ugd/0784c1_5ea7c90e67c64fe4bee6a7eb6f379138.pdf (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • CIDQ. PRAC Practicum Exam. CIDQ / NCIDQ Exam (2025). Available at: https://www.cidq.org/_files/ugd/0784c1_0c91281951bd42e289659c19687f41a4.pdf (Accessed 27 September 2025).

Architectural Exam (ARE)

6 Parts, 1190 Minutes, 490 Questions

Percentage of ARE exam content by topic

A pie chart of the percentage of ARE exam content in each topic: 28% Design, 33% Project Management, 13% Professional Business Practices, and 26% overlap with interior design exam.

Legend

an icon of a person wearing a tie

Professional Business Practices

an icon of a list

Project Management

an icon of an architectural compass

Design: Site Analysis, Land Use Codes, Whole Building Design & Related Codes, Selection of MEP and Structural Systems

a ven diagram icon

Interior Design Overlap: Codes & Regulations (Zoning, IBC, ADA), Building Analysis & Programming, Acoustics, Lighting, Interior Materials, Coordination with MEP and Structural, Construction Documentation (handling of changes, interior partitions, & what drawings are required)

  • NCARB. ARE 5.0 Test Prep. NCARB (2025). Available at: https://www.ncarb.org/pass-the-are/prepare (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • NCARB. ARE: Practice Management. NCARB (2025). Available at: https://www.ncarb.org/pass-the-are/prepare/practice-management (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • NCARB. ARE: Project Management. NCARB (2025). Available at: https://www.ncarb.org/pass-the-are/prepare/project-management (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • NCARB. ARE: Programming & Analysis. NCARB (2025). Available at: https://www.ncarb.org/pass-the-are/prepare/programming-analysis (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • NCARB. ARE: Project Planning & Design. NCARB (2025). Available at: https://www.ncarb.org/pass-the-are/prepare/project-planning-design (Accessed 27 September 2025).
  • NCARB. ARE: Construction & Evaluation. NCARB (2025). Available at: https://www.ncarb.org/pass-the-are/prepare/construction-evaluation (Accessed 27 September 2025).

Conclusion

About 8% (10 hours) of the average architecture program includes interior design instruction. This is about 16% of an interior design program.

While about 26% of the ARE potentially includes questions also found on the interior design exam, this is only about 127 questions, or 25% of the NCIDQ’s design-related questions.

Based on this analysis, it could be argued that licensed architects without an interior design education and credential are not qualified to practice interior design.

What is reasonable versus equal regulation?

Interior Design Legislation

Number of States by Decade

Line graph of interior design regulations

4 lines plotted on a graph with decades on the x-axis and number of states on the y-axis. The lines are labeled as the following: Regulation of "Interior Designer", Permitting Privileges, Restrictions, and Voluntary Registration. Overtime, regulation has decreased while the other three have increased.

Legend

a solid green line

Regulation of “Interior Designer”

a dashed green line

Permitting Privileges: Laws allowing interior designers to stamp and sign their own drawings.

a solid orange line

Restrictions, including:

  • No changes to egress
  • Architects must lead projects where designer requires more than 2 other professionals
  • No increase in number of exits
  • Projects must be under 5000 square feet
  • No assembly spaces (such as theaters)
  • Only Office or Retail projects
  • No non-load-bearing walls that have casework (cabinets) or equipment (such as TVs)
a dashed orange line

Voluntary Registration: “Interior Designer” and “Interior Design” are not regulated.

Instructions:

  • Select a region.
  • Click a state to see information below.
Map of United States with Mid-Atlantic Region shaded
Map of United States with Midwest Region shaded
Map of United States with New England Region shaded
Map of the United States with Northwest region shaded
Map of United States with Southeast Region shaded
Map of United States with Southwest Region shaded
Map of United States with Alaska and Hawaii shaded
map of United States

Please note:

  • This information was last updated on: July 1, 2025
  • Legislation can be difficult to interpret, and GTM is not a law firm. The information presented is for general guidance only (for example, if you do not see practice restrictions for your state, this does not mean there are not any). Always review the state’s bills directly, and consult legal counsel as needed. Please see our Disclaimer (located at the bottom of this website) for more details.

Interior Design Regulation:

State / District:

Bill Years:

Bill Name:

Board Info:

Bill Type:

Exam Requirement*:

Practice Restrictions*:

*Except in DC, Architects & Engineers are exempt

Conclusion

Our analysis shows interior design is being deregulated.

“Reasonable” regulation also means additional restrictions on interior designers disguised as permitting privileges.

Why is this bad? In addition to public safety concerns, there is a negative impact on the livelihoods of interior designers. If an architect can also practice interior design, why would an employer or a customer hire an interior designer?

In contrast, “Equal” regulation means that interior designers have the same licensing structure as architects: The title "Interior Designer" and the practice of "Interior Design" are reserved for only those who have met state education and examination (i.e. NCIDQ) requirements. In return, licensed designers can practice in their field unrestricted and unsupervised and be given permitting privileges and a stamp. State laws must also capture the full scope of interior design.

Hiring a Designer

3 simple steps to follow when looking for a qualified interior designer

Step #1

Visit the NCIDQ directory:

Step #2

Search the database by project zip code for a designer with an active credential.

Step #3

Check the designer’s website or portfolio for experience with your type of project (i.e. residential versus commercial office)

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