Q. I am thinking about going into interior design but I am 40 yrs old. Do I really need to go to school?

Is it legal to practice interior design without actual experience or education? -Dee Morton, Helena

A. Unfortunately yes, this is legal. It is my opinion however, that this kind of misrepresentation is irresponsible and unethical. In most states there are licensing requirements for the profession of interior design. They require a college education in interior design and you have to pass the NCIDQ exam in order to use the title “interior designer.” So far, the state of Montana does not regulate who can call themselves an interior designer and who can’t. So anybody with an interest in interior design can put the title interior designer on their business cards and skip the education and the experience.

Some designers will claim to have “experience” but most likely that experience is in construction or some other related field. If you have not worked with a qualified interior designer for at least a couple of years you cannot claim to have design experience, which would be the equivalent of a roofer claiming to be a plumber.

There is also some confusion as to the difference between a “design consultant” and an interior designer. A design consultant is someone who works as a salesperson in a retail store such as flooring, lighting or furniture. This person may have specialized training and knowledge regarding the products they are selling. Many people make the mistake of assuming that if this design consultant can help you select your flooring then they must be qualified to help you with the rest of your home. And some design consultants will gladly help you free of charge, even though they are not qualified to do so.

Even free advice can be very costly and damaging for the homeowner if the information is incorrect. A professional interior designer is trained in all aspects of new construction and design including lighting, flooring and kitchen design and can actually save you money in the end.

If you are serious about becoming an interior designer take the time to get the proper education. Helena does not have an interior design school but there are some schools that offer online classes. Learning everything you need to know through experience instead of education would be next to impossible in Helena since there are only a couple of “qualified” designers in town and you would have to work for one of them for at least a couple of years.

source : www.helenair.com