Interior Designer Course
How to Choose the Right One Near Eau Claire Wisconsin

Now that you have made a decision to enroll in an interior design college near Eau Claire WI, it's time to start the process of choosing a school. It's important that you get the best available training to develop your skills, even if you have always had a talent for designing commercial or residential interiors. And since interior designers are licensed in a number of states, the college you choose should prepare you to pass any required licensing exam and provide the necessary training for your specialty. So in order to assess and compare each program you are looking at before you make your final choice it's vital that you carry out the proper research. But just how do you approach enrolling in the right program? Many future students will launch their research by looking for interior design schools near their residence and then comparing tuition expenses. While cost and location are key factors when making a determination, they should not be the only ones. Qualifiers such as reputation and accreditation should be taken into account also. We will address those issues and other crucial questions that you should be asking the interior design schools you are researching later in this article. But before we do, let's cover a little bit more about what interior design is and what degree and training choices are offered.

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Interior Design and Interior Decoration

Some people confuse interior decoration for interior design and vice versa. The primary distinction between the two is the amount of training required. Any person can do business as an interior decorator if they have a general knowledge of or a skill for decorating interior areas. However, doing business as an interior designer requires a formal education 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 living spaces attractive as well as functional. On various projects they may team up with architects and building engineers. There are 2 broad areas that an interior designer in Eau Claire WI may specialize in:

• Residential Design. Interior Designers often work on new construction and existing homes. They can design basically any room of a house, including bedrooms, basements and closets. Or they may specialize in designing one specific room, such as bathrooms or kitchens.
• Commercial Design. When dealing with public or commercial spaces, designers frequently focus predominantly on either aesthetic appeal or functionality but pay attention to both. For instance, business meeting rooms and reception areas are spaces where aesthetics may be stressed over function. Designs for hospitals and banks might focus more on functionality over appearance as the primary concern.

There are many areas of commercial and residential interior design that a designer needs to learn, such as lighting, color schemes, acoustics and furniture. They must be able to use graphic design and read blue prints in order to produce their visions. From picking wall paper and carpeting to incorporating Feng shui concepts, Eau Claire WI interior designers implement a wide variety of skills that help bring about their final creations.

Interior Designer Degree Programs

There are four degree alternatives available in interior design to get the training required to launch your new career in Eau Claire WI. Your selection will undoubtedly be influenced by your career objectives in addition to the money and time that you have budgeted to commit to your education. But no matter which degree program you choose to enroll in, make sure to select one that is accredited. Accreditation is required in order to qualify for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam mandated in some states. More will be covered on additional accreditation benefits later. Following are brief descriptions of the interior design degrees that are offered.

• Associate Degree. Associate degrees in interior design provide the minimum amount of education required to enter the profession. They take approximately two years to complete and programs are available at a number of Wisconsin trade schools and junior colleges. Graduates can normally obtain entry level employment as design assistants.
• Bachelor's Degree. Bachelor's degrees are four year programs that deliver more in depth training than the Associate Degree. They cover the creative and technical components of the trade needed to become a designer. They are the minimum degree needed by a graduating student in order to obtain an entry level position as an interior designer.
• Master's Degree. These 2 year programs provide advanced training in design after attaining a Bachelor's Degree. Master's Degrees provide alternatives in specialty majors for such things as business offices or residential bathrooms. Many students enroll to improve their skills to be more competitive in their careers.
• Doctorate Degree. Doctoral programs are mostly for those professionals who want to teach interior design at a university or college level. The programs differ in length but are normally completed in 3 to 5 years.

To work as a professional and adopt the title of "Interior Designer", many states mandate that graduates of accredited colleges become licensed. In some instances, 2 or more years of professional experience may be needed before an applicant can take the licensing examination.

Interior Design Online Colleges

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 an excellent solution for those students that are working or have hectic schedules that make going to classes on campus challenging. Classes can instead be attended on a laptop or a personal computer when convenient for the student. For a number of students online colleges may be the only alternative if no interior design schools are within driving distance. And as an additional benefit, the tuition may be lower than for more traditional options. Additional expenses for such things as study materials or commuting may be minimized or eliminated as well. Just be sure that the school you select is accredited by a respected accrediting agency, such as the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (more on accreditation later). Online colleges may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. If you have the dedication to earn your degree without the confines of a physical classroom setting, then an online interior design school may be the right alternative for you.

Subjects to Ask Interior Design Colleges

Once you have chosen the interior design degree that you wish to earn, you can begin the process of evaluating your school options. Location will be a critical factor, especially if the school has to be within commuting distance from your Eau Claire WI residence. Obviously if you have decided on attending an online school, or are prepared to move to attend classes, then location may not be a qualification. The cost of tuition will limit your choices as well. But selecting the most affordable school or the one that is closest to home are not the ideal ways to make your decision. There are other factors that you need to consider also, including the accreditation and reputation of the program. Following are a few questions that you may want to ask the programs you are looking at to obtain those answers as well as others to help you examine and ultimately choose the ideal degree program.

Is the Interior Design School Accredited? It's imperative to make sure that the interior designer program and college that you select has earned accreditation from either a regional or national organization. One of the most respected in the field is the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Colleges obtaining accreditation from the NASAD have gone through an extensive evaluation of their instructors and programs. Just verify that both the degree program and the college have been accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Not only will it help confirm that the reputation of the school and the quality of the education are outstanding, it may also help when obtaining financial aid or a student loan. Often they are not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, a number of Eau Claire WI employers will only hire graduates of accredited programs for entry level positions.

Does the School Prep you for Licensing? As we previously mentioned, 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 in addition to a degree from an accredited college. And in some of those States requiring licensing, a minimum of 2 years of professional experience may be required as well. So besides furnishing an excellent education, the Eau Claire WI school you select should also furnish the proper instruction to pass the NCIDQ examination and comply with the minimum requirements for licensing for Wisconsin or the State where you will be employed.

What is the College's Job Placement Rate? Once you have graduated and earned your interior design certification, you will probably want some assistance 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 higher rate is a good indication that the school and its programs are highly esteemed within the interior design trade and its graduates are sought after. It might also indicate that the school has a significant network of Eau Claire WI business relationships where they can place students to secure internships or employment after they graduate.

Is Financial Assistance Available? Get in touch with the financial aid departments for the Eau Claire WI colleges you are evaluating and ask what kind of aid they provide. Many of interior design programs offer financial assistance to their incoming students. Certain schools provide partial scholarships while others provide help in securing grants or federal student loans. Again it must be stressed that selecting an accredited school is important for qualification in most cases. Sometimes a college that has a higher tuition may effectively be less expensive than its competitors because they provide more generous financial aid.

How Large are the Classes? Small classes are more personal and conducive to one on one instruction. If classes are large, you may receive little individual instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Eau Claire WI colleges you are looking at what their typical student to teacher ratios are. If convenient from your Eau Claire home, go to the college and attend a few classes. While there speak with some students and find out 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 program you select offers classes the fit your hectic schedule. This is particularly important if you will continue working while attending college. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Eau Claire WI, make certain that those classes are available. If you have a full-time job and can only attend part-time, verify that is an option also. Finally, find out what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of work, sickness or family obligations.

Find Out More About Becoming an Interior Designer in Eau Claire

Choose the Best Eau Claire Interior Design School

Picking the right interior designer college is a critical initial step toward starting your career in this artistic and rewarding profession. Searching for a school where you will receive your education and cultivate your talents in a particular area of study is a challenging task no matter what major you have decided on. As with any undertaking to receive an advanced education, there are several factors to consider before choosing a course, program or school. At a minimum, check that the program and design school are both accredited and highly regarded in the profession. It is still imperative that you perform your due diligence analysis. By doing so and following the remaining suggestions presented in this article, you will be able to effectively assess and compare interior design schools so that you can make the right final selection. And with excellent training and your drive to succeed, you can accomplish your goal of becoming an interior designer in Eau Claire Wisconsin.

 

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