Interior Designer Course
How to Enroll in the Right One Near Onalaska Wisconsin

So it’s time to start the task of choosing an interior design school near Onalaska WI once you have made a career choice to study to be an interior designer. It's imperative that you get the best available training to develop your skills, even if you have always had a knack for designing residential or commercial interiors. And since some states do require that interior designers be licensed, based upon your state of residence you may need preparation to pass a licensing exam as well. So it's very important you carry out the proper research in order to evaluate and compare each school that you are looking at before you make your final selection. But just where do you start? When looking for interior design programs, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are key variables when making a decision, they are by no means the sole ones. Qualifiers such as reputation and accreditation need to be taken into account as well. We will cover those issues and other crucial questions that you should be asking the interior design schools you are reviewing later in this article. But first, let's cover a little bit about the degree and training choices are offered.

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Interior Design Degrees

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

• Associate Degree. Interior Design Associate Degrees supply the minimum level of education needed to enter the profession. They take approximately 2 years to complete and programs are available at numerous Wisconsin vocational schools and community colleges. Graduates can normally qualify for entry level positions as design assistants.
• Bachelor's Degree. Bachelor's degrees are four year programs that deliver more extensive training than the Associate Degree. They deal with the creative and technical aspects of the trade needed to become a designer. They are the lowest 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 design training after achieving a Bachelor's Degree. Master's Degrees provide options in specialty majors for such things as business offices or residential bathrooms. Many students enroll to advance their skills to be more competitive in the job market.
• Doctorate Degree. Doctorate programs are primarily for those professionals who desire to teach interior design at a university or college level. The degree programs differ in length but are normally completed in 3 to 5 years.

In order to work professionally and use the title of "Interior Designer", many states require that graduates of accredited colleges become licensed. In some instances, 2 or more years of field experience may be called for before an applicant can take the licensing exam.

Online Interior Design Degree Programs

For individuals who wish to attend classes in the comfort of their Onalaska WI homes, there are accredited online interior design schools. Studying online can be an excellent solution for those students that are employed or have hectic schedules that make going to classes on campus problematic. Classes can instead be accessed on a laptop or a personal computer when convenient for the student. For some students online schools may be the only alternative if no interior design colleges are within driving distance. And as an added benefit, the tuition may be cheaper than for more traditional options. Added costs for such things as commuting or study materials may be reduced or eliminated as well. Just be sure that the program you select is accredited by a highly regarded accrediting organization, such as the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (more on accreditation later). Online programs may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance learning. If you have the discipline to acquire your degree without the confines of a physical classroom setting, then an online interior design college may be the ideal alternative for you.

What to Ask Interior Design Programs

After you have decided on the interior designer degree that you would like to earn, you can begin the task of assessing your school options. Location will be a critical issue, particularly if the campus has to be within driving distance from your Onalaska WI residence. Naturally if you are interested in attending an online school, or are willing to relocate to attend classes, then location might not be a qualification. The cost of tuition will limit your choices also. But picking the cheapest college or the one that is closest to your house are not the ideal ways to make your decision. There are other things that you need to look at as well, such as the reputation and accreditation of the school. Below are a few concerns that you may want to address with the programs you are looking at to obtain those answers in addition to others in order to help you assess and ultimately select the ideal degree program.

Is the Interior Designer College Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the interior designer college and program that you choose has earned accreditation from either a regional or national organization. One of the most respected in the industry is the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Colleges receiving accreditation from the NASAD have gone through a demanding evaluation of their programs and instructors. Just make sure that both the college and the degree program 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 training are exceptional, it might also help when requesting financial aid or a student loan. Often they are not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, many Onalaska WI employers will only hire graduates of accredited schools for entry level positions.

Does the School Prepare you for Licensing? As we mentioned earlier, some States do mandate that interior designers get licensed. This would necessitate a passing score on the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam in addition to a degree from an accredited school. And in some of those States mandating licensing, at least 2 years of professional experience may be required also. So in addition to furnishing an excellent education, the Onalaska WI college you enroll in should also provide the suitable training to pass the NCIDQ examination and meet the minimum requirements for licensing for Wisconsin or the State where you will be working.

What is the School's Job Placement Rate? Once you have graduated and received your interior design certification, you will probably want some assistance in finding your first position. Ask the schools that you are looking at if they have a job placement program. If yes, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher rate is a good sign that the school and its programs are highly esteemed within the interior design profession and its graduates are in demand. It could also signify that the school has a large network of Onalaska WI business connections where they can refer students to secure internships or employment after graduation.

Is Financial Assistance Available? Contact the financial assistance departments for the Onalaska WI schools you are looking at and ask what type of assistance they provide. Many of interior designer programs provide financial assistance to their incoming students. Certain colleges offer partial scholarships and others provide support in securing grants or federal student loans. It must be stressed again that choosing an accredited college is imperative for qualification in most cases. In some cases a school that has a higher tuition may effectively be cheaper than its competitors because they offer more generous financial aid.

How Small are the Classrooms? Smaller classes are more intimate and conducive to personalized instruction. If classes are large, you probably will receive minimal individual instruction from the teachers. Ask the Onalaska WI programs you are considering what their average teacher to student ratios are. If practical from your Onalaska home, go to the college and monitor a couple of classes. Take the opportunity to speak with a few students and ask what their experiences have been. Ask the instructors what their teaching styles are and what their credentials are in interior design.

Are Classes Available that Fit your Schedule? Last, make sure that the interior design school you choose provides classes the fit your busy schedule. This is especially important if you plan to continue working while going to college. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Onalaska WI, make sure that those classes are offered. If working full-time means you can only attend part-time, check that is an alternative as well. Finally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes missed due to work, sickness or family obligations.

Find Out More About Becoming an Interior Designer in Onalaska

Choose the Best Onalaska Interior Design College

Selecting the ideal interior design program is an important first step toward launching your career in this creative and gratifying profession. Searching for a school where you will receive your education and cultivate your talents in a particular area of study is a daunting job no matter what field you have decided on. As with any undertaking to attain an advanced education, there are several points to think about before enrolling in a program, course or school. At a minimum, confirm that the design college and program are both accredited and highly respected in the business. It is still essential that you conduct your due diligence research. By doing so and following the balance of the recommendations provided in this article, you will be able to properly review and compare interior design programs so that you can make the appropriate final selection. And with quality training and your desire to succeed, you can achieve your goal of becoming an interior designer in Onalaska Wisconsin.

 

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