Interior Designer School
How to Select the Right One Near Stevens Point Wisconsin

So it’s time to begin the task of picking an interior design school near Stevens Point WI now that you have made a career choice to study to be an interior designer. Even if you have always had a talent for designing commercial or residential spaces, it's important that you receive the right training to put your talents to work. And since some states do require that interior designers be licensed, depending on your state of residence you could need preparation to pass a licensing examination also. So it's essential you perform the proper research in order to evaluate and compare each program that you are reviewing prior to making your ultimate selection. But just how do you go about enrolling in the right school? When checking out interior design schools, 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 relevant variables when making a determination, they should not be the sole ones. Qualifications such as reputation and accreditation should be taken into account as well. We will discuss those issues and other vital 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 about the degree and class options are offered.

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Interior Design Degree Programs

There are four degree alternatives offered in interior design to acquire the training required to begin your new profession in Stevens Point WI. Your selection will no doubt be driven by your career objectives in addition to the time and money that you have to commit to your education. But regardless of which degree program you choose to enroll in, be sure to choose one that is accredited. Accreditation is required in order to qualify for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam mandated in several states. More will be covered on additional accreditation benefits later. Below are brief descriptions of the interior design degrees that are available.

• Associate Degree. Interior Design Associate Degrees supply the minimum amount of education required 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 four year programs that provide more comprehensive training than the Associate Degree. They deal with the creative and technical components of the trade required to become a designer. They are the lowest credential needed by a graduating student in order to secure an entry level job as an interior designer.
• Master's Degree. These 2 year programs supply advanced design training after attaining the Bachelor's Degree. Master's Degrees offer alternatives in specialty majors for such things as business offices or residential bathrooms. A number of students enroll to enhance their skills to be more competitive in the job market.
• Doctorate Degree. Doctorate degrees are largely for those professionals who desire to teach interior design at a college or university level. The programs vary in length but are typically completed in three to five years.

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

Interior Designer Online Courses

For those who wish to attend classes in the convenience of their Stevens Point WI homes, there are accredited online interior design schools. Attending classes online can be a good solution for those students that are employed or have busy schedules that make going to classes on campus challenging. Classes can instead be accessed on a home computer or laptop when convenient for the student. For a number of students online programs may be the only alternative if no interior design programs are within driving distance. And as an additional benefit, the tuition may be cheaper than for more conventional options. Added costs for such things as commuting or study materials may be reduced or eliminated as well. Just make certain that the school you select is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, such as the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (more on accreditation later). Online schools may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance education. If you have the discipline to acquire your degree without the structure of a physical classroom setting, then an online interior design college may be the ideal alternative for you.

What to Ask Interior Design Schools

Now that you have decided on the interior designer degree that you want to earn, you can start the task of reviewing your college options. Location will be a critical factor, especially if the campus has to be within commuting distance from your Stevens Point WI home. Obviously if you are interested in attending a school online, or are able to move to attend classes, then location might not be a qualification. The fee for tuition will limit your options as well. But selecting the cheapest college or the one that is nearest to your house are not the best ways to make your decision. There are other factors that you need to look at also, such as the accreditation and reputation of the college. Below are a few questions that you may want to ask the colleges you are considering to obtain those answers as well as others to help you examine and ultimately select the ideal degree program.

Is the Interior Designer School Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the interior design program and college that you enroll in has earned accreditation from either a national or regional organization. One of the most respected in the field is the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Schools obtaining accreditation from the NASAD have gone through a demanding evaluation of their instructors and programs. Just verify that both the college and the degree program have been accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Not only will it help establish that the reputation of the school and the quality of the training are exceptional, it might also help when applying for financial aid or a student loan. Often they are not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, a number of Stevens Point WI employers will only hire graduates of accredited programs for entry level jobs.

Does the School Prepare you for Licensing? As we mentioned earlier, some States do mandate that interior designers get licensed. This would require a passing score on the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination in addition to a degree from an accredited school. And in several of those States calling for licensing, a minimum of 2 years of professional experience may be required also. Therefore aside from furnishing an exceptional education, the Stevens Point WI school you choose should also furnish the proper training to pass the NCIDQ examination and satisfy the minimum licensing requirements for Wisconsin or the State where you will be working.

What is the College's Job Placement Rate? Once you have graduated and obtained your interior design certification, you will probably want some support in finding your first job. Ask the colleges that you are looking at if they have a job placement program. If yes, ask what their job placement rates are. A high rate is an excellent indication that the college and its programs are held in high esteem within the interior design profession and its graduates are in demand. It could also signify that the school has a significant network of Stevens Point WI business relationships where they can place students to obtain internships or employment after they graduate.

Is Financial Assistance Offered? Get in touch with the financial assistance departments for the Stevens Point WI colleges you are evaluating and ask what type of aid they provide. A number of interior designer programs provide financial aid to their incoming students. Various schools provide partial scholarships while others provide assistance in securing grants or federal student loans. Again it must be stressed that enrolling in an accredited school is important for qualification in most cases. In some cases a program that has a higher tuition may effectively be less expensive than its competitors because they provide more generous financial aid.

How Small are the Classrooms? Small classes are more personal and conducive to personalized instruction. If classes are large, you may receive limited individual instruction from the teachers. Ask the Stevens Point WI colleges you are looking at what their average student to teacher ratios are. If convenient from your Stevens Point home, go to the college and monitor a few classes. Take the opportunity to talk with a few students and find out what their experiences have been. Ask the instructors what their teaching approaches are and what their experiences have been in interior design.

Are Classes Available that Fit your Schedule? Finally, verify that the interior design college you choose offers classes the fit your active schedule. This is particularly important if you plan to continue working while attending school. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Stevens Point WI, make sure that those classes are available. If working full-time means you can only enroll part-time, confirm that is an option as well. Finally, check what the process is for making up classes missed because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Find Out More About Studying to Become an Interior Designer in Stevens Point

Choose the Best Stevens Point Interior Design College

Choosing the right interior design school is a crucial initial step toward launching your career in this artistic and rewarding profession. Searching for a college where you will obtain your training and cultivate your skills in a particular area of study is a daunting job regardless of what major you have selected. As with any undertaking to acquire a higher education, there are many things to think about before selecting a program, course or school. At a minimum, confirm that the program and design college are both accredited and highly regarded in the business. It is still important that you conduct your due diligence research. By doing so and following the rest of the suggestions presented in this article, you will be able to effectively review and compare interior design programs so that you can make the right final selection. And with superior training and your desire to succeed, you can accomplish your goal of becoming an interior designer in Stevens Point Wisconsin.

 

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