Interior Design Certification: Do You Really Need One?

First, it’s useful to understand the difference between the profession of interior decorator and interior designer. For reference, you can find information about the difference between an interior decorator and an interior designer in our article: “What is the difference between an interior decorator and a designer” in our education section.

What we’ll cover

The definition of certification
Who can issue certification
The definition of a certificate
Who can issue a certificate
Do you need a certification to become an interior decorator?
Do you need a certification to become an interior designer?

1. The definition of certification

Validates professional competency in a specific field
Usually requires significant study/experience (3 to 5 years in Interior Design)
Often has ongoing requirements to maintain it
Generally more expensive than a certificate
Focuses on proving expertise
Almost always requires passing rigorous exams
May require continuing education credits
Often governed by industry standards

2. Who can issue certification

Only specific types of organizations can issue legitimate certifications:

Industry-Recognized Bodies
Technology Companies
Government Agencies
Accredited Educational Institutions
International Standards Organizations

3. The definition of a certificate

Shows completion of a learning program or course
Usually shorter in duration (often 6 months to one year in interior design, even less in interior decorating)
No ongoing requirements after completion
Typically less expensive than a certification
Focuses on knowledge acquisition
Often doesn’t require passing a standardized exam
Doesn’t expire

4. Who can issue a certificate

A certificate can be delivered by a much broader range of organizations:

Educational Institutions
Private Training Organizations
Online Learning Platforms
Companies and Businesses
Non-Profit Organizations
Individual Instructors/Experts

The main difference from certification is that:

Less rigorous requirements to be an issuer
No need for formal accreditation
Focus on completion rather than competency validation
Usually no standardized testing requirements

5. Do you need a certification to become an interior decorator?

You don’t need any certificatIn most countries, you do not need a state-recognized certification to become an interior decorator.

With a professional training certificate, you can:

Start working immediately
Set up your own interior decorating business
Work directly with clients
Call yourself an interior decorator
Purchase from professional brands for your clients

In practice, suppliers and brands rarely ask for an official certification.
What they usually require is proof of business activity (a tax number or EIN).

We tested this ourselves.
Across multiple professional brands, the only requirement was being registered as a business — not holding a government-accredited certification. The same applies in countries such as France and the United States.

So why follow a structured learning path — and become a Certified French Touch Interior Decorator?

While certification is not legally required, structure, method, and positioning make all the difference when you want to work with confidence and be taken seriously.

This is where the ALNA DESIGN® learning path comes in.

Instead of isolated courses, ALNA DESIGN® offers a clear, progressive journey:

real interior projects
strong foundations
focused professional skills
and a complete, coherent method inspired by French interiors

The Certified French Touch Interior Decorator title does not claim state accreditation.
It represents something different — and often more valuable in practice:

A clear professional method
A recognizable positioning (“French Touch”)
Proof of serious, structured training
A strong narrative for clients and partners

For many students, this certification is not about legality —
it is about credibility, confidence, and differentiation.

Our advice

Before choosing any interior design training, always research the legal requirements in your country.
You will quickly see that certification is not mandatory to start working.

What truly matters is:

how well you understand real interiors
how confidently you make design decisions
and how clearly you can explain your value to clients

A structured learning path — and a strong professional identity like the ALNA DESIGN® French Touch approach — can make that difference.

6. Do you need a certification to become an interior designer?

Unlike interior decorating, becoming an interior designer may require specific education or certification — but not always, and not everywhere.

This is a common source of confusion.

Interior design requirements vary by country and by state

In the United States, requirements depend on where you practice.

In general, becoming a certified interior designer may involve:

A degree in interior design (often a 4-year bachelor’s degree)
In some states, an associate degree may be accepted
Professional licensing or certification if you want to use protected titles

The most widely recognized certification is the NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification).

NCIDQ requirements typically include:

A degree in interior design
2 to 4 years of professional work experience
Passing three separate exams

Important: state rules are not the same everywhere

Some states require licensing
Some require registration
Some have no formal requirements at all

States with stricter regulations include California, Florida, and New York.

In these states, you may not use protected titles such as “Certified Interior Designer” without meeting specific criteria —
but you can still work on residential interior design projects.

A key point to understand

Regardless of the online training you choose, you cannot legally sign architectural plans unless you hold the required license or certification.

This usually means:

3 to 5 years of formal education
followed by accreditation such as NCIDQ (in the US)

This limits certain professional actions —
but it does not prevent you from working as an interior designer.

In practice, many professionals:

collaborate with architects
or have plans validated by licensed contractors

It is your responsibility to verify local regulations carefully.

If you’d like to see how interior decorators actually work in real projects, you can start with Step 1 of the ALNA DESIGN® learning path — an immersive, real-life interior decorating experience.