CIDQ
CIDQ is a nonprofit organization founded in 1974 that develops and administers the NCIDQ Examination, the recognized interior design credential in 29 U.S. states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and 8 Canadian provinces, serving 39,000+ certificate holders and supporting regulatory boards across North America.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersAlexandria, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What CIDQ does
CIDQ (Council for Interior Design Qualification) is a nonprofit certification organization founded in 1974 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. It develops and administers the NCIDQ Examination, a three-part competency assessment (IDFX Fundamentals, IDPX Professional, and IDIX Implementation) that is the recognized credential for interior designers in 29 U.S. states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and 8 Canadian provinces. The exam is built using rigorous psychometric methods, including the Angoff Method for legally defensible passing scores and statistical equating to maintain consistent scoring across versions, and is delivered globally through Prometric test centers and remote proctoring.
The organization's product ecosystem extends beyond the exam itself to include the MyNCIDQ portal for application, scheduling, and renewal management, the NCIDQ Digital Badge (via Credly), official study materials, the Find a Certified Designer public directory, scholarship programs, and an Ambassador volunteer network. CIDQ also maintains the underlying regulatory framework by representing interior design regulatory boards across the U.S. and Canada and pursuing additional state and provincial regulation through the Consortium for Interior Design and the Canadian Advocacy Collaborative.
CIDQ generates revenue through one-time exam application fees (Route 1, Route 2 Parts 1 and 2, and a $605 Alternative Review Process fee), an annual $85 certificate renewal fee, $35 replacement certificate fees, and compliance with continuing education requirements (5 HSW hours annually). The organization serves candidates (interior design students and professionals), active certificate holders (39,000+), state and provincial regulatory boards, and interior design educators. As a nonprofit, CIDQ is led by CEO Rebecca Moden and a Board of Directors drawn from the profession, with operations supported by a small 1-10 employee headquarters team.
CIDQ firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CIDQ
- Legal name
- Council for Interior Design Qualification
- Website
- https://cidq.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- CIDQ is a nonprofit organization founded in 1974 that develops and administers the NCIDQ Examination, the recognized interior design credential in 29 U.S. states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and 8 Canadian provinces, serving 39,000+ certificate holders and supporting regulatory boards across North America.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CIDQ industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Certification Services
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Professional Licensure & Certification Exam Prep (Bar/CPA/NCLEX/PMP, etc.) (EDAGADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF), Certification & Exam Prep eLearning Modules (EDAGAEAL)
Keywords
Where CIDQ is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Alexandria
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CIDQ business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- NCIDQ Exam Application Fees: Candidates pay application fees when applying for the NCIDQ Examination under Route 1 (all three exams together) or Route 2 (two-part application process). Route 2 Part 1 covers IDFX only for those who don't yet meet work experience requirements. Fees are non-refundable and must be paid to initiate review.
- NCIDQ Certificate Renewal Fees: Annual renewal fee of $85 (non-refundable) for certificate holders to maintain active NCIDQ Certification status. Renewal is due in April or October based on certificate expiration date with a 30-day grace period. Added reinstatement fee of $85 applies if payment is made after grace period.
- Replacement Certificate Fees: $35 fee for replacement or additional NCIDQ Certificates ordered through MyNCIDQ account.
- Alternative Review Process Application Fees: ARP application fee of $605 for candidates unable to document required education through traditional pathways, in addition to the $235 regular application fee.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Route 1 - All Three Exams (IDFX, IDPX, IDIX) |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Route 2, Part 1 - IDFX Only |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Route 2, Part 2 - IDPX & IDIX |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual NCIDQ Certificate Renewal |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Replacement Certificate |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Alternative Review Process (Standard) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
CIDQ product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CIDQ develops and administers the NCIDQ Examination, a three-part competency-based certification exam (IDFX Fundamentals, IDPX Professional, IDIX Implementation) for interior designers. Successful passage grants NCIDQ Certification, which is recognized in 29 U.S. states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and 8 Canadian provinces as the standard credential for interior design licensure. The organization also issues digital credentials via Credly, operates the MyNCIDQ portal for candidate management, and provides official study materials and scholarship programs.
Product overview
CIDQ offers a unified certification ecosystem for interior designers. At its core is the NCIDQ Examination (a three-part exam: IDFX Fundamentals, IDPX Professional, and IDIX Implementation), which upon passing grants NCIDQ Certification. This is complemented by the MyNCIDQ Account Portal for managing applications and renewals, an NCIDQ Digital Badge (via Credly partnership) for credential sharing, and exam Study Materials including practice questions and blueprints. CIDQ also operates scholarship programs (Scholarship ACCESS Program and Emerging Educator Scholarship) to diversify the profession. The Find a Certified Designer Directory and Ambassador Program support professional networking and advocacy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 39,000+ certified interior designers demonstrate the scale and reach of NCIDQ Certification
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use CIDQ
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CIDQ technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature4 records
CIDQ partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ASID (American Society of Interior Designers)coreASID is an allied professional organization collaborating with CIDQ to promote the value of NCIDQ Certification. ASID waives first year of professional dues for candidates who pass the NCIDQ Exam. CIDQ, ASID, and IIDA collaborate on video series to advance understanding of the interior design profession and NCIDQ Exam. ASID is part of the Consortium for Interior Design working on reasonable regulation.
- IIDA (International Interior Design Association)coreIIDA is an allied professional organization collaborating with CIDQ on advocacy and professional development. IIDA members are eligible to apply for financial assistance after successfully becoming NCIDQ Certified. CIDQ, ASID, and IIDA collaborate on video series and are part of the Consortium for Interior Design.
- CIDA (Council for Interior Design Accreditation)coreCIDA is an allied organization setting standards for interior design education. NCIDQ Certification is based on education from CIDA-accredited programs. Many jurisdiction requirements reference CIDA accreditation as the standard for educational qualification.
- IDC (Interior Designers of Canada)coreIDC is the national organization representing interior designers in Canada. CIDQ and IDC launched the Canadian Advocacy Collaborative in August 2025 to increase regulation of the interior design profession and provide unified strategic advocacy in Canada.
- PrometriccorePrometric delivers the NCIDQ Examination at test centers worldwide and through remote proctoring. CIDQ partners with Prometric for secure test administration, accessibility, and fair testing environment.
- IDEC (Interior Design Educators Council)coreIDEC is an allied professional organization representing interior design educators. Collaborates with CIDQ on promoting certification and supporting educators in preparing students for the NCIDQ Exam.
- ICOR (Interorganizational Council on Regulation)coreICOR is a collaboration of CIDQ, CLARB, NCARB, and NCEES that has operated since 1972 to share best practices and advocate for licensing boards regulating architecture, engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, and surveying professions.
- CredlycoreCIDQ partners with Credly to offer digital NCIDQ credentials that certificate holders can easily share and showcase on email signatures, digital resumes, websites, and platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.
- Consortium for Interior DesigncoreThe Consortium for Interior Design is a collaboration of ASID, CIDQ, and IIDA pursuing reasonable regulation of the interior design profession. The Consortium works to protect public safety and advance policies that allow NCIDQ Certified designers to fully apply their expertise.
- AAHID (American Academy of Healthcare Interior Design)minorAAHID is listed as an allied professional interior design organization collaborating with CIDQ.
- IDCeC (International Design Center for Sustainable Environment)minorIDCeC is listed as an allied professional interior design organization collaborating with CIDQ.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CIDQ competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CIDA (Council for Interior Design Accreditation): Accredits interior design education programs — the upstream pipeline for NCIDQ candidates. Closely coupled to CIDQ since most jurisdictions reference CIDA accreditation as the educational qualification for NCIDQ eligibility.
- NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards): Develops and administers the ARE exam for architects. Sister organization within the ICOR consortium, structurally analogous as a nonprofit representing state/provincial architectural licensing boards with a multi-section competency-based exam.
- NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying): Develops and administers the FE and PE exams for engineers and the FS/PS for surveyors. Direct peer as an ICOR co-member running a similar nonprofit exam-development-and-administration model across multiple U.S. jurisdictions.
- HRCI (HR Certification Institute): Administers the PHR, SPHR, and GPHR certifications for HR professionals. Comparable nonprofit credentialing body operating a multi-tier, psychometrically validated exam program; CIDQ's Certification Operations Director previously led HRCI's exam development and CBT transition.
- NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy): Coordinates the Uniform CPA Examination across U.S. jurisdictions through Prometric delivery. Comparable model of a nonprofit body administering a multi-section competency exam that state boards adopt as a licensure requirement.
- CLARB (Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards): Administers the LARE exam and certifies landscape architects in North America. Closest direct peer: similar nonprofit credentialing model, similar ICOR co-member, similar U.S./Canadian regulatory footprint, and CIDQ's CEO Rebecca Moden came from CLARB.
Broad incumbents
- ASID (American Society of Interior Designers): National professional association for interior designers offering membership, advocacy, and continuing education. Allied partner of CIDQ (waives first-year dues for NCIDQ passers) but competes for the same member's wallet and engagement, with broader scope including practice resources and policy work.
- IIDA (International Interior Design Association): International professional association for interior designers with broader membership, advocacy, and awards programs. Allied CIDQ partner offering financial assistance to NCIDQ passers; broader scope but overlapping candidate pool.
Others
- Prometric: Global test delivery and remote proctoring vendor used by CIDQ (and peers like NASBA, HRCI, NCARB) to administer the NCIDQ Exam at scale. Ecosystem infrastructure provider rather than a competitor.
Regional players
- IDC (Interior Designers of Canada): National Canadian association for interior designers. Co-launched the Canadian Advocacy Collaborative with CIDQ in Aug 2025 and shares the candidate/holder base in Canada without directly administering the certification exam.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CIDQ social profiles
Digital presenceCIDQ financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CIDQ leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
CIDQ funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CIDQ M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CIDQ
What does CIDQ do?
CIDQ develops and administers the NCIDQ Examination, a three-part competency-based certification exam (IDFX Fundamentals, IDPX Professional, IDIX Implementation) for interior designers. Successful passage grants NCIDQ Certification, which is recognized in 29 U.S. states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and 8 Canadian provinces as the standard credential for interior design licensure. The organization also issues digital credentials via Credly, operates the MyNCIDQ portal for candidate management, and provides official study materials and scholarship programs.
Is CIDQ a public or private company?
CIDQ is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CIDQ founded?
CIDQ was founded in 1974. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is CIDQ based?
CIDQ is headquartered in Alexandria, United States, in the North America region.
How does CIDQ make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. NCIDQ Exam Application Fees are the primary driver. The others are NCIDQ Certificate Renewal Fees, replacement Certificate Fees and alternative Review Process Application Fees.
Who are CIDQ's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CIDA (Council for Interior Design Accreditation), NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards), NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying), HRCI (HR Certification Institute), NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy) and CLARB (Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards). Broad incumbents are ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) and IIDA (International Interior Design Association). Prometric is listed as an others. IDC (Interior Designers of Canada) is listed as a regional player.
Does CIDQ have an API?
No public API is recorded for CIDQ.
What industry is CIDQ in?
CIDQ's product category is Professional Certification Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGADAD, Professional Licensure & Certification Exam Prep (Bar/CPA/NCLEX/PMP, etc.), with a secondary code of EDADACAF, Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies. Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8700.