Do You Need An Interior Design Degree Or Qualification?

If you’ve ever been told that you need an interior design degree or qualification to become an interior designer, the answer is: it depends where you live OR where your projects are undertaken (and it might not matter at all if you’re just doing e-design!)

In most places around the world, you do not need a degree or qualification of any kind to call yourself an interior designer. However, there are some areas where title acts and practice acts apply, which can affect the what you call yourself and the services you are legally allowed to offer.

If you’ve ever been told that you can’t call yourself an interior designer, it’s likely because of one of these laws (or someone misinterpreting this law). They can be incredibly confusing and unfortunately there is a lot of incorrect information online, often from people who don’t fully understand what the legislation actually says.

Today I wanted to help you feel more confident about the topic, explain both sides of the story and give you some tools to use if these laws affect you, so that you can practise safely and legally as an interior designer in your area.

First, let’s explain why you might not be able to call yourself an interior designer in certain places. A title act is a law that means you can’t use specific words or titles with legally defined meanings (sometimes only in a specific order).

For interior design, this typically includes terms like “registered interior designer,” “certified interior designer,” or “licensed interior designer.” However, in some cases, even the term “interior designer” itself might be protected.

These are government bodies that provide information about title protection and related laws, so they will be able to guide you about what the law states. However, as I’ve found, sometimes their responses might be skewed or bias, so knowing the law yourself is the best position to be in so that you can work safely and professionally in your area.

The first thing you need to know is whether the words “interior designer” are protected. If the title interior designer is protected, you might still be able to work as one, but you might need to use a different title, such as architectural designer, interior consultant, decorator, stylist, or e-designer. Although you will have to still check if any of these titles are also protected!)

For example, only about 1% of the world’s countries (which currently include the Philippines, Canada, and Puerto Rico have interior design title acts, but even if you include 22 US states, this still represents a small fraction globally). However, regulations can change, so it’s essential to research the laws in the specific area where you intend to work.

If there is no title act, you can usually call yourself an interior designer without any formal qualifications (although you might still need a local business license, but that’s outside this topic), so it’s a good idea to stay part of the interior design community and not isolate yourself, especially if you are a self taught interior designer because laws are constantly changing. If you are interested in this topic, have a look at our resources for self taught interior designers.

Practice acts, unlike title acts, are much more restrictive. While title acts protect specific words, practice acts prohibit the actual practice of interior design without qualifications or licensure. This means you cannot legally perform interior design work unless you meet specific criteria.

However, exceptions such as e-design (providing online design services) or interior styling may still be allowed, but you need to make an effort to clearly understand these laws as you might be committing a criminal offense by undertaking some of these tasks.

Practice acts are even rarer than title acts, but they have a significant impact where they exist, so if you’re working in an area with a practice act, understanding the regulations is critical to ensure you’re operating within the law.

Supporters of these laws argue that they protect the public by ensuring only qualified individuals perform interior design work. For example, they aim to prevent safety risks, such as improperly planned spaces leading to hazards. Others claim these acts elevate the standards and professionalism of the industry, providing credibility to interior designers.

If you have followed me for some time, you’ll know that I disagree with this quite a lot because I argue that these laws blur the lines between interior design and architecture, which is something that should never be confused! Interior design rarely poses life-threatening risks, and title and practise acts for interior design can lead to unnecessary confusion specifically to those people who these acts are trying to protect.

Also, the designers who are pro title acts, misunderstand what the laws actually allow, leading to misinformation where they start to compare themselves with doctors and surgeons…

Title and practice acts can also hinder career opportunities, especially for those transitioning into interior design from other fields. The biggest barrier is the cost of education and licensure which can be prohibitively expensive, creating barriers for those who already hold degrees in other areas.

These laws disproportionately exclude individuals from less privileged backgrounds or those who lack access to traditional educational paths creating a huge imbalance of who can become an interior designer.

Many people enter interior design as a second career, bringing valuable perspectives from other industries. By enforcing strict and costly requirements, these acts often favour individuals who follow a traditional path, minimising the diversity and creativity that enrich the profession.

If title acts or practice acts apply in your area, don’t fear them, learn about them. Familiarising yourself with the law is the best way to avoid misunderstandings. If the language of a law feels complex, tools like ChatGPT can help simplify it. For example, you can paste the law into a prompt and ask for it to be explained in simple terms. I’ve done this many times to clarify rights and restrictions, and it’s helped my students avoid confusion too.

One of my mentees, for instance, was initially discouraged by a title act in his region because government representatives gave him misleading information. However, after looking deeper into the law, he discovered that he could still practise most aspects of interior design legally.

If you’re unsure about specific regulations, reach out to local boards or government offices for clarity. Understanding the laws in your area allows you to work confidently within their boundaries and make informed decisions about your career and if in doubt, join a network of interior designers and be part of a professional community. Check out our interior design community here: IntoDesign.

Ultimately, the goal is to help you navigate these challenges and grow your interior design career. Whether you’re facing title acts, practice acts, or simply trying to understand whether you need a qualification to become an interior designer, knowledge is power.

If you’d like additional guidance, mentorship, or resources, explore our programs and community. You might also find our articles on becoming a self-taught interior designer, starting an interior design business, and becoming an interior designer useful next steps.

Jo Chrobak