5 Interior Design Accreditations & Courses You Should Pursue in 2018

Whether you're looking to establish yourself in the world of interior design or aiming to gain the relevant qualifications to support your capabilities, achieving a door-opening professional accreditation could be just what you need.

When it comes to interior design, holding an accredited qualification can make all the difference for graduates and professionals that want to embark on a career in the industry or further their progress in the industry. Enrolling on one of many certified programs can pave the way for a bright future in not only design but architecture, teaching, marketing and management. 

Why should you pursue an interior design accreditation? Gaining certification from a relevant body can often be seen as an essential quality by employers and potential clients looking to take you on - it adds a desirable extra dimension to your qualification and underlines your competence in the field. 

So what are the best accreditations and their associated courses? To answer this, we've decided to create a list of the very best accreditors and their institutions nationwide. 

1. Society of British and International Design Accreditation

SBID offer an accreditation with a difference. There are no courses and all students and graduates with over two years of industry experience can apply to see if they're eligible. 

With a global network of over 150,000 designers across the world, SBID is the standard bearer organisation to Europe for the accreditation of professional interior designers - meaning that members are presented with the very best opportunities to network, collaborate and advance their career. 

With the SBID accreditation, designers can benefit from the many partnerships the organisation holds with trade organisations, boasting favourable rates for business services.

SBID operate a flexible membership structure that's fitted to a member's needs and industry position.

2. British Academy of Interior Design Course

The accrediting body associated with the BAID is the International Accreditation and Recognition Council (IARC), and their courses in interior design range from home study certificates (at a cost of £395), to full classroom-based post-graduate diplomas (at £2,195). 

The IARC, founded in 1999, has awarded accreditation for all courses offered by BAID, which also covers BTEC level studies, and location-based learning typically takes the form of evening or weekend classes that enables people to study in their spare time. 

The beauty of the accredited BAID qualifications is the sheer versatility on offer. The fact that IARC is happy to put its name to all levels of education offers great security for students wishing to work their way from the bottom up. 

Classroom-based learning with BAID is available in London, Manchester, and Edinburgh. 

3. Interior Design Institute Course

The Interior Design Institute is an ideal digital learning space that's recognised by some of the most prestigious accreditors worldwide. 

With the likes of the International Accreditation and Recognition Council, Certified Interior Decorators International, and the UK Register of Learning Providers all approving of the Interior Design Institute's content, you're safe in the knowledge that your qualification is going to carry plenty of weight once your studies are complete. 

The course is delivered wholly online, and consists of 12 modules - but students have the chance to enrol onto advanced modules that cover industry staples like CAD, property styling, and commercial design. 

This diploma level course is available to be paid for on a weekly (£27.04 p/w), monthly (£108.17 p/m) or yearly (£599) basis, with advanced modules available in the form of a one-off £125 payment.  

4. Chartered Society of Designers Accreditation

If you're an interior designer looking to gain an accreditation through learning, then the Chartered Society of Designers may be the perfect solution. 

The Chartered Society of Designers label themselves as the 'internationally recognised professional body for all designers in all disciplines, benchmarking and accrediting best professional design practice and study.' 

Gaining an accredited qualification from the examining body is very suitable for aspiring designers that are located towards the Midlands and Yorkshire, with Sheffield Hallam, Nottingham Trent and The University of Derby all offering Chartered Society of Designers certified Batchelor's degrees. 

5. The British College of Interior Design Course

Boasting accreditation from the likes of the International Accreditation and Recognition Council, The British College of Interior Design run a course that's committed to preparing fledgeling designers for a future career in work with practical modules. 

The course that students will take to gain the accreditation can be scheduled to take place over 12 or 24 weeks and upon completion, they will be rewarded with a certificate and an ID pass that confirms the level of training received. 

The prices of this wholly online course start at £395, but features multiple pricing structures for students to pay in instalments.