ARIDO has agreed with OAA that an alternative to the NCDIQ exams should be developed as a Canadian option. This Canadian Alternative would be a second option, in addition to the NCIDQ exams, for satisfying the examination requirement. To this end, ARIDO has launched the Examination Alternative Project to develop a Canadian Alternative to the current NCIDQ exams. The goal is to ensure a fair and equitable path to qualification as an Interior Designer in Ontario.
ARIDO currently accepts that applicants who have successfully completed the NCIDQ exams have satisfied examination requirement to become an ARIDO Registered Member. Under the ARIDO/OAA Direct Regulation Model, the current requirements of education, experience, and examination to qualify as an Interior Designer, will provide Registered members with a license to practice the protected scope of interior design.
ARIDO’s role as a qualifying body will therefore be accountable to provincial government, the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) and the Ontario Fairness Commissioner for assessing if individuals have met the requirements for registration into the Interior Design profession. ARIDO will be responsible for ensuring the validity, reliability, and fairness of assessments it uses to satisfy the requirements it is mandating, and it must also have authority to oversee and alter the requirements to qualify as it relates to fair access.
ARIDO is conducting a survey to gather input from the interior design community on the current examination requirement for becoming a Registered Interior Designer in Ontario, and is developing the Canadian Alternative to the current NCIDQ exams to ensure a fair and equitable path to qualification.
The survey is anonymous and should take no longer than 20 minutes to complete. It’s open for responses until May 12, 2023.
ARIDO has agreed with OAA that the Canadian Alternative should be developed as an additional option to the NCIDQ exams for satisfying the examination requirement.
ARIDO will be inviting participation from the interior design community during the phases of development, including reviewing the proposed Canadian Alternative, commenting on the exposure draft, and conducting pilot testing for individuals needing to meet the examination requirement.
We encourage you to share this survey with your network, including individuals who are not ARIDO members but currently practice interior design in Ontario. Feedback from designers of all backgrounds improves a commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in the profession.
If you have any questions about the survey or this project, you can email ARIDO at [email protected].
