How Can You Become a Licensed Interior Designer in California?

black floor lamp on living room sofa

Julie Cavanaugh is the founder and senior interior designer at Design Matters. She has been involved in many home design projects, including a 90 unit apartment building in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Based in Los Gatos, California, Julie Cavanaugh has been a member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) since 2002 and has a Certified Interior Designer (CID) licensure.

Certified Interior Designer is the only legally recognized title for interior design professionals in California. As an interior designer, having CID licensure proves to potential clients that you’re an expert in the field, have a college degree, and have shown your competencies to a known interior design professional body.

To get the CID title, you must sit and pass an exam administered by the California Council for Interior Design Certification (CCIDC). To be eligible to sit for the CCIDC exam, you must have at a minimum a two-year associate degree in interior design with no less than 40 hour semesters and over four years of interior design experience working under a licensed architect or interior designer. 

You don’t need CID licensure to do interior design work in California. Still, you cannot use the title interior designer in the state unless you’re registered with the California Council for Interior Design Certification.

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Author: julie Cavanaugh

An experienced interior designer who is certified through the California Certification for Interior Design and Build It Green, Julie Cavanaugh holds a degree in interior design from West Valley College in Saratoga, California. Excelling at creative problem-solving, Julie Cavanaugh has developed an approach to design that stresses functional and aesthetically pleasing spatial relationships and interior flow. Since founding Design Matters nearly a quarter of a century ago, Julie Cavanaugh has led this Los Gatos, California-area firm in a broad spectrum of comprehensive interior design and architectural planning projects. Design Matters works in multiple markets within the United States. Her latest renovation project on the Sonoma Coast has gained a reputation for its significant architectural impact. When she isn’t working, Ms. Cavanaugh enjoys hiking with her dogs and spending time with her children and husband, who is an Olympic gold medalist. Her hobbies include attending wine tastings and hunting for quality used furniture.

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