Interior Design Schools

Certificate vs Diploma vs Degree in Interior Design

What each award type means in interior design, how credit-bearing, vocational and school-issued certificates differ, and what none of them equals on its own.

Last reviewed 3 November 2026

Award names are used inconsistently, so the title alone tells you little. Compare these dimensions.

Degrees

Associate (AA, AS, AAS), bachelor’s (BA, BS, BFA, BDes), master’s and doctoral degrees are academic awards from degree-granting institutions. Their credit totals and curricula vary.

Certificates

  • Credit-bearing certificates are academic awards from a college, sometimes stackable toward a degree.
  • Vocational certificates are career-training awards from licensed vocational schools.
  • Noncredit professional certificates and certificates of completion are issued by the provider and show attendance or completion.

Diplomas

A diploma is typically a career-training award. Length and rigor range from a short school award to a multi-year program, so the duration and awarding institution matter more than the word.

What none of these equals by itself

A school certificate is not professional certification. NCIDQ Certification is issued by the Council for Interior Design Qualification after its own education, experience and examination steps, and a degree alone does not grant it. See Education, experience and NCIDQ Certification. Exam preparation courses prepare for an exam; they are not qualifications.

In this directory

Each listing shows the exact award title, the awarding institution and a status label: academic, vocational or school-issued.

Official sources

This guide is general information, not legal, immigration or financial advice and not a statement about any school. Confirm requirements with the licensing authority and the school.