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Fact or Fiction?
Debunking Common Myths
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Part 2 of a 3-Part Series
Myth: The NCIDQ Examination is put together by a bunch of interior designers who don't know anything about testing.Fiction: Last month we discussed test validity. This month we will address the testing concept of "reliability." In the science of testing, reliability refers to repeatability. NCIDQ uses statistical procedures to ensure that the exams we administer during a spring administration are no harder or easier than the exams we administer during a fall administration. For example, if a candidate takes Section I in April and then repeats that section in October of the same year, he or she should get the same score if he or she did not get any additional knowledge or experience in the subject.
Even though the test questions change, we use a statistical procedure to ensure that one test is no harder or easier than another test. (This is also an issue of fairness that will be addressed in our October issue.) To ensure that candidates who demonstrate competence above a certain point pass the exams, we use scientific methods for establishing a passing point.
NCIDQ works with our testing consultant, ACT, Inc., to determine this passing point. The NCIDQ Examination is known as a "criterion-referenced examination," meaning that we use a criterion to set the passing point. The criterion we use is the level of ability that an interior designer can practice independently (without supervision) in a manner that will protect the public health, safety and welfare.
Whenever we change the exam content, as we will do in 2010, we have to re-establish this level of competence. Therefore, we will conduct a study in early 2010 to reset the passing point based on new test specifications (see the August issue for a discussion of this process). Once this level of ability is established for the April 2010 exams, we will statistically equate all future exams to it until we make another change to the test content.In our October issue we'll continue this discussion with an explanation of "fairness" in testing.
Have a common NCIDQ myth you'd like dispelled? E-mail us at news@ncidq.org! |
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NCIDQ has five continuing education courses to choose from! Each monograph comes with an open-book quiz you can take on your schedule to earn 0.6 CEUs in health, life safety and welfare. Active Certificate holders save 10 percent on all NCIDQ monographs!
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NCIDQ's Mission
To protect the health, life safety and welfare of the public by establishing standards of competence in the practice of interior design. |
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Greetings,
Welcome to the September edition of the QLetter, your electronic source for NCIDQ news and updates, industry announcements and calls to action.
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NCIDQ Clarifies Exam Eligibility for Interior Designers with Accredited Architecture Degrees
NCIDQ has clarified the eligibility requirements for interior designers who have an accredited degree in architecture who wish to qualify to take the NCIDQ Examination and earn the NCIDQ Certificate credential.
"We know from surveys and anecdotal evidence that many people graduate from architecture school but gravitate toward interior design as they progress through their career," says NCIDQ Executive Director Jeffrey F. Kenney. "NCIDQ has seen an increasing number of inquiries from interior designers who have an architectural education who wanted to take the NCIDQ Exam but were unsure if they would meet the qualifications. For those applicants with architectural degrees from accredited programs, we now have a more well-defined route."
The new route addresses those interior designers who have a Bachelor or Master of Architecture degree (B.Arch or M.Arch) from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) or Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB). With an accredited degree and a total of 5,280 hours (approximately three years) of qualified interior design work experience after graduation, these interior designers would be eligible to take the NCIDQ Examination and earn the highly respected NCIDQ Certificate.
Please forward this information to anyone you know who might be interested in applying for the Exam based on this policy.
The spring 2010 examination will be given April 9-10 in more than 60 locations in the United States and Canada. The application deadline is December 1, 2009. Applications are accepted at anytime before this deadline. Complete information regarding eligibility and application information may be found at www.ncidq.org. |
NCIDQ Fact or Fiction Continues Three-Part Series
The Myth: The NCIDQ Examination is put together by a bunch of interior designers who don't know anything about testing.
Fiction: Credentialing
and licensure exams must be valid, reliable and fair. NCIDQ follows the
same standards for developing, administering and scoring the exam as
virtually all other exams of similar gravitas. We follow the guidelines
published in The Standards for Educational and Psychological Tests
(published jointly by the American Psychological Association, the
National Council on Measurement in Education and the American
Educational Research Association). These Standards spell out policies
that NCIDQ follows to ensure that we administer a valid, fair and
reliable test.
NCIDQ will explain exam validity, reliability and fairness in a three-part series. Part 2 of the series can be read on the left. |
ASID and IIDA Members - CE Reporting Period Ends This Year
If you are an ASID practitioner member or an IIDA professional or associate member, you have until December 31 to complete the continuing education required to maintain your membership in those organizations. ASID requires six hours and IIDA requires 10 hours of continuing education credit every two years.
NCIDQ's monographs are a convenient and affordable way to earn six hours in health, safety and welfare topics. All NCIDQ monographs are IDCEC approved.
All you need to do is read the monograph when it's convenient for you and complete a 25-question quiz. No need to travel or be away from the office; you'll earn six hours (0.6 CEUs) on your schedule! Plus, active Certificate holders can take a 10% discount! These monographs will become valuable references for your professional library.
Choose from these titles:
- Ethical Decision Making for Designers
- Culturally Sensitive Design for Long-Term Care Facilities
- Structures in Interior Design
- Creating Sustainable Interiors
- ADA Guidelines - Past, Present and Future
For more information on our monographs or to order yours today, visit our Web site at www.ncidq.org. |
Certificate Holder Survey
In 2008 we surveyed more than 6,400 active NCIDQ Certificate holders throughout the United States and Canada in order to gain a better understanding of who our Certificate holders are in order to better serve you. In the last issue we revealed that more than 80% of NCIDQ Certificate holders work full time as designers, many of whom specialize in corporate/office or residential design, and that the majority of interior designers are female.
We've also learned that the majority of designers work on design projects with an average construction cost of $100,001 - $500,000. Below are some charts that break down additional results.
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Sincerely,
NCIDQ
E-mail: news@ncidq.org
Phone: 202-721-0220
Fax: 202-721-0221
Web Site: http://www.ncidq.org
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