Interior Designer / Pennsylvania
2026 data Pennsylvania board official source

Pennsylvania Interior Designer License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

What the state board actually requires: fees, renewal cycle, and requirements from official records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Plans and designs interior spaces for functionality and aesthetics.

What the Pennsylvania data shows for Interior Designers

Becoming a licensed interior designer in Pennsylvania means clearing a defined set of hurdles: board-approved training, a passing score on NCIDQ Examination, and 2 years of supervised work experience once the applicant turns 18. Pennsylvania regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Bachelors Degree plus Work Experience".

Budget $220 to get started, plus $164 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 10 hours of continuing education are due every 2-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

Reciprocity for this profession works like this: NCIDQ passed in some states.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
35/100
Interior Designer · Pennsylvania

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training N/A
N/A
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$220
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$82/yr
$164 every 2 years
Continuing Education B
5.0 hrs/yr
10 hours every 2 years
Experience Required F
2 years
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Pennsylvania

Education / Training Hours
Bachelors Degree plus Work Experience
Not specified
Exam Requirement
NCIDQ Examination
Required
Initial License Fee
$220
Renewal Fee
$164
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
10 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Not Required
Minimum Age
18 years
Work Experience Required
2 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Interior Designer All Pennsylvania licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Pennsylvania licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Interior Designer in Pennsylvania? ▼
Pennsylvania requires, passing an exam (NCIDQ Examination), and an initial fee of $220.
How do I get certified as an Interior Designer in Pennsylvania? ▼
Certification as an interior designer in Pennsylvania means clearing the state's checklist plus 2 years of work experience, and a passing exam score. The Pennsylvania licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Interior Designer license to Pennsylvania from another state? ▼
Interior Designer licenses generally reciprocate as follows: NCIDQ passed in some states. Interstate licensing compacts cover many professions and can further ease a move between states. The Pennsylvania licensing board can confirm the current rules for your credential.
Does Pennsylvania require a background check for Interior Designer licensing? ▼
Pennsylvania doesn't condition interior designer licensure on a criminal background check, though employers in the field may impose their own screening requirements.
What are the continuing education requirements for Interior Designer in Pennsylvania? ▼
To stay licensed as an interior designer in Pennsylvania, plan on 10 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $164.

Related Guides

What to do with this interior designer license

Interior Designer in Pennsylvania, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in an interior designer-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Pennsylvania's interior designer requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Interior Designer in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state interior designer license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Pennsylvania's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Pennsylvania overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Pennsylvania licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.