You can may receive CEU credit for certain programs that were not previously approved by the IDCEC Review Board.
Receiving Credit for non-IDCEC Approved Courses
The Individual Approval Reporting Form is a unique member benefit that allows you to obtain CEU credit towards IIDA membership compliance. Check with your local certification or licensing board to ensure state or jurisdictional accreditation as there may be a separate submission process at the state level.
Reporting a CEU Course
If you have attended a course which was not IDCEC-approved and you want to apply it towards your IIDA compliance requirement:
Submit a completed IARF.
Submit an IARF for each course or one per conference.
Include official verification of your attendance that includes the hours of instruction (i.e. an official certificate of completion or a transcript from an accredited university or college). If this is not available, submit the following:
- An official class syllabus/outline with lecture time quantified
- A copy of course materials/handouts
- Biography of speaker/instructor
You must submit proof of attendance verification. Payment receipts are not acceptable forms of verification. Complete instructions are available by clicking here IARF Instructions.
Review Process
The review process may take 4-6 weeks.
Approval and Registration
Upon approval, the IIDA Education Department sends you an approval notification. Keep this information with your CEU records. For additional information, please contact ceu@iida.org.
What Can I Submit for CEU Approval?
The following educational activities qualify:
- Structured travel/study tours led by qualified instructors (self-guided tours are NOT acceptable)
- Courses at museums and other cultural institutions that are led by qualified instructors and directly relate to the Interior Design industry
- Courses taken at an accredited college or university (courses will not qualify if they are taken as part of a degree program)
- Courses taught by professional consultants that are related to the design industry
- Courses approved through professional organizations which do not offer automatic reciprocity with IDCEC, i.e. AIA, IFMA, NEWH, etc.
- Distance education courses via the Internet or trade publications that directly relate to the Interior Design industry
- Education tracks at industry-wide conferences and symposia
Use the Subject Code Index to help you determine the course relevancy to the design industry.
What is Not Acceptable for CEUs?
IIDA cannot accept the following types of activities for CEU credit:
- Association membership, leadership activities, committee meetings
- Volunteer experiences at industry-related events, i.e. competition judging
- Professional exam preparation
- Courses taken at an accredited college or university toward a industry-related degree
- Stand alone mass media programs (TV, radio, newspaper articles, journal articles) do not qualify unless they are a planned, integral part of an established continuing education experience subject to IDCEC CEU criteria
- Conventions and Expos – only planned learning activities through the program sponsor within such events may qualify for CEU credit
- Self-guided tours
- Work experience and internships
- Individual scholarship such as articles, books, research projects, presentations of papers, or teaching a course that has not been IDCEC-approved
Other Important Facts!
- Submittal of the IARF does not automatically guarantee approval
- CEU is awarded in whole hour increments only, 1 hr = 0.1 CEU, 2 ½ hrs = 0.2 CEU, 10 hrs = 1.0 CEU.
- IIDA does not post-date CEUs. The attendance date will be used as your completed date. You must submit CEUs within one (1) month of attending the program.
- Keep a copy of all CEU records including Individual Approval Reporting Forms and Certificates of Attendance/Completion. According to IIDA policy, Members may be requested to submit proof of course completion to IIDA Headquarters.
- If you have questions regarding your CEU registration status, contact NCIDQ to request a transcript of your records at 202.721.0220. NCIDQ certificate holders may view their transcripts online at NCIDQ.org. Maintenance of CEU records is the responsibility of the individual IIDA Member.
Have more questions? Visit the Compliance or the FAQ sections or email us.
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