September 4, 2011
I was honored with an award at the ASID banquet on Thursday evening! The 2011 Perpetual Award for Promotion and Advancement of Interior Design Dedicated to Vance Borland. This award was presented to me for the work that I have done to assist designers prepare for the NCIDQ exam. I've been keeping a tally and in the past 11+ years, I have assisted 40 designers to reach the goal of becoming NCIDQ certificate holders. My goal for next spring is to have that number reach 50 with the group now forming for the Spring 2012 exam.
I have been and continue to be committed to helping designers attain this goal because I believe in the distinction that it carries in our industry. By the end of the events award evening, I had two more names to add to the list. With these two names, we have now reached the required 10 names to bring a STEP to Hawaii! The maximum number for a STEP class is 15 people but no walk-ins will be accepted. Let's see if we can reach that. We really need to have more than 10 on the list in case anyone drops out between now and workshop time. The reality is that a STEP class is only likely to happen every couple of years here so this is an opportunity that you need to grasp. Also, the exam is now only being offered once a year in Honolulu so if you want to take the exam in one sitting, you MUST be properly prepared. The time to start studying is now, not after Christmas. If you are already signed on with NCIDQ, you can register for the Spring exam. If you have not yet submitted your application to NCIDQ, the deadline is December 1, 2011.
Moving forward, I have asked Magdalena Harper to assist me with organizing the STEP program and I will be training her to assist me with this volunteer administrative role of an NCIDQ Ambassador. She has accepted my request for her participation and together we are going to strengthen our presence. We are working on a outreach program that will take her to each design and architectural office (with a design department). We would like to make presentations to larger offices or we can organize an orientation. This work will start in earnest in October so just a heads up what is coming next. Our goal here is to get more designers familiar with the assistance that we are making available to help designers get exam ready. You have to do the hard work of studying and preparation but at least this will help you navigate a course for the administrative and study prep aspect of the exam.
The exam was re-written last year and this format of the present exam will be in place for the next 3 years. NCIDQ restructures the exam every 5 years to stay current with industry changes. ASID has now had time to get the instructors more in tune with the new exam and the STEP is more beneficial now than ever before. Over the years, I have looked over the shoulder of candidates and the STEP study material and there have been considerable changes to what is now being presented. If you have taken a STEP class in the past, I highly recommend you consider taking it again if you are a spring candidate. So much is new and different and truly invaluable to getting you properly prepared. Check the ASID STEP details as I think there is a discount if you've already taken the STEP in the past. Speaking of discounts, being a member of ASID affords you a discount on the STEP class so this is an excellent time to consider membership as well.
To highlight a few important details, please remember that ASID administers STEP and NCIDQ administers the exam. Once you pass the exam, you will become an NCIDQ certificate holder. You will NOT be a "certified" designer. That designation does not exist in Hawaii, nor will you be licensed. With the interior design program at Chaminade more designers continue to grow the industry. If you have chosen interior design as your career, choose to give yourself as much distinction as you can within our industry.
It is your responsibility to go to the NCIDQ site to determine your individual eligibility. Neither Magdalena or I can determine that for you but the site gives you that information.
In planning the STEP with ASID, I have to propose a couple of Option dates for the workshop. I will be proposing the following dates:
January 13-15, January 20-22, or January 27-29. I would like everyone to have as much time as possible ahead of the exam to benefit from the STEP. Feel free to reply back to me with feedback on these dates. It is not up to me; it is ASID that needs to arrange instructors availability.
In the past, once we've finished a STEP class, a designer inevitably contacts me to find out if there's a STEP class being offered. ;-(
It seems to happen everytime, so let's get the word out now and not leave anyone behind.
Thursday evening, I had several designers let me know that this round of contact is the "kick in the okole" they need to move forward with this however, I don't have some of you on the list. If you in that group of people that need the extra boost to get this going, I urge you to move this to the top of your priority list. As time goes on, the exam and related costs will get higher and the procrastination aspect of this can be dealt with by committing now. It won't get easy by putting it off.
I have had an inquiry on the benefits of taking the STEP as a means to get more design education but I don't recommend it for that purpose. STEP assumes you already have SUBSTANTIAL design knowledge and is structured as an aid to prepare for the exam.
I am including the current chapter president and the president elect in this communication as I want the momentum to be sustained from the top. As we transition to a new president for the Hawaii Chapter, we can extend the outreach once Valorie starts her term as President. If you are on a neighbor island, consider the value of joining the group for the STEP.
Study Groups can be organized but over the years, I have found that they seldom stick it out for the duration. So you can certainly organize a study group but don't rely on or expect that the group can do the homework that will need to be done to be test ready.
If you are an Emerging Professional or know of one, please forward this email have them send me a request to be added to the list. As an emerging professional, get familiar with all aspects of this and add it to your career plan.
If you need a mentor to support you even more, don't hesitate to ask around. We can organize a list of designers willing to mentor individuals if requested.
