Accreditation is a process unique to the United States and Canada that replaces government regulation of education found in most other countries. It is a process of self-evaluation and peer review that promotes achievement of high academic standards, while making education more responsive to students and society's needs. Standards developed by interior design practitioners and educators and concern for continued growth and development are central to accreditation. The Commission makes the final decision to award or deny accreditation.
All evaluators are interior design practitioners and educators.
They receive an education that is recognized by the interior design profession as meeting educational requirements for entry into the profession. In the future this factor may impact the right to practice in states with licensing or registration acts. The time frame for the entire process can be as short as 12 to 18 months. No, the maximum term of accreditation is six years. These programs may exist in different types of institutions.