Professional Profile

Profession:
Architects Plan and design structures, such as private residences, office buildings, theaters, factories, and other structural property.

Interior Designers Plan, design, and furnish interiors of residential, commercial, or industrial buildings. Formulate design which is practical, aesthetic, and conducive to intended purposes, such as raising productivity, selling merchandise, or improving life style. May specialize in a particular field, style, or phase of interior design.

Number of Licensed Professionals in Florida:
Architects: 8,840
Interior Designers: 2,700

Salary Range:
Architect: $39,420 - $104,970*
Interior Designer: $24,270–$78,760*

Requirements to be licensed:

• Architects: Graduate of approved architectural curriculum of five years or more from a NAAB accredited program or equivalent; internship period - three years for Bachelor degree holders, two years for Master degree holders; successful completion of the Architect Registration Examination.
• Interior Designers: Graduate of a five-year interior design program and one year of diversified interior design experience; or graduate of a four-year interior design program and two years of experience; or has completed at least three years in an interior design curriculum and three years experience; or graduate of a two-year interior design program and four years of experience; and passage of the National Council for Interior Design Qualifications (NCIDQ) examination.

Interesting Facts: The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design has some of the most stringent licensing standards in the country.  These professionals provide a necessary service to the citizens and visitors of Florida through our built environment.  They ensure that the structures in which we live, work and play are designed not only to be structurally sound but aesthetically pleasing.

*U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Florida, May 2006