Best Kitchen Designer certifications

The best certifications for a kitchen designer are Certified Interior Designer (NCIDQ), Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD), and Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer (CKBD).

Kitchen designer certifications demonstrate your competency as a kitchen designer to employers. However, not all kitchen designer certifications provide the same value.

Below is a list of the best kitchen designer certifications. Obtaining a kitchen designer certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.

Kitchen Designer Jobs

6 best kitchen designer certifications

C
C

1. Certified Interior Designer (NCIDQ)

The NCIDQ Examination consists of three separate exam sections, the Interior Design Fundamentals Exam (IDFX), the Interior Design Professional Exam (IDPX), and the Practicum Exam (PRAC), that measure a candidate's proficiency in interior design principles and application of knowledge to protect public health, safety and welfare. Two of the exams, IDFX and IDPX, are multiple choice exams.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 1 year(s)
Certifying Website
Certified Interior Designer
Certifying Organization
Council for Interior Design...
C
C

2. Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD)

CKDs specialize in the design, planning and execution of residential kitchens and bathrooms, and prove advanced knowledge of technical and personal communication skills required to succeed as a design specialist.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 2 year(s)
Certifying Organization
National Kitchen & Bath...
C
C

3. Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer (CKBD)

Certified Kitchen and Bath Designers (CKBD) Certified Kitchen Designers (CKD) and Certified Bath Designers (CBD) specialize in the design, planning, and execution of residential kitchens and bathrooms, and prove advanced knowledge of technical and personal communication skills required to succeed as a design specialist.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 2 year(s)
Certifying Organization
National Kitchen & Bath...
C
C

4. Certified Sales Professional (CSP)

The Certified Sales Professional (CSP) program gives a thorough understanding of consultative selling. From business creation to improved time and territory management; goal-setting to prospecting, and everything in between, attendees return to the territory with a renewed enthusiasm for selling.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 3 year(s)
A
A

5. Associate Kitchen & Bath Designer (AKBD)

AKBDs are industry professionals with documented experience and education in the kitchen and bath industry. While it is not predominantly design experience that the AKBD must demonstrate, the AKBDs range of expertise could include sales, manufacturing, design, drafting, fixtures, etc. This combination of experience and education ensures that the AKBD is a trained, qualified professional in the kitchen and bath industry.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 1 year(s)
Certifying Organization
National Kitchen & Bath...
C
C

6. Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

The CMA (Certified Management Accountant) is the advanced professional certification specifically designed to measure the accounting and financial management skills that drive business performance.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 1 year(s)

Kitchen Designer Jobs

What is the best certification for a kitchen designer?

The best kitchen designer certification is Certified Interior Designer (NCIDQ). The Certified Interior Designer (NCIDQ) is awarded by the Council for Interior Design Qualification. The advanced certification is for more experienced employees as it often requires some work experience to acquire.

Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this kitchen designer certification:

  • To become a certified Certified Interior Designer (NCIDQ), you need to pass the exam.
  • This certificate requires more than two years of work experience.
  • Renew certification every 1 year.

What are some of the most in-demand certifications for kitchen designers?

The most in-demand kitchen designer certification is Certified Kitchen Designer based on all active job postings. Having this kitchen designer certification will give you access to more kitchen designer jobs with higher salaries.

What certifications can impact a kitchen designer career and salary?

The Certified Kitchen Designer certification will help you to secure a kitchen and bath designer position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. A kitchen and bath designer's average salary is $44,838 whereas kitchen designers make an average salary of $55,942.

Best Certifications

The most common combination of kitchen designer certifications include: Certified Interior Designer (NCIDQ), Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD), and Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer (CKBD).

Online courses for kitchen designers to earn certifications

Advertising Disclosure

1. How to Design Your Dream Kitchen

udemy
4.6
(931)

Learn Kitchen Design from A to Z...

2. How to Design a Room in 10 Easy Steps

udemy
4.6
(7,662)

Interior Design Made Simple...

3. Design Thinking: Customer Journey Mapping

udemy
4.1
(320)

Sure shot way to delight customers, recreate value proposition, improve customer experience (CX) & become profitable...

4. Graphic Design Masterclass - Learn GREAT Design

udemy
4.7
(55,714)

The Ultimate Graphic Design Course Which Covers Photoshop, Illustrator, In Design,Design Theory, Branding and Logo Design...

5. Master Graphic Design & Software with Practical Projects

udemy
4.5
(737)

Conquer Popular Graphic Design Projects: Logo, Package, Magazine, Book Cover Design, Branding, Digital Graphics & More!...

6. Graphic Design Masterclass: Learn Graphic Design in Projects

udemy
4.5
(2,609)

Graphic design principles, typography, & color mastery using Illustrator, In Design, and Photoshop. For beginners & more!...

7. Digital Design Masterclass For Graphic Designers

udemy
4.7
(1,245)

Icon Set Design, E-book cover, Digitizing Sketches, Social Media Design, Wordpress Web Design, Adobe Xd, GIFS and more!...

8. 47 Graphic Design Projects for Photoshop Beginners

udemy
4.8
(324)

Photoshop graphic design for beginners!  Includes 47 Photoshop projects for your graphic design portfolio...

9. Adobe Photoshop Graphic Design

udemy
4.1
(385)

Design 4 Beautiful eye catching Graphic Design Projects from Scratch with Adobe Photoshop Graphic Design Basics...

10. Become a Professional Graphic Designer

udemy
4.5
(1,644)

Learn what you need to know to break into the world of graphic design...

Browse arts, entertainment, sports, and media jobs