Is a certificate in interior design worth it? Here's what actually matters

You’ve spent hours scrolling through Instagram mood boards, pinning perfect lighting setups, and dreaming of turning your passion for spaces into a career. Then you hit the same question: Is a certificate in interior design worth it? The answer isn’t yes or no-it’s "it depends." But here’s what no one tells you before you spend thousands on a course.

What a certificate actually gives you

A certificate in interior design isn’t a license to practice. Unlike architecture or engineering, there’s no legal requirement in New Zealand or most countries to hold one. That means anyone can call themselves an interior designer-even without training. So why do people get certified?

Most certificates teach you the basics: space planning, color theory, lighting design, material selection, and how to read floor plans. Some include software like AutoCAD or SketchUp. A good program will also show you how to manage clients, write scope of work documents, and handle budgets. These aren’t just nice-to-haves-they’re the tools that separate hobbyists from professionals.

Take Sarah, a freelance designer in Christchurch. She started with a 6-month online certificate from the New Zealand Institute of Design. Within a year, she landed her first commercial job because her client saw her certification on her website. "It wasn’t the design that sold them," she says. "It was knowing I knew how to handle permits, safety codes, and timelines. They trusted me because I had proof I’d been trained."

The real cost-money, time, and opportunity

Certificates range from $500 for a short online course to over $10,000 for full-time programs. In New Zealand, institutions like Unitec, MIT, and private providers like Design School NZ offer options. But here’s the catch: the most expensive isn’t always the best.

Some programs promise "industry connections" but deliver little more than a Zoom lecture series. Others include hands-on workshops, studio time, and real client projects. Ask for student portfolios. Ask if graduates are working in the field. Check LinkedIn. If a school can’t show you at least five recent alumni working as designers, be cautious.

Time is another factor. A part-time certificate can take 6 to 18 months. If you’re working full-time or raising kids, that’s a big commitment. Can you afford to pause other income streams? Will this certificate actually lead to more work-or just more debt?

What employers and clients really care about

Let’s be honest: most homeowners don’t check if your certificate is from a reputable school. They look at your portfolio. They read your reviews. They ask if you’ve done a similar project before.

But in commercial spaces-hotels, retail stores, offices-clients often require proof of formal training. Insurance companies may ask for certification before covering your work. Some councils require designers to be certified to submit plans for structural changes.

One Wellington interior designer told me she lost a $20,000 contract because the client’s lawyer insisted on a certified designer. She didn’t have one. She got the job after finishing a 12-week online certificate. "It wasn’t the course that changed my design," she said. "It was the paperwork that changed their mind."

Alternatives to a certificate

You don’t need a certificate to build a successful career. Many top designers in New Zealand never went to school. They started by helping friends, then neighbors, then small businesses. They built portfolios through Instagram, word of mouth, and free projects.

Here’s what works instead:

• Take free online courses from Coursera or YouTube (e.g., "Interior Design Fundamentals" by MIT OpenCourseWare)
• Volunteer to redesign a community center or charity shop
• Join local design groups on Facebook or Meetup
• Shadow a working designer for a few days
• Get certified in specific skills like color consultation or space planning through short workshops

One designer in Dunedin started by redesigning her own rental apartment. She posted before-and-after photos. Within six months, she had 12 paying clients. She didn’t have a certificate. She had results.

When a certificate makes sense

Here’s when investing in a certificate pays off:

• You want to work with architects or contractors who require certified designers
• You plan to apply for commercial contracts or government tenders
• You’re aiming for a job at a design firm that lists certification as a requirement
• You need to prove credibility to clients who are skeptical of "self-taught" designers
• You’re planning to move overseas and need internationally recognized credentials

If you’re doing small residential jobs for friends and family, a certificate won’t make much difference. But if you want to scale up, get insurance, or work with builders, it becomes a necessary step-not a luxury.

What to look for in a program

If you decide to go ahead, here’s what to check:

• Is the program accredited by a recognized body like the New Zealand Institute of Design or the International Interior Design Association (IIDA)?
• Does it include real-world projects, not just theory?
• Are instructors practicing designers with current portfolios?
• Can you see graduate outcomes? Where are they working now?
• Does it cover New Zealand building codes, accessibility standards, and fire safety regulations?

Avoid programs that promise "become a designer in 30 days" or guarantee jobs. Those are red flags. Design is a craft-it takes time to build skill, reputation, and trust.

The bottom line

A certificate in interior design isn’t a magic ticket. It won’t turn you into a designer overnight. But it can open doors that stay closed to self-taught designers. If you’re serious about turning this into a business, not just a side hustle, then yes-it’s worth it. Not because it’s required, but because it gives you the credibility to be taken seriously.

Start small. Take one course. Do one project. Build your portfolio. Then decide if you need more. The best designers aren’t the ones with the most certificates-they’re the ones with the most completed jobs.