Post job

Best kitchen and bath designer certifications

Kitchen and bath designer certifications allow job seekers to demonstrate their competency as an kitchen and bath designer to employers. However, not all kitchen and bath designer certifications provide the same value for job seekers.

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

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

6 best kitchen and bath designer certifications

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...

2. 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...

3. 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...

4. 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...

5. Certified Construction Manager (CCM)

The Certified Construction Manager (CCM) is someone who has voluntarily met the prescribed criteria of the CCM program with regard to formal education, field experience and demonstrated capability and understanding of the CM body of knowledge.

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 3 year(s)

6. Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS)

Get the technical, business management and customer service skills essential to competing in the fastest-growing segment of the residential remodeling industry: home modifications for the aging-in-place market. Earn NAHB's Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation and become the expert in your market.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
Certifying organization
National Association of Home...

What is the best certification for a kitchen and bath designer?

The best kitchen and bath 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 and bath 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 and bath designers?

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

What certifications can impact a kitchen and bath designer career and salary?

The Certified Interior Designer certification will help you to secure a interior designer position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. A interior designer's average salary is $54,783 whereas kitchen and bath designers make an average salary of $52,406.

Best certifications

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

Online courses for kitchen and bath 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. Design Thinking: Customer Journey Mapping

udemy
4.1
(320)

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

3. How to Design a Room in 10 Easy Steps

udemy
4.6
(7,662)

Interior Design Made Simple...

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. 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!...

6. 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!...

7. Construction Site Electrical System Design

udemy
4.6
(454)

Learn how to design a safe, flexible and durable electrical system for any construction site...

8. Adobe Photoshop Graphic Design

udemy
4.1
(385)

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

9. World of Graphic Design & Infographics

udemy
4.4
(2,177)

All about basics of Graphical designing and Infographics...

10. Graphic Design Foundations in Canva: Theory and Projects

udemy
4.7
(545)

Learn design theory and practice GREAT graphic design through practical real world projects in Canva...

11. Master Digital Product Design: UX Research & UI Design

udemy
4.6
(8,540)

A complete design education for product designers: Research the user experience, then design a great user interface...

12. Become a Professional Graphic Designer

udemy
4.5
(1,644)

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

13. 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...

14. Graphic Design Bootcamp: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign

udemy
4.5
(16,167)

Bestselling Beginner Course! Use Photoshop, Illustrator, & In Design for logo design, web design, poster design, and more...

15. 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!...

16. Logo Design Masterclass: Learn Logo Design and Illustrator

udemy
4.6
(1,883)

Learn logo design by applying principles and techniques in Adobe Illustrator CC and Dimension CC. For beginners + more...

17. How to Use Lighting Design to Transform your Home

udemy
4.5
(1,867)

Learn How to Use Lighting in your Interior Design Like a Pro...

18. Affinity Designer- Design artistic text and Create Fonts

udemy
4.8
(299)

Every technique you need to design artistic text and fonts in Affinity Designer...

19. Android Material UI Design Masterclass with Adobe Xd

udemy
4.5
(293)

Learn to Design Mobile Apps following the guidliness of Material System Design using Adobe Xd...

20. Graphic Design Mastery: The FULL Branding & Design Process

udemy
4.7
(1,014)

Follows the FULL Graphic Design Process for A Company: Logo, Ad, Social Media, T-Shirt, Package, Website Design & More!...

Browse arts, entertainment, sports, and media jobs