To become a home designer and get an entry-level job, most companies require a bachelor's degree, although some may accept an associate's degree. The best degree programs for a career in home design are architecture, interior design, or drawing and design. A university student studying in an accredited architecture program can obtain a bachelor's degree in five years and then work with a licensed architect as an intern before taking the state licensing exam. Yes, it is possible to design floor plans for individuals, home builders, etc., but experience is necessary to understand construction setbacks, requirements for obtaining a building permit, etc.
To obtain national certification as a home plan designer, one must pass a two-day certification exam that includes eleven sections. In recent decades, computer-aided design & Drafting (CADD) and building information modeling (BIM) have replaced traditional drawing paper and pen as the preferred method for creating construction drawings and designs. Building designers may even be better than some architects who specialize in other types of building designs. Home designers focus on the design or use of space and decoration in residential properties.
The primary requirements for a home designer position vary by state but generally include a bachelor's or master's degree in architecture and several years of work experience. When interviewing building designers for home design services, it is important to check the laws of the states in which you plan to design buildings to determine what types of projects are exempt from requiring an architectural license to design. Home designers focus on the conceptual and architectural aspects of building a home or residential property. After obtaining their degree, some people choose to hire one or two clients and design plans in their free time for extra money.
A home designer often works with existing authorized designs and then customizes those designs to suit the needs of a particular home or residential property. If someone wants to continue as an unlicensed designer and not become a licensed architect, they should consider obtaining the building designer certification from the AIBD. About a year after obtaining their degree, some people are able to get a job in the professional services department designing flooring systems for 2-story residential homes as well as some commercial projects.
