| Topic | Details |
| Topic 1 | - Life Safety and Universal Design: This section of the exam measures skills of a Design Consultant and addresses the principles that protect occupants and ensure accessibility. Candidates demonstrate knowledge of life?safety requirements—such as egress paths, fire separation, and alarm coordination—as well as universal design strategies that accommodate diverse abilities and special?needs populations.
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| Topic 2 | - Design Communication Techniques: This section of the exam measures skills of an Interior Designer and focuses on translating research and concepts into clear visual formats. Test?takers show how they develop charts, infographics, and conceptual diagrams to convey ideas, and how they organize planning diagrams—like adjacency studies and zoning plans—to guide the layout and functional relationships within a space.
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| Topic 3 | - Professional Development and Ethics: This section of the exam measures skills of a Design Consultant and emphasizes the importance of ethical practice and ongoing learning. Candidates demonstrate familiarity with professional codes of conduct, consumer?protection principles, and strategies for continuing education and engagement with industry organizations.
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| Topic 4 | - Programming and Site Analysis: This section of the exam measures skills of an Interior Designer and covers the effective use of analytical techniques to understand a project’s context. Candidates must show how they apply tools—such as spreadsheets, diagrams, and photographic studies—alongside research methods like observations and precedent studies to evaluate site factors including location, orientation, zoning restrictions, and existing conditions.
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| Topic 5 | - Interior Building Materials and Finishes: This section of the exam measures skills of an Interior Designer and explores the selection and specification of surface materials. Examinees must show comprehension of the performance standards, installation methods, and technical considerations for textiles, floor coverings, wall and ceiling treatments, acoustical products, and signage within interior environments.
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| Topic 6 | - Relationship between Human Behavior and the Designed Environment: This section of the exam measures skills of a Design Consultant and covers interpreting how people interact with spaces. Examinees demonstrate an understanding of human factors—from ergonomic dimensions to social and cultural influences—and how universal design principles ensure accessibility and inclusivity, while also considering sensory impacts such as lighting, acoustics, and thermal comfort.
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