RIDA FAQs

RIDA is the final examination stage in the Pathway to Registration. Candidates must first meet ARIDO’s education and experience requirements before entering the RIDA process.

To be eligible for RIDA, candidates must:

• Meet ARIDO’s education requirements through a CIDA accredited degree or the Intern Competency Review System (ICRS)
• Meet ARIDO’s supervised work experience requirements through IDER (Interior Design Experience Requirement) or approved grandfathered hours
• Complete and submit the RIDA Application Form
• Pay the required fees

These steps ensure candidates are appropriately prepared for professional assessment.

To enroll in RIDA, candidates are required to pay $1347 plus HST split in two install ments of $673.50 plus HST.
If a candidate requires a retake for a partially ready results, it will cost $670 plus HST.
Candidates who are unsuccessfully with a not ready result must reenroll and pay the full fee of $1347 plus HST.

RIDA is completed in two structured parts, designed to assess readiness for unsupervised professional practice.

Part 1: Practice Readiness Program

Part 1 evaluates foundational professional readiness and preparation for independent practice. Candidates must:
• Complete the Practice Readiness Program
• Submit a Practice Plan by the required deadline
• Pay the Part 1 assessment fee
• Pay the RIDA enrollment fee (for non ARIDO members)
Part 1 must be successfully completed before progressing to Part 2.

Part 2: Entrance Interview

Part 2 is a structured verbal interview conducted by a panel of three Registered Interior Designers. Candidates must:
• Successfully complete Part 1
• Participate in the Entrance Interview
• Pay the Part 2 assessment fee
The interview assesses applied knowledge, professional judgment, ethics, health and safety, and decision making through scenario based discussion.

RIDA emphasizes how candidates:

• Apply standards in real world situations
• Demonstrate ethical and professional judgment
• Communicate design decisions clearly and responsibly

This approach recognizes professional competence beyond standardized testing, while maintaining consistent evaluation criteria.

Yes. RIDA was developed to uphold ARIDO’s mandate to protect the public. All assessments are structured, competency based, and evaluated by experienced Registered Interior Designers to ensure rigor, fairness, and accountability.

Recognizing multiple rigorous pathways supports:

• Fair and equitable access to professional registration
• A profession that reflects diverse experience and learning paths
• Continued protection of the public through strong competency assessment

Both NCIDQ and RIDA share the same goal: ensuring safe, competent, and accountable Interior Designers in Ontario.