IDEX Essentials: The Power to Pass the IDEX California® Exam provides a thorough review of the topics covered on the IDEX® California examination produced by the California Council for Interior Design Certification (CCIDC).
IDEX Essentials covers everything interior designers need to know about the 2007 California Building Code, business practices, ethics, and design standards.
About IDEX Exam
The IDEX exam was developed by the CCIDC using a task force comprising 12 subject matter experts. Topics were grouped into three domains, which cover different tasks and knowledge areas. As shown below, each of the three domains consist of several task areas that represent the knowledge necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public, and to meet the minimum levels of knowledge to practice interior design. The exam places great importance on codes and regulations, especially those that are unique to interior design practice in California. It also covers ethics, contracts, legal issues, and business practices that are specific to California.
Domain I: California Code and Regulations
Domain I: California Code and Regulations
- Task 1 — Administration: applicable codes and code differences, building and fire department responsibilities, other agencies (e.g., industrial waste, health, county, state), zoning planning
- Task 2 — Occupancy: means and methods, separation, type.
- Task 3 — Construction types: allowable height and area, allowable materials, types of construction
- Task 4 — Fire resistive requirements: penetrations and opening protection, practical code application, types ofassemblies.
- Task 5 — Interior finish: decorative materials, interior floor finish, trim, wall and ceiling finish
- Task 6 — Means of egress: components of egress (e.g., exit, exit access, exit discharge (existing)), implementation, occupant load, travel distance.
- Task 7— Accessibility: commercial accessibility, national and state standards, residential accessibility.
- Task 8 — Building systems: alarm (e.g., fire systems-pull stations, smoke detectors, fire life safety), building certification, electrical accessibility, Title 24 (e.g., minimum space requirements for electrical room, panels), energy conservation CA Title 24–Part 6, fire sprinklers (e.g., based on occupancy), green building regulations, mechanical (e.g., separation, penetrations, consequences), plumbing (e.g., fixture count based on occupancy).
- Task 9 — Miscellaneous: emergency egress windows, glazing, interior environment (e.g., ventilation, acoustical-sound transmission), interior space dimensions (e.g., coordination with systems, lights, structural elements), smoke detectors.
Domain II: Business Practices and Ethics
- Task 1 — Professional ethics: behavior and responsibility, code of ethics toward client, normal and reasonable charges for service and products.
- Task 2 — Legal issues in California: civil code, business and professions code, corporations code; contractors license; sales tax; three-day.
- Task 3 — Contractual issues between client and design professional: arbitration, breach of contract, drawing, reference construction documents, litigation, payments to design profession, scope of services/components of the contract, specifications/scope of work, time line.
- Task 4 — Business procedures: accounting, attorneys, engineering, insurance business formations, liability, technical and business consultants.
Domain III: Design Standards
- Task 1 — Design theory: elements and principles.
- Task 2 — Human factors: anthropometrics, ergonomics, lighting, universal design (e.g., non-code based).
- Task 3 — Design phase: conceptual and schematic, cost estimating, programming, space planning.
- Task 4 — Contract documents: bidding procedures, construction drawings, construction specifications and finishes.
- Task 5 — Contract administration process: change order, post occupancy evaluation (POE), project observation, punch list, request for information (RFI), shop drawings, submittal review.
- Task 6 — Finishes, furnishings, fixtures, and equipment: commercial standards, residential standards, selections of furnishings, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E).
- Task 7 — Environmental: acoustics, indigenous species, indoor air quality, sustainable materials.
Under guidelines of the CCIDC, there is no reciprocity with other states. The IDEX California exam is required, along with the education and experience requirements, for anyone wanting to become a CID in California—even if they are licensed, registered, or certified in another state, or have taken and passed the NCIDQ exam, the CQRID exam, or both parts of the NKBA exam.
The exam includes 150 multiple-choice questions. It is given online at various proctored testing centers in California for one month in the spring (April/May) and one month in the fall (October). You can find an exam testing site on the CCIDC website. You will have three hours in which to complete the entire examination. If you finish early, you may leave after you have checked with the proctor. For some questions, reference drawings and tables will be provided on screen along with the corresponding question. For current information on applying to be a CID and for detailed exam questions, refer to the CCIDC website at www.ccidc.org.
The exam includes 150 multiple-choice questions. It is given online at various proctored testing centers in California for one month in the spring (April/May) and one month in the fall (October). You can find an exam testing site on the CCIDC website. You will have three hours in which to complete the entire examination. If you finish early, you may leave after you have checked with the proctor. For some questions, reference drawings and tables will be provided on screen along with the corresponding question. For current information on applying to be a CID and for detailed exam questions, refer to the CCIDC website at www.ccidc.org.
Key Features
- Over 150 figures that illustrate interior design concepts and codes.
- More than 265 exam-like questions, complete with fully explained answers.
- Study guidelines, exam tips, strategies, and insights.
- A complete index of figures, tables, codes, and concepts.
Exam Topics Covered
- Administration.
- Construction Types.
- Interior Finish Requirements.
- Accessibility.
- Miscellaneous Requirements.
- Occupancy.
- Fire Resistive Requirements.
- Means of Egress.
- Building Systems.
- Professional Ethics.
- Contractual Issues Between Client and Design Professional.
- California Legal Issues.
- Business Procedures.
- Design Theory.
- Design Phase.
- Environmental Requirements.
- Finishes, Furnishings, Fixtures, and Equipment.
- Human Factors.
- Contract Documents.
- Contract Administration Process.
Book Details
- Paperback: 480 pages
- Publisher: Professional Publications, Inc.; First Edition, New Edition (September 1, 2009)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1591261899
- ISBN-13: 978-1591261896
- Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.5 x 1.1 inches
List Price: $192.00