An interior designer’s role focuses on the overall planning, functionality, and flow of a space, including architectural modifications and understanding building codes. Interior designers usually hold formal qualifications in design and may need to be licensed, depending on their location. 

Interior decorators focus on aesthetics and visual appeal. Some of their decisions may involve furniture, artwork, fabrics and finishes. Formal qualifications are not always required for decorators, though relevant experience and a portfolio can be highly valuable. They are typically hired directly by homeowners or businesses to update or refresh the look of a space without changing its structure. 

The fundamental difference between the Diploma and Certificate is in the course qualification outcomes. Diploma students receive qualifications to become an interior designer, while Certificate students will aquire the knowledge to become an interior decorator. 

Both courses provide graduates with a range of sought-after employability skills, alongside a complete portfolio of interior design works.  

Students of the Certificate IV in Interior Decoration have access to $1.2K worth of software as a part of the tuition fee, including Photoshop, InDesign, SketchUp, and Programa. For Diploma students, this is increased to include Adobe Creative Cloud, V-Ray for SketchUp, and AutoCAD, with a total value of $1.7K. 

Visit the Interior Design courses page to learn more.

ISCD is a registered training organisation (RTO).

ISCD is approved to deliver the Cert IV in Interior Decoration and the Diploma of Interior Design by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). This means you can be assured that by studying with ISCD your accredited qualification meets current industry standards and prepares you for your future in the interior design industry.

ISCD interior design microcredentials are accredited units and form part of the Cert IV and Diploma courses offered by ISCD.

Our online courses are designed to work in with your lifestyle, while helping you to finish within the set time. ISCD provides you with a detailed study plan, breaking the course into blocks. This allows you to concentrate on completing subjects in an ordered sequence, with more flexibility around the rate of completion.  

It is possible to split up the workload and “get ahead” in some weeks to allow yourself more down time when you need it. However, we do recommend following the study plan where possible to ensure the best amount of time for each topic. 

Diploma of Interior Design students have access to an online toolkit worth over $1.7K, including Adobe Creative Cloud, Programa, InDesign, SketchUp, V-Ray for SketchUp, Photoshop, and AutoCAD. 

Certificate IV in Interior Decoration have access to $1.2K worth of software, including Photoshop, InDesign, SketchUp, and Programa.  

You’ll find information and a comprehensive list of computer requirements for our accredited programs here.

Our courses are designed to build your confidence in a safe, collaborative and creative environment. Our online learning platform is easy to navigate, giving you access to all the resources, videos, and educational support you need to complete your course assessments. Upon commencing your course, we will provide you with a flexible study calendar to make keeping up with your deadlines and important dates easy.

Our educators are online 5 days a week to support you through the course. You can always contact your educators via email, a phone call or an arranged Zoom call (Monday – Friday 9-5 AET). With an active online community, discussion boards, and great communication with your trainer, studying online has never been more inclusive.

Want to take a sneak peek at our learning platform? Click here.

Students are encouraged to participate in our active online spaces, including in class, on discussion boards, and through the connections that you will develop personally with your peers.

Our educators are online throughout the week, and offer phone calls and video calls by appointment. They will support and guide you through your course, checking in with your progress every step of the way.

Yes, ISCD offers Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and/or Credit Transfer. This requires completing and submitting the relevant application form and supplying supporting documentation to indicate that you have already met the competencies through your previous studies and/or relevant work experience.

Credit Transfer is the awarding of competency to a student as a result of their having successfully completed that Unit of Competency (or its equivalent) either with ISCD or another Registered Training Organisation (RTO) within the previous 5 years. There is no cost associated with Credit Transfer.

The Recognition of Prior Learning process allows students to be assessed against Units of Competency forming part of ISCD’s accredited vocational qualifications. This assessment is based on other education and learning (formal and informal) and work experience. Where competency is awarded for a full subject, students will be exempt from studying or undertaking assessments in that subject.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) acknowledges skills and knowledge obtained over the past 5 years through:

• Informal training, undertaken in industry
• Non-accredited formal training undertaken with educational providers either in Australia or overseas
• Formal training undertaken with education institutions overseas
• Work experience
• Life experience

Students applying for RPL are required to gather evidence of competence against a module’s learning outcomes, ideally presenting a portfolio of work. Evidence must show currency of skills and knowledge as well as relevance and equivalency.

Application forms for RPL/Credit Transfer are available from ISCD and must be forwarded with certified copies of all supporting documentation (including current resume) at least two weeks prior to course commencement.

You can view our RPL policy here.

For more information on RPL and Credit Transfers, including course fees, please contact us here, so that we can provide information tailored to you.

Many ISCD students go on to successfully start their own business, or join interior design firms.

You can check out some of our grads here:

instagram.com/kyalandkara/

instagram.com/stylecuratorau/

instagram.com/soulhomeaus/

instagram.com/gc_interior_design/

instagram.com/young.and.ryan/

instagram.com/beni_kesh/

Due to our strong involvement with the interior design community, ISCD is often privy to exclusive employment opportunities within the interior design industry before they are advertised online. These positions are displayed on our interior design job board. We also offer a job placement program that is supported by various design businesses within Australia.

ISCD is recognised by the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) as a quality training provider.

The courses delivered at ISCD are respected and recognised within the interior design and decoration industry. ISCD engages industry professionals as trainers and is supported by its many product partners, supplying the latest product knowledge to ensure that the course content relates to the current industry landscape.