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CIDQ IDPX Exam Syllabus

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Before starting your IDPX exam preparation, it is recommended to review the complete CIDQ Interior Design Professional Exam syllabus and carefully go through the exam objectives listed below. Once you understand the exam structure and objectives, you should practice using our free IDPX questions. We also provide premium IDPX practice test, fully updated according to the latest exam objectives, to help you accurately assess your preparedness for the actual exam.

CIDQ IDPX Exam Objectives

Section Weight Objectives
Project Assessment and Sustainability 15% Ability to understand and analyze:
• square footage standards (e.g., building codes, BOMA calculations, and terminology)
Demonstrate understanding of:
• environmental and wellness attributes (e.g., energy and water,
conservation, renewable resources, indoor air quality, resiliency, active design)
• existing conditions analysis (e.g., hazardous materials, seismic, accessibility, construction type, occupancy type)
• project drivers (e.g., stakeholder requirements, space usage, preferred culture and branding, goals and objectives, budget)
Project Process, Roles, and Coordination 15% Understand and identify:
• scope of project team members (e.g., architects, engineers, specialty consultants, contractors, construction managers)
• role of stakeholders (e.g., management, identification, level of interest, level of influence, managing expectations). Demonstrate understanding of:
• project budgeting/tracking (e.g., value engineering, alternates, timing, and responsibility) • critical path (e.g., design milestones, sequencing, design phases, deliverables)
• design phase criteria (e.g., deliverables, approval, sign-off, quality control, meeting project goals and objectives)
• allied professionals’ drawings (e.g., mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering, architecture, security, specialty consultants)
• specification types and format (e.g., prescriptive, performance, proprietary, divisions)
• phased construction plan
• post occupancy evaluation (e.g., metrics, timing, scope, analyzing data, evaluating criteria, commissioning, employee surveys)
Professional Business Practices 10% Demonstrate understanding of:
• scope of practice (e.g., legal liability, laws and regulations, certification vs licensure, practice and title act)
• business structures (e.g., LLC, joint ventures, sole proprietor, partnership, corporation)
• business management (e.g., applicable taxes, accounting, liability and insurance)
Ability to understand and develop:
• proposals (e.g., time and fee estimation, Request for
Proposals, process, project scope, presentation, exclusions, add services)
• contracts (e.g., legal considerations, liabilities, terms and, conditions)
• project budgeting principles and practices
IV. Code Requirements, Laws, Standards, and Regulations
Code Requirements, Laws, Standards, and Regulations 20% Demonstrate understanding of:
• environmental regulations (e.g., indoor air quality, energy conservation, material conservation, water conservation)
• reference standards and guidelines (e.g., ADA/Accessibility,BIFMA, ASHRAE, OSHA, NFPA, IBC)
• zoning and building use
• permit requirements (e.g., processes, timing, awareness of jurisdictional differences)
Integration with Building Systems and Construction 15% Demonnstrate understanding and application of:
• structural systems (e.g., load bearing, non-load bearing, steel,  concrete, post-tension)
• plumbing systems (e.g., low flow, waterless, filtration, water metering, gray water)
• fire protection systems (e.g., sprinklers, strobes, alarms, extinguishers, smoke and heat detectors)
• low voltage systems (e.g., data and communication, security, A/V)
• mechanical systems (e.g., types of systems, coordination with ceiling plans, indoor air quality)
• monitoring systems (e.g., building automation systems)
• installation methods (e.g., sequencing of work)
• building construction types (e.g., wood, steel, concrete)
• building components (e.g., doors, windows, wall assemblies, hardware, glazing assemblies)
• vertical and horizontal systems of transport (e.g., stairs, elevators)
• lighting systems (e.g., fixtures, zoning, sensors, daylighting, circadian rhythms, calculations, distribution, energy efficiency)
• electrical systems (e.g., outlet placement, switching, GFI, occupancy sensors)
• acoustical systems (e.g., sound masking, NRC, STC, CAC, AC, sound batting, wall types, and ceiling elements)
Integration of Furniture, Fixtures, & Equipment 10% Identify and apply appropriate:
• product components (e.g., system furniture vs ancillary furniture, power integration of furniture, acoustic panels vs non-acoustic panels, modular wall systems)
Demonstrate understanding of:
• equipment integration (e.g., appliances or specialty equipment within the design, accessibility and code compliance)
• and parameters of maintenance (e.g., warranties, manuals, cleaning protocols, documents)
• processes for procurement, delivery, and installation (e.g.,
sequencing, purchase orders, prepayment requirements, Customer’s Own Material, liabilities, shop drawings, lead time)
Ability to conduct and communicate:
• budgeting and cost estimating (e.g., quantity takeoffs, product cost, install cost, overage, attic stock, life cycle costing, Return
on Investment)
Contract Administration 15% Demonstrate understanding of:
• and application of documentation and procedures (e.g., transmittals, contemplative change orders, change directive,
change order, addenda, bulletin, purchase orders, Request for Information (RFIs))
• project accounting (e.g., payment schedules, invoices, contractor pay applications and approvals)
Ability to lead:
• project meetings (e.g., management, protocol, minutes)
Official Information https://www.cidq.org/idfx-idpx