The IID recommends that part time and correspondence courses are only used as a stepping stone towards entry into the interior design industry. There is no "quick fix" to entering this field of expertise and there is vast difference between those undertaking a short course to practice as a hobby and those wishing to make the commitment towards earning a living in the interior design arena.

The IID does not recognize such courses. As a professional body we focus on the professional practice of interior design. To be a member of the IID one must have finished an appropriate design education in interior architecture, design or decoration totaling at least 6 years of combined education and experience. Candidates who complete short or correspondence courses should apprentice themselves to a professional practice to gain the knowledge and experience required to follow a career in the industry.