First Steps for Aspiring Interior Designers

I am taking a course on interior design with the hope of becoming a design consultant as a second job. I don't plan on hiring staff. Would I just need to set up an LLC and obtain the appropriate tax certificates, or do I need to actually become a licensed interior designer? I split my time between New York, New Jersey, and Florida. —M.E., New York City

Over the past couple of decades, decorators have morphed from pillow fluffers to certified professionals. Many states now put interior design consultants in the same category as architects, requiring educational training, work experience, national examinations, and continuing education credits, says Alexis Fermanis, communications manager for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ). Her organization, which administers a certification exam recognized in 26 states, attributes the increased scrutiny to more complex residential and business zoning and code enforcement for both interior and exterior building and remodeling.