NCIDQ Becomes a Registered Trademark!

NCIDQ is pleased to announce the establishment of official registered trademarks for the name NCIDQ®, the graphic logo and the tag line, The Mark of a Professional®. 

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) approved NCIDQ as owner of the federally registered marks. NCIDQ has also applied for ownership of these items with the Canadian copyright authorities. 

Having registered trademarks grants NCIDQ protection against illegal use of its intellectual property. Having a registered mark not only helps protect NCIDQ's creative works from plagiarism or theft, it helps establish our brand and gives credibility to the source of the mark.

Q: May I use NCIDQ after my name and title? 

A: Yes, if you use it correctly. Let us explain:

Earning an NCIDQ Certificate is an important credential for any interior designer. In today's increasingly competitive marketplace, an NCIDQ Certificate demonstrates that you are uniquely qualified through education, experience and examination to competently practice interior design. 

When using this credential, it is important to use it properly. NCIDQ is not a membership association for individuals like the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) or the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). Only U.S. regulatory boards and Canadian provincial associations may be members of NCIDQ. Therefore, it is incorrect to use the acronym "NCIDQ" after your name on any business correspondence. 

The correct way to showcase your credential is to add "NCIDQ® Certificate Number [No.] XXXXX" after your name. 

Correct Usage:

Your Name, NCIDQ® Certificate Number 000000

or

Your Name NCIDQ® Certificate No. 000000

Incorrect Usage:

Your Name, NCIDQ 

or

Your Name, NCIDQ-Certified 

If you missed past QLetter issues, you can view them anytime in the News section of the NCIDQ Web site, http://www.ncidq.org/news/newsletters.htm