NOC 52121: Interior designers and interior decorators

Interior designers and interior decorators conceptualize and produce aesthetic, functional and safe designs for interior spaces in residential, commercial, cultural, institutional and industrial buildings. They are employed by architectural and interior design firms, retail establishments, construction companies, hospitals, airlines, hotel and restaurant chains, and other establishments, or they may be self-employed.

Express Entry eligibility

• Skilled work (TEER 0 to 3): yes, TEER 2.
• Canadian Experience Class: counts as skilled Canadian work (1 year in the last 3 years).
• Federal Skilled Worker Program: counts as skilled work (1 year of continuous work in the last 10 years).
• Federal Skilled Trades Program: not one of the eligible trades.
• High-wage occupation (from November 3, 2026): no. No high-wage add-on, and a job offer in it earns no CRS points.

TEER 2: Occupations that usually need a college diploma, an apprenticeship of 2 or more years, or supervisory duties. Every program has other requirements too, such as language test results and, for FSW, a points test.

Category-based draws

NOC 52121 is not on any of IRCC’s occupation category lists. You can still be invited in general, Canadian Experience Class or other program draws.

Category lists checked on canada.ca on 2026-10-17. IRCC category-based selection

CRS points for work in NOC 52121

Skilled Canadian work in this occupation earns the standard points, the same before and after November 3, 2026, with no high-wage add-on:

See Canadian work points and the median-wage rule.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Consult with clients to determine needs, preferences, safety requirements and purpose of space
• Develop detailed plans and 3-D models showing arrangement of walls, dividers, displays, lighting and other fixtures using computer-assisted design (CAD) software and graphics software
• Develop plans, elevations, cross sections and detailed drawings, and advise on selection of colours, finishes and materials, floor and wall coverings, window treatments, interior and exterior lighting, furniture and other items, taking into account ergonomic and occupational health standards
• Estimate costs and materials required and may advise on leasing, real estate and marketing
• Prepare plans and specifications for the final interior designs in accordance with current practices and codes
• Work in a multidisciplinary environment
• May direct site work crews and subcontractors.
• Interior designers are experts in the area of interior architecture, construction materials and building codes. They may specialize in designing interiors for residential, commercial, institutional, cultural and industrial buildings and for aircraft, ships or trains, trade shows and exhibitions. Interior decorators may specialize in decorating residential or commercial interior spaces, home staging, colour consulting and home organizing.

For Express Entry your duties must match the lead statement and most of the main duties above.

Example job titles

• aircraft interior designer
• interior decorator
• interior design technician
• interior designer
• kitchen designer
• office space planner
• retail space planner

Employment requirements

• Interior designers
• A university degree or college diploma in interior design is usually required.
• The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination may be required after six years of combined study and experience.
• Certification by a provincial institute or association is required to use protected titles related to interior designers in all provinces except Prince Edward Island.
• Interior decorators
• A college certificate or diploma in interior decoration is usually required.
• Membership in the Canadian Decorators' Association is available to qualified decorators.

Similar jobs with a different code

• 52120Graphic designers and illustrators
• 22211Industrial designers
• 73112Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) )
• 53123Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers