The Professional Interior Designer is a person qualified by education, experience, and examination who:

• Analyzes the client's needs, goals, and safety requirements
• Integrates findings with knowledge of interior design 
• Formulates preliminary design concepts that are appropriate, functional, and aesthetic
• Develops and presents final design recommendations through appropriate presentation media
• Prepares working drawings and specification for non-load bearing interior construction, materials, finishes, space planning, furnishing, fixture and equipment
• Collaborates with licensed practitioners who offer professional services in the technical areas of mechanical, electrical, and load-bearing design as required for regulatory approval
• Prepares and administers bids and contract documents as the client's agent
• Reviews and evaluates design solutions during implementation and upon completion

National and regional groups have attempted to create standards for professional practice.

The groups that investigate and qualify interior design programs and that develop educational standards in America are the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ), the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER), the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC), the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), the Institute of Business Designers (IBD), the Institute of Store Planners (ISP), and the Interior Designers of Canada (IDC), Many of these groups have been represented on a committee working with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to establish and refine a standarad contract document for interior design work.