The ASID Self Testing Exercises for Pre-Professionals (STEP) program was founded in 1979 with the goal of offering emerging professionals advanced-level preparation for the NCIDQ exam. The mission then, as it still is today, was to provide designers study tips and best practices as well as insights on the type of information to expect on the exam, by giving a platform to work on sample questions and problems. Over the past 32 years, the program has grown and evolved in parallel with a changing industry and changing exam.

The Program
STEP was introduced in 1979 by then-incoming ASID President Wallace R. Jonason, FASID. His vision was to provide ASID members the best chance to further their careers by preparing them for the rigorous test known today as the NCIDQ Examination. After several years of leadership by ASID member John Alin in developing program materials, a STEP Leadership Committee was founded to oversee this essential role. The first instructors to shape this program were Robert Caudle, David Husak, Mark Karlen, Dorothy Peterson, Harvey Rosenberg, Curt Sherman, ASID, and Ed Starr, FASID. Over the years, numerous ASID members and staff have contributed to the program’s growth through the development of materials, scheduling and teaching workshops. It is through these great contributors that the program still exists—and continues to grow—today.

Today, STEP has moved from two separate workshops back to its original format of one combined 2.5 day workshop, with over 23 instruction hours covering both the Multiple Choice (Sections 1 and 2) and Practicum (Section 3) sections of the NCIDQ Examination. The workshop still provides sample problems and now includes an in-class mock version of the newest NCIDQ Examination and online practice multiple choice test.  The workshops provide participants with an in-depth evaluation of their strengths and weaknesses to guide preparation for the NCIDQ Examination.

The People
ASID remains committed to providing opportunities for those who will lead the profession of tomorrow through programs like STEP. We commend the dedication and volunteer service of all STEP instructors for lending their expertise to those who will shape tomorrow’s design community. We especially honor those essential instructors, profiled below, who have recently retired from the program. Thank you all for your years of service.

Dorothy Fowles, FASID/ Dr. Fowles has been actively involved as a STEP workshop leader for almost 25 years. She chaired the STEP committee, served as senior author of the workshop workbook for numerous years and served as the committee’s lighting specialist for many years.

Mark Karlen/ Dr. Karlen has been a STEP workshop leader since the program’s inception in 1979. A practicing architect and designer, in addition to chairing the committee and serving as an instructor for over 30 years, he has served as the committee’s Millwork specialist during material development.

Cheryl R. Myers, FASID/ A STEP workshop leader since 1984, Myers received her NCIDQ certificate in 1975 and is a registered interior designer in the state of Oklahoma. She has lent her talent and expertise on material development and in-class instruction for over 25 years.

Harvey Rosenberg/ Rosenberg was recruited to become Northeast coordinator and workshop leader for STEP in 1979. In the more than three decades since, he remained active on the STEP committee, including two terms as chair.

Curt Sherman/ Sherman has been a member of the ASID STEP Program since its inception, acting as chair as well as taking responsibility for the development of many aspects of the program. He has also served as a juror for NCIDQ and in 1982 completed a program review for the organization.

Judith A. Verges, FASID/ Verges, who has been a STEP leader since 2000, has obtained her NCIDQ certificate and is a Registered Interior Designer in Louisiana.  Her service to ASID has been on the local, regional and national levels, serving as South Central chapter President, chair of the Student Advisory Council and of the STEP Committee. She has also served on the IDEP Committee for NCIDQ.