Celebrating Gabryela Passeto, NCIDQ

We’re proud to share that Gabryela Passeto has officially passed the NCIDQ exam, earning one of the most respected credentials in the interior design profession. With more than 20 years of experience in healthcare planning and design, this milestone is less about “catching up” and more about recognition, validation, and opening new doors.

When asked why she chose to pursue the NCIDQ certification at this point in her career, Gabryela was candid.

“I’ve been in this industry long enough that I value the importance of credentials—even though no credential could ever replace experience or knowledge of the work that we do.”

Like many seasoned professionals, licensure was never a straight line. Gabryela reflected on how common it is for architects and designers to delay or deprioritize exams, especially after years of school, demanding workloads, and growing personal responsibilities.

“You’re burnt out after college. You need the work experience. Then you layer in the time and commitment these exams take—when you have a social life, a growing family—it just never became a priority.”

In her role, signing drawings was never a requirement, and traditional architectural licensure didn’t feel essential. But interior design licensure was different.

“As a medical planner, being so intertwined with the interior fit-out of buildings, the NCIDQ process felt much more relatable.”

The NCIDQ exam covers many of the same core competencies that healthcare designers rely on every day: life safety, egress, codes, patient safety, and public welfare. While it doesn’t address site design or building envelopes, the principles of planning, design, and regulation remain deeply aligned with the work Gabryela does.

Interestingly, passing the exam didn’t suddenly make her a “better” designer.

“I don’t feel like it’s made me a better designer. If anything, it validated my experience.”

That validation matters—not only personally, but professionally. The certification reinforces the depth of knowledge Gabryela has built over decades and signals that expertise clearly to clients and collaborators.

“There’s a confidence level with our clients now. I can speak to more than one thing. It opens opportunities to work more closely with interiors and adds more layers to my skill set.”

Perhaps most importantly, Gabryela hopes her journey serves as encouragement for others.

“It’s never too late. If I can do it with my workload, so can they.”

Her achievement is a reminder that credentials and experience aren’t competing forces—they’re complementary. At Wilmot Sanz, we celebrate both.

Congratulations, Gabryela Passeto, NCIDQ. We’re grateful for your leadership, expertise, and continued commitment to excellence in healthcare design.