FAQ
Interior Designers are already NCIDQ certified which should be good enough. They shouldn't require additional registration to prove qualifications.
IBC2000 language is more supportive of registered interior designer as title.
A title act for interior designers will just promote the practice of architecture by untrained designers.
The passage of title act legislation for interior designers has no bearing whatsoever on the issue of unauthorized practice of architecture. Twenty-six (26) states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have enacted interior design legislation, including the bordering states of Iowa, Colorado and Missouri. We are not aware of any data from these states that suggests that the passage of the legislation increased unlicensed architectural practice by interior designers. The purpose of an interior designer title act is two-fold: a) It will provide consumers with the means to identify interior designers who are educated in and have demonstrated competence in the application of laws, codes, regulations, and standards that relate to interior environments, and b) A title act will ensure that "registered interior designers" meet the IBC definition of a "registered design professional." This allows interior designers to continue to prepare and submit interior design documents to building code officials for permit review.
Interior designers have minimal involvement in primary life safety issues of interior environments; and therefore, registration is not needed for public protection.
There is no record of abuse or public demand for protection. Interior designers perform services which affect the safety, function, and quality of residential, commercial, educational, and institutional interior spaces and have significant involvement in life safety issues. Interior designers are educated with regard to national, state, and local building codes and standards as they relate to nonstructural interior design. At the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, interior design students take a course with the architectural students concerning code requirements. Approximately 32% of the interior designers' national certification exam (NCIDQ), which Nebraska "registered interior designers" would be required to pass, directly measures knowledge of life, health and safety issues. The Codes/Standards Knowledge content area includes questions on life safety, building codes, barrier-free design and testing standards. This legislation would enable consumers and design professionals to easily identify designers who are educated with regard to life, health and safety issues and who have met standards of competency for the interior design profession.
Interior designers who wish to work in a state where licensing is required can simply become licensed in that state.
States that have enacted interior design legislation have their own specific requirements for registration. To require Nebraska designers to become registered or licensed in each state that has enacted interior design legislation before they can work in that state puts them at a competitive disadvantage with designers from states that have enacted legislation with reciprocity provisions.
The Nebraska Interior Design Title Act contains "practice-act" type of provisions, and suggests that this is a "conscious attempt to position the title act as a subsequent stepping stone to a practice act."
The proposed legislation is a title act, not a practice act. The bill does not, in any manner, restrict or prohibit individuals from performing interior design services or from calling themselves interior designers, whether they are licensed architects, interior designers, or interior decorators. Nor does the bill mandate registration of interior designers - registration is purely voluntary. The IDCN bill establishes the title "Registered Interior Designer" and provides for the registration of interior designers who have satisfied education, experience, and examination requirements which demonstrate their competency and specialized knowledge in life, health and safety issues relating to interior design. Interior designers who meet these requirements would be eligible to obtain a certificate of registration, which authorizes them to use the title and represent themselves to the public as a "Registered Interior Designer." Additionally, when the IDCN met with Nebraska AIA Government Affairs Committee, the GAC expressed concern with the use of the word "licensure" in the original draft of the bill. In response to their concerns, the word "licensure" or any form of the word "license" has been removed from the most current amendments, dated 2/28/06. The word "Registration" is now used.
Architects could be required to take an additional exam to qualify for registration as and interior designer.
An architect will not be required to take any additional exam in order to qualify for the title of "registered interior designer." Section 4 (3) reads: "The secretary of state shall grant registration to those who hold a valid license in Architecture in the state of Nebraska. An architect licensed as such in this state who has met the requirements of subdivisions (1) (d) and (e) of section 4 of this act shall be deemed to have fulfilled the education, experience, and examination requirements of the act and may hold himself or herself out as a registered interior designer." Subdivisions (1) (d) and (e) of section 4 read: "(d) Submission of the required registration fee; and (e) Submission of a signed code of ethics as approved by the Secretary of State."
Architects should not be expected to pay additional fees to become registered interior designers. If an architect has been providing interior design services, why should they be expected to pay a fee to perform the same work?
The proposed Nebraska Interior Design Title Act is solely a title act and does not restrict anyone from performing interior design services. Section 1(3) reads: "Registered interior designer means a person who is a registered design professional qualified by education, experience, and examination pursuant to the act." An architect would not be required to become a registered interior designer to continue to practice interior design. If an architect sees value in becoming registered, the registration fee (Section 3(3)) "shall not exceed two hundred fifty dollars per registrant per calendar year." Of the over 25 states that have interior design registration laws, the majority of fees are less than $100 per year.
Having a title act for interior design will raise insurance costs for architects.
A title act for interior design does not affect the insurance premiums for architects. If an architect performs interior design services, this does not in any way impact their insurance or their liability. The bill in no way changes the practice of architecture or interior design. It is simply a title act.
The interior design education in the bill is too weak in that it requires only four years of design education in an accredited degree program compared to an accredited architectural masters degree that requires 5 or 6 years to qualify for the Architectural Registration Exam.
Interior design and architecture are related yet different professions. Each profession has its own organization which sets differing standards for education. In defining and regulating the profession of interior design, our organization looks to the regulations set by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), the equivalent in architecture to the National Council for Architectural Registration Board (NCARB), to determine what the highest standard of education is for interior design. These qualifications would be met within a four year program. However, it is not the number of years that is the only qualifier, it is the quality and relevance of the course work covered in that time.
Who assumes responsibility and who is liable for the interior design work that is performed?
Liability depends on the scope of work. If the work is performed within the regulations of architecture as set by the state of Nebraska, then the architect signing the documents is ultimately liable. However, there is work performed by interior designers for commercial and residential projects that does not under state law require the signature of an architect. In this case, the interior designer would be accountable. Because there is no law to prohibit an interior designer, or anyone for that matter, from performing interior design services, there are no legal consequences. However, under the bill, the Secretary of State would be able to "revoke, suspend, or refuse to issue or renew a registration of any person" licensed under the law. |
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