Interior Design regulation at the state level helps establish and maintain professional standards that protect the health, safety and welfare of the general public. IIDA firmly believes that legal recognition, achieved through registration or certification, brings uniformity to the profession, defines responsibility of an interior designer, and encourages excellence in the Interior Design industry.
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WRITE YOUR ELEVATOR PITCH
Does your mother know what you do? What about your friends? What about your co-workers? Come up with a few sentences that clearly and concisely communicate what you do as an interior designer. Then shout it from the rooftops! Educate anyone and everyone.
We Advocate
- To raise the bar, to ensure that qualified interior designers can practice to their fullest capabilities by providing them with the tools needed to succeed both independently and as part of a corporate partnership. Strengthening the profession benefits consumers by increasing competition and ensuring access for interior designers to work independently, as they are qualified to do, in non-structural, non-seismic code-based built environments.
- For using a combination of education, experience, and passage of the nationally recognized NCIDQ exam as the qualification requirements. We advocate to be recognized as “registered design professionals” as defined in the International Building Code, which will enable Registered Interior Designers equal access to the permitting process across the state.
- To eliminate the misunderstanding and misinformation of our profession, and to promote smart policies that move us forward together.
As Advocates
- As advocates, we must know how to talk about what we do as interior designers and find opportunities to share that knowledge with others. We must keep up with current best practices as they relate to environmental stewardship and social responsibility and we must understand how interior design regulation impacts the profession.
- When we, as interior designers, know how state laws impact us, we can be a more educated, stronger advocacy base to make real change for the interior design profession.
Informational Videos
Advocate Iowa
April 27, 2023 Iowa Governor signs Senate File SF 135 into law.
- This bill defines Registered interior design as the design of interior spaces as a part of an interior alteration or construction project including the preparation of interior technical submissions relating to space planning, finish materials, furnishings, fixtures, and equipment, and the preparation of documents relating to interior construction that does not affect the engineered systems of a building.
- Link to the signed bill HERE.
- Registered Interior Designers are qualified by education, experience, and examination to enhance the safety, function, and quality of interior spaces. We are trained to choose products that meet the functional needs of the end-user while understanding how those materials and systems behave in a fire, how they affect air quality, ergonomic issues, and other factors. We make sure a space satisfies accessibility, safety requirements, and applicable codes while being functional and aesthetically pleasing.
- Many commercial interior designers are ALREADY DOING the code research and space planning to meet code. These registered interior designers should take professional responsibility for their work.
- Registered Interior Designers have the education and experience to do the work necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public
- Registration is VOLUNTARY. This bill will not prevent anyone from doing the work they are doing today. Anyone can call themselves an interior designer and get paid for those services.
- In 2022, Illinois and Wisconsin have both taken the bill language developed by Iowa interior designers in collaboration with Iowa architects and have PASSED the bills into law in their states.
- Our accredited university programs (ISU, UNI) require a semester long class on codes related to interior design.
- The national professional exam (NCIDQ) is heavily weighted for code compliance. If you do not know the codes, you will not pass. If you do not pass, you cannot become a registered interior designer.
- This bill will encourage recent graduates to stay in our state after graduation by offering more career choices including creating their own business.
- This bill will increase competition for interior design services and lower costs for consumers. It will encourage small business development as registered interior designers could sign their own work and not have to pay another registered design professional for those services.
- This bill will increase economic opportunities to practice the profession of interior design to the fullest potential.
Get Registered
REGISTRATION IN IOWA: IOWA INTERIOR DESIGN EXAMINING BOARD (IDEB)
- Education, Application, and Resources found Here.
- Renew Registration
- Reinstate Registration
KEY REGISTRATION FACTS
- Current Iowa Law
- Type of Act: Title Act with Permitting Privileges
- Year Passed: 2005 - updated 2023
- Continuing Ed: 10 HSW
- Exam Required: NCIDQ
Resources
Find Iowa State Legislator here
Stacy Spale
IIDA
Advocate Nebraska
Nebraska Interior Design Bill
Nebraska has become the 29th state and 31st U.S. jurisdiction to institute reasonable regulation of the interior design profession. Legislative Bill 16 (LB 16) was passed by the Nebraska State Senate and signed into law by Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen on March 5, 2024.
Recent History of the bill:
November 2023: Senator Brewer’s office called two stakeholder meetings with all interested parties. It was decided not to pursue joining the A&E Board, and instead to be regulated under the State Treasurer’s office. The combined draft language was then sent to the Senator’s office, then to Bill Drafters.
January 20, 2024: LB 16 underwent a second reading, and the new language was added as an Amendment titled “The Interior Design Voluntary Registration Act,(AM 2120),” and the amendment passed the second reading 34-1.
February 29, 2024: Approved in a 42-1 final floor vote, LB 16 was amended to include language creating a voluntary registry for qualified interior designers to independently practice within the scope of work defined.
March 5th 2024 – Governor Jim Pillen signed the bill into law, securing stamp and seal privileges for interior designers in the state of Nebraska
Registration will be active January 1st, 2025. Registration is VOLUNTARY. This bill will not prevent anyone from doing the work they are doing today. Anyone can call themselves an interior designer and get paid for those services. Only Registered Interior Designers, and licensed Architects will have permitting privileges for interior non-structural renovation projects.
Terms to Know:
Registered Interior Designer: The majority of States use "Registered Interior Designer," while a smaller grouping uses "Certified Interior Designer," and a couple of states do use "Licensed Interior Designer." Licensed usually indicates practice acts or mandatory licensing while registered and certified typically indicate title acts or voluntary registration/certification systems. In Nebraska, we have a registry hence why the protected title is "Registered Interior Designers" or more generally "Registrants."
NCIDQ Certification is not a license because it is a voluntary professional distinction, and one that demonstrates professional competency (but is not necessary required to practice).
Certification represents an ongoing competency or appellation, whereas a certificate can sometimes indicate a one-and-done test or other once-taken program/distinction.
Get Registered
Register with the Nebraska State TreasurerNebraska Interior Design Registration GuideThe Interior Design Voluntary Registration ActNebraska interior design registration fact sheet
Nebraska Advocacy Committee
Stacy Spale, VP of Advocacy — Nebraska
Clark & Enersen | Lincoln, NE
Jessica Doolittle, HDR, Inc. | Omaha, NE
Allie Laurenzo, Holland Basham Architects | Omaha, NE
Heather Robbins, LEO A DALY | Omaha, NE
Documents
Find Nebraska stateLegislator here
