DON'T FORGET THE LEGISLATION: INTERIOR DESIGN LEGISLATION

For the past few weeks I have been discussing contemporary topics that affect the interior design profession. This week I am going to continue the topic with one of the most important topics for current and future interior designers. I have said in the past that there is a difference between interior decorators and interior designers. Legislation is so important to the people who received a degree in interior design. Without legislation, any person could call themselves "interior designers". To further explain this, if you are like me and are getting your four year degree in interior design you wouldn't want someone to say they were a designer if they didn't go to school, get a degree and take 3 or 4 tests to be certified would you? Well this is what is happening in the design world today. Legislation allows designers to call themselves Interior Designers if they have been certified and have a degree. Not every state has passed this law though. Careers in Interior Design states that, "twenty-five states and jurisdictions have enacted some type of interior design legislation. Of these, 16 have title acts and six have practice acts. California has adopted self-certification law and Colorado has a permitting statute". Below are definitions of Title and Practice Act, Self-Certification and Permitting Statute which was found on careersininteriordesign.com

TITLE ACT
"Regulates the use of a title, such as “registered interior designer” and is enacted in order to raise public awareness of the qualifications of professional interior designers in that particular state. Several U.S. states use the title “certified interior designer” in place of “registered interior designer” and four states and Ontario use the title “interior designer.” Title acts do not require individuals to become licensed in order to practice interior design, nor do they restrict an individual from providing the service of interior design. A person cannot, however, advertise or represent themselves as a “registered” interior designer unless he or she meets the minimum education, experience and examination requirements established in that state/province, and he or she fully applies for use of the state-regulated title with the proper state board or provincial association." (careersininteriordesign.com)

PRACTICE ACT
"A type of law that requires an individual to have a license in order to practice a profession. Practice acts prohibit the performance of professional services by anyone not licensed by the state agency charged with the duty of regulating that profession. Practice Acts also regulate a designated title (e.g., “registered interior designer,” “licensed interior designer,” “interior designer”) and often regulate other terminology as well (e.g., “interior design” and “interior design services.”)"(careersininteriordesign.com)

SELF-CERTIFICATION
"Self-certification is like a title act because it regulates the use of a title. The difference between a title act and self-certification is the entity in control of the title. In title acts, the state controls the use of the title through a state board typically appointed by the governor. In self-certification, however, the title is controlled by an independent professional organization whose board members are appointed by interior design professionals. The state has very little oversight over self-certification. California is the only jurisdiction with a self-certification law."(careersininteriordesign.com)

PERMITTING STATUTE
"Colorado’s interior design law is classified as a permitting statute. There is no state board and there is no title that is regulated. The law is an amendment to the architectural statute, adding an exemption for interior designers who have met the education, experience and examination requirements to submit plans for building permits."(careersininteriordesign.com)

I found this map through research and it further defines the areas that have passed the legislation and who are working on it.