At its September meeting,
the AIA Board reaffirmed its public policies and position statement concerning
professional licensure and the regulation of practitioners within the
design community. The AIA Board recognized the contribution of interior
designers as valued colleagues while acknowledging there is no current
justification to support a change in existing policies, maintaining that
protection of public health, safety, and welfare is the primary reason
for licensing.
The AIA’s extensive review effort stemmed in part from the withdrawal
in 1999 of the two primary organizations representing the interior-design
community from a mutual accord with the AIA intended to define regulatory
standards for interior-design title registration. Beyond considering extensive
input from its members and component organizations across the country,
the AIA examined the state of existing credentialing programs and standards
relevant to interior design. It also reviewed available state governmental
assessments of existing interior-design regulatory programs. The AIA Board
concluded that current education, experience, and examination requirements
for interior designers do not meet necessary thresholds for the imperative
role of a regulated profession, implicit in state licensing laws, to protect
public health, safety, and welfare.
In reaffirming its policy, the AIA Board underlines the responsibility
to preserve qualification thresholds for public health, safety, and welfare
that are established in state licensing laws and commits the AIA to advocate
that responsibility. Furthermore, the AIA Board acknowledges and encourages
the desire among leaders within the interior-design community to establish
higher standards regarding interior-design education, experience, and
examination. The AIA Board also encourages discussion and collaboration
with interior design organizations to consider professional credentialing
policies for the benefit of the public’s health, safety, and welfare.
Copyright 2003 The American Institute of Architects.
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