ID Legislation & TBAE

The career path of a professional Interior Designer involves formal education, entry-level work experience, and a national qualifying examination [NCIDQ Exam]. Before you can even apply to take the exam, entry-level work experience is required. State and provincial licensing boards now require proof of quality interior design experience for licensure and/or registration, and legislative rules vary from state to state.

Outcomes from the 2017 / 85th Texas Legislature Regular Session

The following excerpt was taken from the July 2017 issue of TBAE’s Licensing News newsletter:

Test-passing deadline for “grandfathered” RIDs extended by 10 years, and new paths to registration as a Texas RID

Before adjourning in late May, the 85th Texas Legislature amended state law regarding the test-passing requirement for some “grandfathered” Registered Interior Designers (RIDs) which became law four years ago. The deadline for passing all sections of the NCIDQ exam, for those who have not yet done so, was extended by ten years from September 1 of this year to September 1, 2027.

House Bill 1657 was enrolled and signed into law by Governor Abbott on June 15. If you are currently regis- tered and have not yet passed all sections of the NCIDQ exam, the effect of the change in statute is simple. You will now have until September 1, 2027 to pass all sections of the NCIDQ examination and may continue to renew your registration until that date whether you sit for and pass the exam or not. Once you do pass the examination, you may continue to renew your registration indefinitely.

Along with the ten-year extension for passing the NCIDQ examination, the Legislature also passed SB 1932, which increases the number of paths to registration as a Texas RID. For years, the only path to licensure as an RID for almost all aspirants has been to graduate from a program accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), earn the required experience, and pass the NCIDQ exam. As of September 1, 2017, any of the routes provided by CIDQ will qualify aspiring RIDs for registration. TBAE will amend its rules soon to align with the new laws passed this spring, so look for more information on this development in short order.

Texas & Interior Design Legislation

The Texas Board of Architectural Examiners [TBAE] is the multi-profession regulatory agency that oversees the examination, registration, and professional regulation of architects, registered interior designers, and landscape architects in the state of Texas. If you are not yet registered in Texas and want to find out if you qualify either by Examination or by Reciprocity, please go here to find out more.

TBAE requires that every year a Registered Interior Designer must accrue a total of twelve (12) Continuing Education Program Hours [CEPHs]. All of these educational hours must have to do with the health, safety and welfare [HSW] of the public. Please go to our CEUs & CEPHs page to find out many more important details regarding continuing education requirements.

In a 06/22/2015 email to TBAE registrants, TBAE reported that the active renewal fee for these groups will be $200 lower:

By far, the successful proposal [from the 84th Texas Legislature] of the widest and most direct impact to TBAE registrants was a provision of HB 7. A small section of that bill repeals a statutory $200 fee on every Active status renewal and newly issued license, including all three professions regulated by TBAE (and several other types of professionals).

This $200 “professional fee” formerly passed directly to the state’s General Revenue and Foundation School Fund, so this legislation has no fiscal impact on the agency itself. In effect, as of September 1 of this year, an in-state Active renewal will drop from $305 to $105, and a reciprocal renewal will drop from $400 to $200. This legislation was signed into law by Governor Abbott on June 15 [2015].

Texas Interior Design Legislation Advocacy

The Texas Association for Interior Design [TAID] is an association representing all the business and legislative aspects of the interior design industry in Texas, and anyone paying dues to ($75 annually) and supporting the goals of TAID may be a member, regardless of whether or not he or she is an interior designer or is even in the design industry.

TAID’s Mission is to:

1. Promote the common interest of the industry
2. Effectively communicate concerns to government
3. Provide information and education to members
4. Protect the Health, Safety and Welfare of the Public

TAID is not a professional organization like ASID, but members of ASID – as well as members of IIDA, other professional organizations, and non-affiliated designers – are members of TAID.

Note that “TAID” is not a proper appellation to use behind your name.