Commenter: Jennifer Rice, CIC, IIDA

SUPPORT Continued Regulation of Interior Design in Virginia

My name is Jennifer Rice. I am a Certified Interior Designer and small business owner in Richmond, Virginia. I write this comment in STRONG support of the continued regulation of the interior design profession in Virginia. I am a VCU graduate with a BFA in interior design, have passed the national standards of testing with NCIDQ and am proud that Virginia maintains a standard for my profession with Certification.

Eliminating regulation of interior design would harm Virginia Certified Interior Designers, interior design small business’s (many of which are owned by women and minorities) and other professional and design firms that employ interior designers.

• Eliminating the interior design regulation would prevent interior designers from serving on the board of architectural-interior design and interior design-only firms.
• Eliminating certification would bar Virginia interior designers from the ability to submit RFP’s (Request for Proposals) and RFQ’s (Request for Qualification) in the Commonwealth of Virginia and for Federal Government Projects for interior design services.
• Eliminating certification would exclude Virginia interior designers from job opportunities as interior designers with the Commonwealth, the Federal Government and any other state or locality that requires interior designers to be Certified.

Certification of interior designers in Virginia is not a practice law. No one is prohibited from practicing as an interior designer. Certified Interior Designer (CID) is a title. Those holding the title are held to a higher professional standard. While only certified interior designers may use the title “Certified”, any individual may contract with a client to render services as an interior designer, interior decorator or similar practitioner if the client so chooses. In January 2012, commission members targeted interior designers for decertification citing it as a reduction of barriers to business. This is simply not true.

Certification, which is voluntary, ensures a level of competence through education, experience and examination. Certified interior designers are prepared for projects involving the health, safety and welfare of the public. Certified interior designers are required to know handicapped-accessibility requirements, toxicity requirements for interior finishes, ergonomics, building and fire codes and other laws and regulations that are essential to the safe construction of public & other code-regulated buildings. This knowledge minimizes liability risk for clients and protects the health, safety and welfare of the public.

Decertification will negatively impact the health safety and welfare of Virginia citizens, add costs to the state and destroy many small businesses and professional advancement opportunities in Virginia. It is bad public policy.

I ask that you KEEP the regulation of the Interior Design profession in Virginia.