I am a registered interior designer working in the Norfolk area. My work is mostly in government/military jobs and it is vital to me and my profession that Virginia keeps the certification program. There is an extensive knowledge base a certified interior designer needs to have on materials, how the finishes are made, environmental aspects of what is being selected, inner workings of furniture systems and how everything relates to the building shell. Interior designers specify everything the public touches, feels and sees in a building and therefore must have specific knowledge of what materials are appropriate in a public setting. Interior designers manage the health, safety and welfare of the public that interacts in the spaces. That is a responsibility that should only be given to individuals that have proven themselves knowledgeable in these specific areas.  Continued regulation is so important to the profession, industry, and consumers. I ask you to not eliminate the regulation of this profession.