Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
 
Board
Board for Professional and Occupational Regulation
 
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9/4/20  12:30 pm
Commenter: Teresita Mazariegos

In Support to the Continued Regulation of Interior Design in Virginia
 

My name is Teri Mazariegos and I live in Maryland but have clients in Virginia and have lived in VA as well... I write this comment in STRONG support of the continued regulation of the interior design profession in Virginia.

 

I think eliminating the certification would not only be damaging to designers but also to clients who may not be well versed in a designer's educational background, and how a decorator is different than a true trained designer.

 

How it can affect designers:
– In order to hold a position on a corporate board for a “Professional Corporation,” the employee must be licensed or certified in their profession by the Commonwealth. Eliminating the interior design regulation would prevent interior designers from serving on the board of architectural-interior design and interior design-only firms.
– RFPs (Request for Proposals) and RFQs (Request for Qualifications) in the Commonwealth of Virginia and for Federal Government Projects that include Interior Design Services require that the Interior Designer providing these services be a Certified Interior Designer. Eliminating the regulation would bar Virginia interior designers from submitting for these proposals.
– Job postings for Interior Designers in the Commonwealth and for Federal departments typically require an Interior Designer to be a Certified Interior Designer. Eliminating the regulation would exclude Virginia interior designers from these opportunities.
 
 
how it can affect clients:
Eliminating the Interior Design statute would also harm the Commonwealth. Being a Certified Interior Designer in the Commonwealth provides the public with knowledge that a minimum set of requirements, including education, experience, and testing, has been met. Certified Interior Designers do complex design drafting work in large public and code-regulated spaces like hotels, hospitals, corporate offices, and multifamily housing where public life-safety is implicated. CIDs have a knowledge of building codes, standards, and other laws and regulations that are essential to the safe construction of public and other code-regulated buildings.
 
The certification renewal process also ensures that designers stay informed and continue to train in their field. 
 
Kindly consider this request for the wellness and safety of VA citizens.
 
Thank you,
 
Teri Mazariegos, NCIDQ/Certified Designer/ASID
 
CommentID: 84444