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The title “Certified Interior Designer” is now protected in the State of
California. Governor Gray Davis signed Senate Bill 136 into law on Thursday, October 4, 2001. This law will become effective January 1, 2002.
Under the new statute, the current certification program will continue until
January 1, 2004 unless a new statute enacted prior to that date extends it. The new statute also makes it an unfair business practice for anyone to represent himself, or herself, as a “Certified Interior
Designer”, unless they have complied with the requirements of the statute.
What this means to all current certified interior designers in good standing is
that this is now the only official title recognized under California law for interior designers in the state, and any one found using the title without having met the requirements can be prosecuted by
the Attorney General's office, or by local District Attorney's offices, under the unfair business practices section of the California Business and Professions Code.
What this means to consumers in California now is that only those individuals
who have demonstrated that they have met the standards of Section 5800 of the Business and Professions Code may use the title of Certified Interior Designer. Hiring a Certified Interior Designer will go
a long way to ensuring to the consumer that they are hiring a qualified professional who has met the minimum requirements as stated by law.
CCIDC will continue to administer the interior design certification program and
will prepare a report as requested by the legislature to be submitted to the Joint Legislative Sunset Review Committee by September 1, 2002 on outreach efforts, examinations, finances, interactions of
the organization, and materials and information.
CCIDC will continue to go through the process of working closely with the
legislature to inform them of the issues and concerns facing Certified Interior Designers with respect to their profession, and to work closely with California consumers in educating them on the
differences in hiring qualified professionals and the benefits they derive by doing so.
This bill is a positive first step towards more significant recognition of the
interior design profession here in California.
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