Our Campaign!
Interior designers, architects, and building construction professionals are joining together in a grassroots campaign for safer and healthier Oregon buildings. We are working to establish licensure for commercial interior designers – designers responsible for large occupant buildings and public spaces, such as hospitals, universities, theaters, senior long-term care homes, and more.
Top three reasons to license commercial interior designers:
1. Consumer protection: Oregonians deserve qualified interior designers that ensure the health, safety, and welfare of occupants.
2. Good for business: Increase small business opportunities in and outside Oregon, support large firms, and promote women in business.
3. Green future: Qualified interior designers are committed to and trained in sustainable, healthy, energy-efficient practices that reduce waste and toxins.
Learn more about Oregon State Legislation (click)
Find information on how a bill becomes a law, who your representatives are and other answers to your questions about how our legislative process works in Oregon.
You are the heart of our campaign!
Reach out to your legislators today using one of our letter of support templates (download from the left sidebar) or craft a personal message in support of licensing.
Find your Legislator
Write to your Legislator
Why?
We believe regulation of the interior design profession safeguards the health, safety, and welfare of the general public and environment, unifies the profession, defines responsibility, and encourages excellence. Read more about our history.
Oregon’s Commercial Interior Design Licensing Bill
The proposed bill would allow professionals to obtain a state license in order to offer independent commercial interior design services.
What are the qualifications to become a State Registered Licensed Interior Designer?
The key elements that define any licensed profession are education, experience, and examination.
Education
Our bill requires a minimum of a Bachelors or Masters degree in Interior Design or Interior Architecture. These programs are comprehensive in delivering a knowledge base in theory, history, psychology, construction, design, and codes. This assures that interior designers have a good foundation of skill to build onto throughout their careers. See Education Resources.
Experience
In preparation for the licensing exam, interior designers should have well rounded practical experience in a variety of subject areas. We require at least two years of experience as outlined by the Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) Interior Design Experience Program (IDEP.) Registration with IDEP is not necessary, but complying with the hours and subject areas as outlined in the IDEP is required. See Experience Resources.
Examination
The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) is the most comprehensive exam for an interior designer’s body of knowledge. This is the base level exam for licensing. Registered Interior Design applicants may take additional exams for their specialty practice areas if they wish to expand upon their credentials. See Exam Resources.
Continuing Education
Once licensed, Registered Interior Designers must complete 10 hours of continuing education per year, with a minimum of 5 hours in the subject areas of health, safety, and welfare. See CEU Resources.
How does this affect me?
What is grandfathering?
A grandfather clause is an exception that allows an old rule to continue to apply to some existing situations, when a new rule will apply to all future situations. A well balanced grandfathering period is provided for in the legislation for those who are already practicing interior design, construction, and architecture in the State of Oregon.
What exemptions are provided?
We respect all practitioners of the interior design profession. The Proposed Bill will not preclude anyone from calling oneself an interior designer, but will create a new category of "Registered Interior Designer". The legislation will define the services Registered Interior Designers practice relative to public health, safety, and welfare , while the exemptions identify both individuals who do not need to be licensed to practice commercial interior design and the type of interior design services that do not need a licensed interior designer. The legislation will not impact a company if there is an Oregon registered architect or registered professional engineer on staff.
Exemptions are outlined in the bill and include:
- Single family residential design not subject to building codes and regulations
- Architects and Landscape Architects licensed under ORS 671
- Contractors licensed under ORS Chapter 701
- Employees of retail establishments providing design consultation or sales
- Employees employed under the supervision of a registered interior designer, registered architect, registered engineer,
or licensed construction contractor.
- Town home and condo units not subject to building codes and regulations
Still have questions? Contact us to Schedule a Brown Bag Information Session.
So if the Bill passed...What's next?
If an interior design licensing bill is passed, the exact next step is dependent on the final language of the bill. The final draft of the bill will determined the type of regulatory board the interior design profession would fall within. IDC-Oregon focuses on general timelines set by National Interior Design Regulation precedents and by holding local legislative brownbag meetings and obtaining feedback from working professionals in Oregon. The finalization of the bill as well as the actual timing of the implementation, however, is determined by the legislature, the legislative council, and professionals represented by IDC-Oregon.
Here is one example of the process if an interior design licensing bill is passed:
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