The continuing education required as a condition for
registration renewal under the Registered Interior Designers Act [225 ILCS
310 ] is set forth in this Section. All registrations
shall meet these requirements.
a)
Continuing Education Requirements
1) Beginning
with the August 31, 2025, renewal, and every renewal thereafter, in order to
renew a registration, a registrant shall be required to complete 10 hours of
continuing education (CE) relevant to the profession of interior design, or be
exempt from the CE requirements, as provided in subsection (i). Failure to
comply with these requirements will result in non-renewal of the registrant's
registration, other disciplinary action, or both.
A) One hour of the total CE hours required
shall be in Sexual Harassment Prevention Training, which shall meet the
requirements of 68 Ill. Adm. Code
1130.400. A registrant
completing a course on sexual harassment prevention developed or offered by the
Illinois Department of Human Rights, offered by the registrant's employer or an
acceptable provider listed within this Section, that complies with the minimum
training requirements specified in Section 2-109 of the Illinois Human Rights
Act [
775
ILCS 5 ] may count that course toward the one-hour
requirement under this Section.
B)
One hour of the total CE hours required shall pertain to the subjects of
professional conduct and/or interior design professional
ethics.
2) A pre-renewal
period is the 24 months preceding September 1 of each odd-numbered year. All CE
hours must be completed during the pre-renewal period.
3) All required CE hours may be completed
online; however, each self-administered course shall include an examination
that will be graded by the sponsor.
4) A CE hour means a minimum of 50 minutes of
technical instruction or participation. No credit will be allowed for
introductory remarks, meals, breaks or administrative matters related to
courses of study. If the program involves one or more hours of education,
credit may be issued in one-half hour increments.
5) Registered interior designers registered
in Illinois but residing and practicing in other states must comply with the CE
requirements set forth in this Section.
6) The CE hours used to satisfy the CE
requirements in another jurisdiction may also be used to satisfy the CE
requirements of this Section so long as the CE activities meet the requirements
of this Section.
b) All
CE programs, activities or courses shall emphasize health, safety and welfare
subjects and:
1) Contribute to the
advancement, extension or enhancement of the professional skills and/or
scientific knowledge of the profession of interior design;
2) Foster the enhancement of general or
specialized practice and values of interior design, related professions and
interior design ethics;
3) Be
developed and presented by persons with education and/or experience in the
subject matter of the program; and
4) Specify the course objectives and course
content.
c) CE Activities
shall include, but are not limited to:
1)
Successful completion of courses, programs, presentations, meetings, seminars,
etc., relevant to the profession of interior design or architecture. Credit
will be given for self-study courses only if an examination has been completed
by the registrant and graded by the sponsor.
2) Successful completion of higher education
courses in interior design or architecture taken at college or university
programs accredited by NASAD or CIDA. One CE hour per credit hour earned (not
the actual hours spent in class) may be awarded.
3) Presenting a course, program, etc., as
listed in subsection (c)(1) will receive twice the listed CE credit given for
said course, program, etc., but shall only be accepted for the first offering
or presentation. Full-time faculty may not claim teaching credit associated
with their regular duties.
4)
Authoring published papers, articles, books, or accepted registration
examination items. Two CE hours may be awarded per paper, article, etc., and a
maximum of four CE hours will be awarded per pre-renewal period.
5) Active participation in educational
outreach activities that involve K-12 or higher education students which
pertain to professional registration or the interior design profession. One
hour of CE will be given per each one hour of outreach activities participation
and a maximum of three CE hours may be awarded per pre-renewal
period.
6) Active participation on
a board or committee in professional or technical societies or in accrediting
organizations relating to interior design. Two CE hours will be awarded per
committee membership or office held and a maximum of four CE hours will be
awarded per pre-renewal period.
d) The Division shall not pre-approve
individual courses or programs.
e)
Acceptable providers for continuing education activities shall include, but not
be limited to:
1) American Society of Interior
Designers (ASID);
2) International
Interior Designer Association (IIDA);
3) Council of Interior Design Qualification
(CIDQ);
4) International Design
Continuing Education Council (IDCEC);
5) American Institute of Architects
(AIA);
6) Green Building
Certification Institute (GBCI);
7)
International Facility Management Association (IFMA);
8) National Kitchen and Bath Association
(NKBA);
9) Colleges, universities,
or other educational institutions;
10) Technical or professional societies or
organizations including manufacturers relating to interior design.
f) The Division may conduct random
audits of registrants to verify compliance with this Section.
g) For auditing or restoration purposes, it
shall be the responsibility of a registrant to maintain a record of CE hours
for six years that includes:
1) Documentation
consisting of:
A) the name and address of the
sponsor or provider;
B) the number
of CE hours attended in each program;
C) the date and place of the program,
including a certificate of attendance; and
D) a brief statement of the subject matter,
printed program schedules, registration receipts or other proof of
participation; or
2)
Transcripts or records of CE hours maintained by an acceptable provider as set
forth in subsection (e).
h) Certification of Compliance with CE
Requirements
1) Each renewal applicant shall
certify, on the renewal application, full compliance with the CE requirements
set forth in this Section.
2) The
Division may require additional evidence demonstrating compliance with the CE
requirements as set forth in subsection (f). This additional evidence shall be
required in the context of the Division's random audit. It is the
responsibility of each renewal applicant to retain or otherwise produce
evidence of compliance.
3) When
there appears to be a lack of compliance with CE requirements, a registrant
shall be notified in writing and may request an interview with the Board. At
that time the Board may recommend that steps be taken to begin formal
disciplinary proceedings in accordance with Section 10-65 of the Illinois
Administrative Procedure Act [5 ILCS 100
].
i) Waiver of CE
Requirements
A registrant may be exempt from CE requirements if one of the
following situations occurs. If an exemption is claimed, it is required that
the renewal fee an any documentation needed to support the exemption be
submitted for renewal of a registration. Waiver requests must be made before
the end of the renewal period. Waiver requests sent after the end of the
renewal period shall not be considered.
1) A registrant shall not be required to
report CE hours during the first biennial renewal period in which the
registrant obtained initial registration in Illinois but shall be subject to
the CE requirements for all subsequent biennial renewal periods.
2) Waiver Requests. Registrants may submit a
waiver request in the following circumstances:
A) A registrant who is on full-time active
duty in the military service or Armed Forces of the United States or is a
registrant who is called to temporary active duty in the military service or
Armed Forces of the United States for a period of time exceeding 120
consecutive days during the renewal period, when that activity or location
restricts participation in a CE program or activity.
B) A registrant who demonstrates to the
satisfaction of the Division that meeting these requirements would be an undue
hardship by reason of disability, illness, or other clearly mitigating
circumstances shall submit supporting documentation.
i) The documentation shall be in the form of
a sworn statement by the registrant, statement from a licensed healthcare
provider, or medical record showing the disability, illness, or circumstance
preventing the registrant's participation in the CE program or activity during
a substantial part of the renewal period.
ii) If the Division finds undue hardship is
demonstrated, the Division will waive enforcement, extend the time within which
the applicant shall comply, or establish a particular program or schedule of CE
for the renewal period in which the undue hardship existed.
iii) Consecutive waiver requests made for
reasons of disability, illness, or other circumstances may be prima facie
evidence for non-renewal of applicant's registration based on an inability to
actively engage in the registered profession.
3) Any renewal applicant who, prior to the
expiration date of the registration, submits a request for a waiver, in whole
or in part, pursuant to the provisions of this subsection (i) shall be deemed
to be in good standing until a final decision on the application is made by the
Division.