CHAPTER 544C
REGISTERED INTERIOR DESIGNERS

  544C.1  Definitions.
  As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
  1.  “Board” means the interior design examining board established pursuant to this chapter.
  2.  “Bureau” means the professional licensing and regulation bureau of the banking division of the department of commerce.
  3.  “Interior design” means the design of interior spaces including the preparation of documents relating to space planning, finish materials, furnishings, fixtures, and equipment, and the preparation of documents relating to interior construction that does not affect the mechanical or structural systems of a building. “Interior design” does not include services that constitute the practice of architecture or the practice of professional engineering.
  4.  “Registered interior designer” means a person registered under this chapter.
2005 Acts, ch 104, §2
; 
2006 Acts, ch 1177, §45

  544C.2  Establishment of interior design examining board.
  1.  An interior design examining board is established within the bureau. The board consists of seven members:  five members who are interior designers who are registered under this chapter and who have been in the active practice of interior design for not less than five years, the last two of which shall have been in Iowa; and two members who are not registered under this chapter and who shall represent the general public. Members shall be appointed by the governor subject to confirmation by the senate.
  2.  Professional associations or societies composed of interior designers may recommend the names of potential board members to the governor, but the governor is not bound by the recommendations. A board member is not required to be a member of any professional association or society composed of registered interior designers.
  3.  Appointments shall be for three-year terms and shall commence and end as provided in section 69.19. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment of the governor and shall require senate confirmation. Members shall serve no more than three terms or nine years, whichever is less.
2005 Acts, ch 104, §3
; 
2006 Acts, ch 1177, §46
Confirmation, see §2.32 

  544C.3  Duties of the board.
  1.  The duties of the board shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
  a.  Administering and enforcing this chapter.
  b.  Establishing requirements for the examination, education, and practical training of applicants for registration.
  c.  Holding meetings each year for the purpose of transacting business pertaining to the affairs of the board. Action at a meeting shall not be taken without the affirmative votes of a majority of members of the board.
  d.  Adopting rules under chapter 17A necessary for the proper performance of its duties. The rules shall include provisions addressing conflicts of interest and full disclosure, including sources of compensation.
  e.  Establishing fees for registration as a registered interior designer, renewal of registration, reinstatement of registration, and for other activities of the board pertaining to its duties. The fees shall be sufficient to defray the costs of administering this chapter, and shall be deposited in the general fund of the state.
  f.  Maintaining records, which are open to public inspection at all reasonable times, of its proceedings relating to the issuance, refusal, renewal, suspension, and revocation of registration. The records shall also contain a roster indicating the name, place of business and residence, and the date and registration number of every registrant.
  2.  The administrator of the bureau shall provide staff to assist the board in the implementation of this chapter.
2005 Acts, ch 104, §4
; 2006 Acts, ch 1177, §47
; 2012 Acts, ch 1023, §157

  544C.4  Expenses — compensation.
  The members of the board are entitled to be reimbursed for the actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties within the limits of the funds appropriated to the board. Each member of the board may also be eligible to receive compensation as provided in section 7E.6.
2005 Acts, ch 104, §5

  544C.5  Qualifications for registration.
  Each applicant for registration must meet the interior design education and practical training requirements adopted by rule by the board, and have passed an examination prescribed by the board that is task-oriented, focused on public safety, and validated by a recognized testing agency. The bureau shall register an individual who submits an application to the board on the form and in the manner prescribed by the board as a registered interior designer if the individual satisfies the following requirements:
  1.  Submits written proof that the individual has successfully passed the national council for interior design qualification examination, or its equivalent.
  2.  Has completed any of the following:
  a.  Four years of interior design education plus two years of full-time work experience in interior design.
  b.  Three years of interior design education plus three years of full-time work experience in interior design.
  c.  Two years of interior design education plus four years of full-time work experience in interior design.
  3.  Submits the required registration fee to the board.
2005 Acts, ch 104, §6
; 
2006 Acts, ch 1177, §48

  544C.6  Reciprocal registration.
  The board may also grant registration by reciprocity. An applicant applying to the board for registration by reciprocity shall furnish satisfactory evidence that the applicant meets both of the following requirements:
  1.  Holds a valid registration or license issued by another registration authority recognized by the board, where the qualifications for registration or licensure were substantially equivalent to those prescribed in this state on the date of original registration or licensure with the other registration authority.
  2.  Holds a current certificate number issued by the national council for interior design qualification.
2005 Acts, ch 104, §7

  544C.7  Registration issuance.
  When an applicant has complied with the qualifications for registration in section 544C.5 or 544C.6 to the satisfaction of a majority of the members of the board and has paid the fees prescribed by the board, the board shall enroll the applicant’s name and address in the roster of registered interior designers and issue to the applicant a registration certificate, signed by the officers of the board. The certificate shall entitle the applicant to use the title “registered interior designer” in this state.
2005 Acts, ch 104, §8

  544C.8  Continuing education.
  A registered interior designer shall, at the time of application for renewal of a certificate of registration, submit proof of completion of continuing education requirements established by rules adopted by the board.
2005 Acts, ch 104, §9

  544C.9  Revocation, suspension, and nonissuance of registration.
  1.  The board may revoke, suspend, or refuse to issue or renew the registration of any person upon a finding of any of the following:
  a.  Fraud in obtaining or renewing a certificate of registration.
  b.  Professional incompetency.
  c.  Knowingly making misleading, deceptive, untrue, or fraudulent representations in the practice of the registrant’s profession or engaging in unethical conduct or practice harmful or detrimental to the public. Proof of actual injury need not be established.
  d.  Conviction of a felony related to the profession or occupation of the registrant. A copy of the record of conviction or plea of guilty shall be conclusive evidence of the conviction.
  e.  Unlawful use of the title of “registered interior designer”.
  f.  Willful or repeated violations of the provisions of this chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter.
  2.  Any person may appeal a finding of the board within thirty days of the date of notification of action. Upon appeal, the board shall schedule a hearing in accordance with chapter 17A.
2005 Acts, ch 104, §10

  544C.10  Unlawful use of title of “registered interior designer” — violations — penalty — consent agreement.
  1.  It is unlawful for a person to use the title, or aid or abet a person in using the title, of “registered interior designer” or any title or device indicating that the person is a registered interior designer unless the person has been issued a certificate of registration as provided in this chapter. This section does not prohibit the provision of interior design services, or the use of the terms “interior design” or “interior designer”, by an architect or by a person who is not registered as an interior designer.
  2.  A person who violates this section is guilty of a simple misdemeanor. The board, in its discretion and in lieu of prosecuting a first offense under this section, may enter into a consent agreement with a violator, or with a person guilty of aiding or abetting a violator, which acknowledges the violation and the violator’s agreement to refrain from any further violations.
2005 Acts, ch 104, §11

  544C.11  Injunction.
  In addition to any other remedies, and on the petition of the board, any person violating this chapter may be restrained and permanently enjoined from committing or continuing the violations.
2005 Acts, ch 104, §12

  544C.12  Scope of chapter.
  This chapter does not apply to the following:
  1.  A person licensed to practice architecture pursuant to the laws of this state.
  2.  A person licensed as a professional engineer pursuant to the laws of this state.
  3.  A person who performs the following services:  selling, selecting, or assisting in selecting personal property used in connection with furnishings of interior spaces or fixtures such as, but not limited to, furnishings, decorative accessories, furniture, paint, wall coverings, window treatments, floor coverings, cabinets, countertops, surface-mounted lighting, or decorative materials for a retail sale; or installing or coordinating installations as a part of the prospective retail sale, or providing computer-aided or other drawings for the purpose of retail sale if the drawings are used for material listed for retail sale; and who does not represent that the person is a registered interior designer.
2005 Acts, ch 104, §13

  544C.13  Transition provisions.
  For a period of two years from July 1, 2005, the board may issue a certificate as a registered interior designer to a person residing in Iowa who does not meet the examination requirements specified in section 544C.5, if the person submits evidence to the board demonstrating both of the following:
  1.  A minimum of two years of interior design education and a combined total of six years of interior design education and experience that is acceptable to the board.
  2.  Successful completion of section 1 of the national council for interior design qualification examination relating to life safety codes and barrier-free requirements.
2005 Acts, ch 104, §14