Section 1255.61 Continuing Education Requirements
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.
(Source: Added at 47 Ill. Reg. 6274,
effective April 20, 2023)