Section 1255.50  Endorsement

a)         In accordance with 225 ILCS 310/10 of the Act, an applicant who is licensed/registered under the laws of another state or territory of the United States or of a foreign country and who wishes to register as an interior designer shall file an application, on forms provided by the Division, together with:

1)         Official transcripts verifying the conferral date of a degree in Interior Design or Architecture from an accredited institution meeting the requirements as set forth in Section 1255.30 or an official evaluation used in satisfying the requirements under Section 1255.31;

2)         Certification, on forms provided by the Division, for all the required full-time diversified interior design experience, based on applicant's education as defined in Section 1255.40(g);

3)         Certification from the state or territory of the United States or the foreign country in which the applicant was originally licensed/registered and any location in which the applicant predominantly practices and is currently licensed/registered, stating:

A)        The time during which the applicant was licensed/registered;

B)        Whether the file of the applicant contains any record of disciplinary actions taken or pending; and

C)        Examinations taken and examination scores received;

4)         The required fee specified in Section 1255.65.

b)         In lieu of subsections (a)(1) and (2), the Division will accept certification from CIDQ if the applicant otherwise meets the requirements for registration under this Part, subject to review by the Division or Board.

c)         The Division, upon recommendation of the Board, may require an applicant applying from a foreign jurisdiction to take and pass the required registration examination specified in Section 1255.35, to verify the applicant has satisfactory knowledge and competence using U.S. building, energy conservation, fire, plumbing, and accessibility codes and applicable design standards to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

d)         The Division may require additional information to determine:

1)         if the requirements in the state, territory of the United States or foreign country at the time the applicant was licensed/registered were substantially equivalent to the requirements then in effect in Illinois; or

2)         if the requirements of another state, territory of the United States or foreign country, together with education and professional experience qualifications of the applicant, are substantially equivalent to the requirements in Illinois at the time of application.

e)         The Division, upon recommendation of the Board, shall determine substantial equivalency based on, but not limited to, certification from the National Council of Interior Design Qualifications; education, training and experience, including, but not limited to, whether the applicant has special honors or awards, has articles published in professional journals, or has written textbooks relating to interior design; and any other attribute that the Director of the Division accepts as evidence that the applicant has outstanding and proven ability in interior design.

f)         If an applicant fails to submit all required items for registration under the Act within 3 years after filing an application, the application shall expire and be denied.  The applicant may, however, make a new application for registration accompanied by the required fee, and furnish proof of meeting the qualifications for registration in effect at the time of new application. (See Section 8(c) of the Act.)

g)         The Division shall either issue registration by endorsement or notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for denying the application.

(Source:  Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 10113, effective July 23, 2025)