Title 09 — Subtitle 18. Board of Certified Interior Designers

In this chapter, the following terms have the meaning indicated.

Terms Defined.

The Secretary and the design boards have agreed to average their direct and indirect costs, based on the calculation of costs performed by the Secretary in consultation with the design boards. Based on these calculations, the Board sets the following fees:

An applicant shall pay the examination fees directly to the NCIDQ, as these fees are established by NCIDQ.

In rendering professional services, a certified interior designer shall comply in all respects with applicable laws and regulations pertaining to the practice of interior design.

A certified interior designer may not engage in any form of false or misleading advertising or promotional activities, including, but not limited to, the falsification or misrepresentation of the work of a certified interior designer or of another person, academic or professional qualifications, degree of responsibility, experience, performance, or licensing status.

A certified interior designer shall be truthful and objective in all professional communications and public statements.

A certified interior designer may not seal, stamp, or sign, or permit to have a certified interior designer's name, signature, or stamp be affixed to, any plans, drawings, specifications, or other documents which were not prepared by a certified interior designer or under the certified interior designer's responsible supervising control and direction.

A certified interior designer may not by affirmative act or failure to act engage in improper, unprofessional, or dishonorable conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public.

A certified interior designer may not knowingly associate with, or permit the use of, a certified interior designer's personal or business name in a business venture by a person or a firm which a certified interior designer knows, or has reason to know, is engaged in business or professional practice of a fraudulent or dishonorable nature.

In rendering professional services, a certified interior designer may not counsel or assist anyone, including, but not limited to, a certified interior designer's client, in conduct a certified interior designer knows, or reasonably is expected to know, is illegal or improper.

A certified interior designer who has direct knowledge of a violation of a provision of the laws or regulations pertaining to the practice of interior design by another person or entity shall immediately inform the Board of Certified Interior Designers in writing.

A certified interior designer may not pay, or offer to pay, either directly or indirectly, any commission, political contribution, gift, or other consideration in order to secure work, exclusive of the customary fees payable to employment agencies.

A certified interior designer shall undertake to perform professional assignments only if the certified interior designer, together with the certified interior designer's consultants, is qualified, by training, education, and experience to perform required services.

A certified interior designer may not divulge any confidential information about the client or the client's project, unless the certified interior designer reasonably believes that nondisclosure of the information creates a significant risk to public health and safety, or violates the applicable laws or this Code of Ethics.

A certified interior designer shall fully disclose to the certified interior designer's client all compensation that the certified interior designer receives in connection with a project, and may not accept any form of compensation from a third party in cash or in kind unless the client is informed and does not object to the method or form of compensation.

A certified interior designer may not knowingly assume or accept any position in which the certified interior designer's personal interests conflict with professional responsibilities.

A certified interior designer may offer professional services to the client as a consultant, specifier, or supplier on the basis of a fee, percentage, or mark-up, except that a certified interior designer may not request, propose, or accept a commission on a fee basis under circumstances in which the certified interior designer's professional judgment may be compromised.

Before entering into a written or verbal contract with a client, a certified interior designer shall clearly determine and convey to the client the scope and nature of the project involved, the services to be performed, and the method of remuneration for the services.

A certified interior designer shall produce studies, drawings, specifications, and other related documents of sufficiently high standards to clearly and accurately indicate all essential parts of the work to which they refer.

Except for specifications and drawings over which a certified interior designer retains proprietary rights or which the certified interior designer is required by law, or in connection with an investigation by the Board of Certified Interior Designers, to furnish, a certified interior designer may not use specifications, photographs, or drawings of a project without the express permission of a client.

A certified interior designer shall pursue all professional endeavors with honesty, integrity, fairness, and professionalism.

A certified interior designer may not initiate, participate, or engage in an activity that may reasonably result in interference in the performance by another certified interior designer of a contractual or professional relationship with a client or an unjust injury to another certified interior designer's reputation or business relationship.

A certified interior designer shall only take credit for services performed by the certified interior designer directly, or by the certified interior designer's firm and under the certified interior designer's supervision or direction.

A certified interior designer may not:

A certified interior designer shall adhere to and maintain standards of professional and personal conduct that reflect in a responsible manner on the profession.

In addition to requirements set forth in the law and regulations governing certified interior designers, a certified interior designer shall seek to continually upgrade professional knowledge and competency with respect to the interior design profession.

A certified interior designer shall, whenever possible, encourage and contribute to the sharing of information and knowledge between certified interior designers and other allied professionals and the public.

A certificate holder may sign and seal plans, specifications, drawings, reports, or any other interior design documents that are required to be signed and sealed under Business Occupations and Professions Article, §8-403, Annotated Code of Maryland, only if the following requirements are met:

Definition. In §(A)(2)(b) of this regulation, “approved” means the certificate holder:

For the purpose of sealing and signing interior design documents under this regulation, a certificate holder shall obtain an individual seal which shall contain:

The diameter of the seal shall be 2 inches.

If an applicant or certificate holder receives from the Board a written communication requesting a response, the applicant or certificate holder shall respond in writing within 30 days of the date of the mailing.

The Board shall send a written communication by first-class mail to the last known address furnished to the Board by the applicant or certificate holder.

It is a responsibility of an applicant or certificate holder to notify the Board in writing if there has been a change in the applicant’s or certificate holder’s address.

Failure to respond as required by this regulation may be considered by the Board to be a violation of Business Occupations and Professions Article, §8-310(a)(1)(vi), Annotated Code of Maryland.

Approved Continuing Education Course.

Continuing Education Course.

“Continuing education unit (CEU)” means a unit of credit customarily used for continuing education courses. One CEU equals 10 hours of study in the approved continuing education courses.

“Qualified sponsor” means a national interior design organization, an accredited college or university, or any other entity recognized by the Board as qualified to offer continuing education courses.

“Sustainable design” means the design process that utilizes an integrative approach aimed at:

A certified interior designer shall complete a minimum of 1 CEU in two or more approved continuing education courses during each 2-year certificate term.

As a part of 1 CEU required under §A(1) of this regulation, a certified interior designer shall complete at least 1 hour of study in a course that fulfills the following requirements:

Notwithstanding the requirement stated in §A of this regulation, if the certificate is granted to a certificate holder during the second year of a certificate term, the certificate holder may renew the certificate for the next full term only if the certificate holder earns 0.5 of the CEU in one or more approved continuing education courses.

Each hour of attendance or instruction of the approved continuing education course shall equal 1/10th of 1 CEU.

Credits for the approved continuing education courses shall be based upon the number of hours of attendance or instruction.

College courses taken for academic credit qualify only if approved pursuant to these regulations. Credit for completed and approved college courses may vary, but in any event may not exceed eight-tenths of 1 CEU.

Credits may not be considered earned until the completion of the approved continuing education course.

The Board shall have the final authority with regard to the approval of courses, sponsors, credit, value for courses, and other matters related to the continuing education requirements. Selection of the approved continuing education courses from the list formulated by the Board is a responsibility of a certificate holder. The list of approved continuing education courses may be amended by the Board at any time the Board finds appropriate. Credits toward the fulfillment of continuing education requirements shall be given only for the approved continuing education courses.

The following standards shall be used for the determination of credit with regard to the approved continuing education courses:

An applicant for certificate renewal shall provide to the Board a signed statement, under penalty of perjury, on an appropriate form supplied by the Board, setting forth the following minimum information for qualification:

The Board, at the Board's discretion, may verify the information submitted by a certificate holder.

The certificate holder shall be responsible for maintaining records used to support credits claimed. The records shall be maintained by certificate holders for a period of at least 2 years from the date of completion of the approved continuing education course.

Military service on extended active duty with the armed forces of the United States;

Physical or mental disability, illness, or other similar extenuating circumstances, as supported by an appropriate documentation from a licensed or certified health care professional;

Other good and valid causes, as may be determined by the Board in the Board's sole discretion.