# COMAR Title 09 — Maryland Department of Labor

## Subtitle 18 — Board of Certified Interior Designers

### Chapter 03 — Continuing Education

**Authority:** Business and Professions Article, §§8-206(a) and 8-308, Annotated Code of Maryland

**Administrative History:** Effective date: January 15, 1996 (23:1 Md. R. 24)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .02 amended effective June 29, 2009 (36:13 Md. R. 899)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .03 amended effective April 16, 2001 (28:7 Md. R. 689); June 29, 2009 (36:13 Md. R. 899)

#### Regulation .01 Purpose.

*COMAR 09.18.03.01*

The State legislature has determined that it will be in the best interest of the public to require certified interior designers to comply with continuing education requirements as a prerequisite to the renewal of a certificate (the “certificate”) issued by the Board of Certified Interior Designers (the “Board”).

#### Regulation .02 Definitions.

*COMAR 09.18.03.02*

A. Approved Continuing Education Course.

  (1) “Approved continuing education course” means a continuing education course approved by the Board. In order to qualify as the approved continuing education course, the continuing education course shall:

    (a) Meet the criteria established by these regulations; and

    (b) Be submitted in an outline form acceptable to the Board at least 2 months in advance of any regularly scheduled Board meeting in order to be considered at the respective meeting.

  (2) Subject to the requirements set forth in §B(3) of this regulation, a course approved by the Interior Design Continuing Education Council shall be considered to be an approved course.

B. Continuing Education Course.

  (1) “Continuing education course” means a course which contributes directly to the enhancement of professional competency of an individual to provide interior design services and has a clear purpose and objective of protecting health, safety, and welfare of the public.

  (2) “Continuing education course” includes the following subject matter:

    (a) Technical or aesthetic aspects of interior design or principles of sustainable design;

    (b) Client relations and communications;

    (c) Compliance with appropriate federal, State, and local laws and regulations, as related to the practice of interior design; and

    (d) Other courses which foster improvement, advancement, and extension of professional skills and knowledge related to the practice of interior design.

  (3) “Continuing education course” does not include marketing courses, unless otherwise determined by the Board.

C. “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.

D. “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.

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

  (1) The conservation of energy, water, and raw material resources;

  (2) The prevention of environmental degradation; and

  (3) The overall creation of healthy, livable, and productive environments.

#### Regulation .03 Requirements.

*COMAR 09.18.03.03*

A. 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.

B. 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:

  (1) The subject matter of the course outlines the principles of sustainable design;

  (2) The course has been approved by the Interior Design Continuing Education Council and the U.S. Green Building Council; and

  (3) The course emphasizes the relationship of the concepts of green building and sustainable design to the protection of health, safety, and welfare of the public.

C. 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.

#### Regulation .04 Determination of Value.

*COMAR 09.18.03.04*

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

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

C. 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.

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

#### Regulation .05 Determination of Credits.

*COMAR 09.18.03.05*

A. 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.

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

  (1) Successful completion of the approved continuing education course offered by the qualified sponsor;

  (2) Services as a teacher, lecturer, or instructor in interior design and related subjects qualifying for continuing education credit, to be considered by the Board on a case-by-case basis, provided that:

    (a) Credit may not be given for repetitious presentations or those that cover, in the Board's opinion, substantially the same material, and

    (b) Not more than 1 CEU may be earned, with no carryover provision for excess hours.

#### Regulation .06 Reporting and Record Keeping.

*COMAR 09.18.03.06*

A. 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:

  (1) Name of the qualified sponsor;

  (2) Location of the approved continuing education course;

  (3) Title and description of the approved continuing education course;

  (4) Dates attended;

  (5) Number of hours claimed; and

  (6) Other information the Board considers appropriate.

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

C. 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.

#### Regulation .07 Exceptions.

*COMAR 09.18.03.07*

The Board may issue a certificate renewal to a certificate holder who has not fully complied with the continuing education requirements set forth in these regulations if the certificate holder's failure to fulfill the requirements was due to one or more of the following reasons:

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

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

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

#### Regulation .08 Nonrenewal.

*COMAR 09.18.03.08*

Failure to comply with these regulations shall result in nonrenewal of the certificate.