S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4840
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 6, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. McDONALD -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the requirements for
certification for certified interior designers
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 8305 of the education law, as added by chapter 905
of the laws of 1990, paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 as amended by chap-
ter 653 of the laws of 1993, is amended to read as follows:
§ 8305. Requirements for certification. 1. To qualify for certif-
ication to use the title "certified interior designer", an applicant
shall fulfill all the following requirements:
(a) Application: file an application with the department;
(b) Education: have [received at least seven years of professional
training consisting of academic study and work experience relating to
interior design and in accordance with the commissioner's regulations.
These seven years shall contain at least two but not more than five
years of post secondary education, including an associate degree or the
equivalent, in an approved program of interior design] MET THE EDUCA-
TIONAL REQUIREMENTS REQUIRED TO SIT FOR AN EXAMINATION OFFERED BY A
NATIONAL CERTIFYING ORGANIZATION FOR INTERIOR DESIGN PROFESSIONALS,
PROVIDED THAT SUCH CERTIFYING ORGANIZATION IS APPROVED BY THE COMMIS-
SIONER;
(c) Experience: have MET experience [satisfactory to the board and in
accordance with the commissioner's regulations] REQUIREMENTS DEEMED
NECESSARY TO SIT FOR AN EXAMINATION OFFERED BY A NATIONAL CERTIFYING
ORGANIZATION FOR INTERIOR DESIGN PROFESSIONALS PROVIDED THAT SUCH CERTI-
FYING ORGANIZATION IS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER;
(d) Examination: (1) pass an examination satisfactory to the board in
accordance with the commissioner's regulations, and (2) [pass a separate
examination satisfactory to the board relative to the fire, safety and
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03484-01-5
A. 4840 2
building codes of the state] PROVIDE A VERIFICATION FROM A NATIONAL
CERTIFYING ORGANIZATION FOR INTERIOR DESIGN PROFESSIONALS THAT AN APPLI-
CANT HAS PASSED AN EXAMINATION OFFERED BY SUCH CERTIFYING ORGANIZATION
FOR INTERIOR DESIGN PROFESSIONALS, AND THAT THE APPLICANT IS A CERTIF-
ICATE HOLDER IN GOOD STANDING FROM SUCH CERTIFYING ORGANIZATION FOR
INTERIOR DESIGN PROFESSIONALS, PROVIDED THAT SUCH CERTIFYING ORGANIZA-
TION IS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER;
(e) Age: be at least twenty-one years of age;
(f) Citizenship: meet no requirements as to United States citizenship;
(g) Character: be of good moral character as determined by the depart-
ment; and
(h) Fees: pay a fee of three hundred dollars to the department for
admission to the two department conducted examinations and for an
initial license, a fee of one hundred fifty dollars for each reexamina-
tion, a fee of one hundred thirty-five dollars for an initial license
for persons not requiring admission to a department conducted examina-
tion, and a fee of two hundred ten dollars for each triennial registra-
tion period.
2. On recommendation of the board, the department may exempt:
(a) from the requirement of subparagraph one of paragraph (d) of
subdivision one of this section, an applicant who holds a license of
certification to practice as an interior designer issued to [him or her]
THE APPLICANT upon examination by a legally constituted board of examin-
ers in any other state or political subdivision of the United States,
provided that at the time the license or certificate was issued by such
state or political subdivision the applicant met the requirements of
paragraph (b) of subdivision one of this section for certification to
use the title "certified interior designer" established by this article;
[or]
(b) from the requirements specified in paragraph (b) of subdivision
one of this section provided the applicant submits, prior to January
first, nineteen hundred ninety-six, satisfactory evidence that the
applicant has [held himself or herself out as] PRESENTED THE APPLICANT
TO BE an interior designer and has prepared interior design documents in
accordance with the requirements set forth in section eighty-three
hundred three of this article for a minimum of seven years, has received
a secondary school diploma or equivalent, and has passed the examina-
tions required under paragraph (d) of subdivision one of this
section[.]; OR
(C) FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUBPARAGRAPH ONE OF PARAGRAPH (B) OF
SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION, AN ARCHITECT LICENSED UNDER ARTICLE ONE
HUNDRED FORTY-SEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
ing the date upon which it shall have become a law. Effective imme-
diately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation
necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.