§3179. Certificate of registration; issuance, renewal, denial, suspension or revocation

A. Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, a certificate of registration shall be issued to any person who presents satisfactory evidence that he possesses the qualifications of education, experience, and examination performance required by this Chapter or by the rules adopted by the board.

B. The board shall certify as qualified for a certificate of registration as a registered interior designer an applicant who:

(1) Has taken and successfully passed the examination provided by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification.

(2) Holds or is qualified to hold a current, unencumbered, unrestricted certificate of registration as a registered interior designer granted by the board and meets all requirements for that registration, including but not limited to continuing education requirements and renewal requirements.

C. Each original certificate of registration issued by the board shall authorize the holder to practice interior design and be known as a registered interior designer throughout this state from the date of issuance until December thirty-first following the date upon which said certificate of registration was issued unless it shall have been revoked or suspended for cause as provided in this Chapter.

D. Before or during the month of December each holder of a certificate of registration issued pursuant to this Chapter shall submit to the board an application and fee as provided in this Chapter for renewal of the certificate of registration. Each certificate of registration shall be renewed for a period of one year and shall be recorded together with its number in the official roster, except as provided herein.

E. No renewal of a certificate of registration shall be issued to an interior designer by the board until the registrant submits proof satisfactory to the board that, during the year prior to his application for renewal, he has participated in a program of continuing education approved by the board. The board shall approve only continuing education that builds upon the basic knowledge of interior design and which also concentrates on or addresses the subjects of health, safety, and welfare of both licensees and their clients and customers. The board may make exception from the requirement of continuing education in emergency or hardship cases.

F. The holder of any certificate of registration that has expired through failure to be renewed may obtain a renewal of such certificate of registration at any time within one year from the date of expiration upon application to and approval of the board. The time for renewal of such expired certificate of registration may be extended by the board.

G. The board may deny the issuance or renewal of a certificate of registration or may revoke or suspend any certificate of registration if proof satisfactory to the board is presented involving any of the following:

(1) That the certificate of registration or any renewal thereof was obtained by fraud, misstatement, or misrepresentation of fact.

(2) That the holder of the certificate of registration or any applicant therefor has committed any act or fraud or deceit in his professional conduct or has been convicted of a felony.

(3) That an applicant for a certificate of registration has represented himself to be an interior designer or has provided interior design services prior to the time of issuance of a certificate of registration to him except as authorized by this Chapter.

(4) That the holder of a certificate of registration or an applicant therefor has been found by the board to have aided and abetted any person not registered pursuant to this Chapter in violating any provision of this Chapter.

(5) That the holder of a certificate of registration has failed to comply with the requirements of this Chapter or with any rule, regulation, or order of the board issued pursuant to authority granted by this Chapter.

H. An applicant for registration who complies with all requirements established therefor including the successful completion of an examination where applicable shall be issued a certificate by the board to evidence such registration.

Acts 1990, No. 846, §1; Acts 1995, No. 496, §1; Acts 1997, No. 877, §1; Acts 1999, No. 426, §1.