2007 California Business and Professions Code Chapter 3.9. Interior Designers

CA Codes (bpc:5800-5812)

5800.  As used in this chapter:
   (a) "Certified interior designer" means a person who prepares and
submits nonstructural or nonseismic plans consistent with Sections
5805 and 5538 to local building departments that are of sufficient
complexity so as to require the skills of a licensed contractor to
implement them, and who engages in programming, planning, designing,
and documenting the construction and installation of nonstructural or
nonseismic elements, finishes and furnishings within the interior
spaces of a building, and has demonstrated by means of education,
experience and examination, the competency to protect and enhance the
health, safety, and welfare of the public.
   (b) An "interior design organization" means a nonprofit
organization, exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of Title
26 of the United States Code, of certified interior designers  whose
governing board shall include representatives of the public, except
that an organization that is not currently exempt under that section
that submits an application to the Internal Revenue Service
requesting an exemption under that section shall be eligible to be an
interior design organization if it meets the requirements under that
section within a reasonable period of time.



5801.  A certified interior designer may obtain a stamp from an
interior design organization that shall include a number that
uniquely identifies and bears the name of that certified interior
designer.  The stamp certifies that the interior designer has
provided the interior design organization with evidence of passage of
an interior design examination approved by that interior design
organization and any of the following:
   (a) He or she is a graduate of a four or five-year accredited
interior design degree program, and has two years of diversified
interior design experience.
   (b) He or she has completed a three-year accredited interior
design certificate program, and has completed three years of
diversified interior design experience.
   (c) He or she has completed a two-year accredited interior design
program and has completed four years of diversified interior design
experience.
   (d) He or she has a combination of interior design education and
diversified interior design experience that together total at least
eight years.



5801.1.  The procedure for the issuance of a stamp by an interior
design organization under Section 5801, including the examinations
recognized and required by the organization, shall be subject to the
occupational analyses and examination validation required by Section
139 every five to seven years.


5802.  (a) All drawings, specifications, or documents prepared for
submission to any government regulatory agency by any certified
interior designer, or under his or her supervision shall be affixed
by a stamp, as specified in Section 5801, and signed by that
certified interior designer.
   (b) All such documents shall be identified as interior design
documents, which are not architectural or engineering documents.




5803.  A certified interior designer, as defined in this chapter, is
exempt from Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 7000) of Division 3
insofar as he or she is designing systems for work to be performed by
a licensed contractor.


5804.  It is an unfair business practice for any certified interior
designer or any other person to advertise or put out any sign or card
or other device, including any stamp or seal, or to represent to the
public through any print or electronic media, that he or she is
"state certified" to practice interior design, or to use any other
words or symbols that represent to the public that he or she is so
certified.



5805.  Nothing in this chapter shall  preclude certified interior
designers or any other person from submitting interior design plans
to local building officials, except as provided in Section 5538.  In
exercising discretion with respect to the acceptance of interior
design plans, the local building official shall reference the Uniform
Building Code.



5810.  (a) This chapter shall be subject to the review required by
Division 1.2 (commencing with Section 473).
   (b) This chapter shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2010, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2010, deletes or extends
that date.


5811.  An interior design organization issuing stamps under Section
5801 shall provide to the Joint Committee on Boards, Commissions, and
Consumer Protection by September 1, 2008, a report that reviews and
assesses the costs and benefits associated with the California Code
and Regulations Examination and explores feasible alternatives to
that examination.



5812.  It is an unfair business practice for any person to represent
themselves as a "certified interior designer" unless they comply
with the requirements of this chapter.