1. (a) In order to obtain interior design registration by examination in Texas, an Applicant shall demonstrate that the Applicant has a combined total of at least six years of approved interior design education and experience and shall successfully complete the interior design registration examination as more fully described in Subchapter C. For purposes of this section, an Applicant has "approved interior design education" if:

   1. (1) The Applicant graduated from a program that has been granted professional status by the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER) or the National Architectural Accreditation Board (NAAB), or from a program that was granted professional status by FIDER or NAAB not later than two years after graduation, or from an interior design education program outside the United States where an evaluation by World Education Services or another organization acceptable to the Board has concluded that the program is substantially equivalent to a FIDER or NAAB accredited professional program;
   2. (2) The Applicant has a doctorate, a master's degree, or a baccalaureate degree in interior design;

   3. (3) The Applicant has:

      1. (A) A baccalaureate degree in a field other than interior design; and
      2. (B) An associate's degree or a two- or three-year certificate from an interior design program at an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;

   4. (4) The Applicant has:

      1. (A) A baccalaureate degree in a field other than interior design; and
      2. (B) An associate's degree or a two- or three-year certificate from a foreign interior design program approved or accredited by an agency acceptable to the Board;

   5. (5) The Applicant applied on or before August 31, 2010, and prior to that date, the Applicant successfully completed:

      1. (A) At least six years of actual experience working under the direct supervision of a registered interior designer or a registered architect;
      2. (B) An associate's degree in interior design from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; and
      3. (C) Credit for the equivalent of at least 60 semester credit hours toward any baccalaureate degree; or

   6. (6) The Applicant applied on or before August 31, 2010, and prior to that date, the Applicant successfully completed:

      1. (A) At least four years of actual experience working under the direct supervision of a registered interior designer or a registered architect;
      2. (B) A FIDER accredited pre-professional assistant level program; and
      3. (C) Credit for the equivalent of at least 60 semester credit hours toward any baccalaureate degree.
2. (b) The Board shall evaluate the education and experience required by subsection (a) of this section in accordance with the Table of Equivalents for Education and Experience in Interior Design.
3. (c) For purposes of this section, the term "approved interior design education" does not include continuing education courses.
4. (d) An Applicant for interior design registration by examination who commences completion of the educational requirements for registration after September 1, 2006, must graduate from a program that has been granted professional status by FIDER.
5. (e) An Applicant for interior design registration by examination who commenced his/her interior design education or experience prior to September 1, 1999, shall be subject to the rules and regulations relating to educational and experiential requirements as they existed on August 31, 1999.
6. (f) For purposes of this section, an applicant shall be considered to have "commenced" his/her interior design education upon enrollment in an acceptable interior design education program.
7. (g) An Applicant who filed an application for registration without examination prior to August 31, 1994, is subject to the rules and regulations relating to educational and experiential requirements in effect at the time the application was filed. Such Applicant must complete the required six years of experience on or before September 1, 2003, in order to be eligible for registration without examination.
8. (h) In accordance with federal law, the Board must verify proof of legal status in the United States. Each Applicant shall provide evidence of legal status by submitting a certified copy of a United States birth certificate or other documentation that satisfies the requirements of the Federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. A list of acceptable documents may be obtained by contacting the Board's office.

Source Note:The provisions of this §5.31 adopted to be effective August 2, 2000, 25 TexReg 7166; amended to be effective October 11, 2001, 26 TexReg 7855; amended to be effective April 4, 2004, 29 TexReg 3469; amended to be effective March 30, 2006, 31 TexReg 2456.