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 six years of approved interior design education and experience. 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);
   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) If the Applicant commences completion of the educational requirements for registration after September 1, 2006, the applicant must graduate from a program that has been granted professional status by FIDER.
3. (c) For purposes of this section, the term "approved interior design education" does not include continuing education courses.
4. (d) 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.
5. (e) The Board shall evaluate the education and experience required by Subsection (a) in accordance with the edition of the Table of Equivalents for interior design in effect at the time the application is filed.
6. (f) An Applicant who enrolled in an acceptable interior design education program before September 1, 1999, shall be subject to the rules and regulations relating to educational and experiential requirements as they existed on August 31, 1999.
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) For purposes of this section, it is the Applicant's responsibility to demonstrate to the Board the requisite education and experience.
9. (i) Pursuant to the provisions of §231.302 of the Texas Family Code, each applicant shall submit his/her social security number on forms prescribed by the Board. Such information shall be considered confidential as stated in 231.302(e) of the Texas Family Code.

Source Note:The provisions of this §5.31 adopted to be effective August 2, 2000, 25 TexReg 7166.