Section 703. Issuance and renewal of certificates of interior designers.
(a) Issuance.--Upon payment of the same fee for a certification required by the board, an individual who has complied with section 701 or 702 shall be entitled to a certificate indicating that the individual is certified under this act to provide interior design services as a certified interior designer in this Commonwealth. Each certificate shall contain the name of the individual to whom it was issued and the individual's certification number and shall be valid for a period of two years.
(b) Renewal.--Every certificate shall expire on the day prescribed by rules and regulations promulgated by the board. A certified interior designer may renew a certificate by paying the renewal fee for a certificate required by the board. If the certificate holder fails to pay the renewal fee when required and fails to notify the board of the certificate holder's intention not to provide interior design services, the certificate and the right to provide interior design services as a certified interior designer shall expire. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a certified interior designer who fails to renew a certificate may not engage in the provision of interior design services as a certified interior designer except upon payment of the renewal fee, penalty fee and restoration fee for a certificate required by the board.
(c) Duplicates.--A duplicate certificate to replace one which has been lost, destroyed or mutilated may be issued by the board upon payment of the renewal fee, penalty fee and the restoration fee for a certificate required by the board.
(d) Nontransferable.--Certificates issued to certified interior designers shall not be transferable.
(e) Continuing education.--As a condition of biennial renewal, a certified interior designer shall provide the board with documentation of successful completion of a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education, half of which shall be in the subject areas of health, safety and welfare.
(f) Signature requirement.--A certified interior designer shall ensure that documentation of successful completion of the continuing education requirement under subsection (e) is properly signed as being correct and true.
(g) Exemption.--An individual who is applying for initial certification to provide interior design services shall be exempt from the continuing education requirement under subsection (e) during the biennial certification period in which the individual obtained the initial certification.
(h) Waivers.--The board may waive all or part of the continuing education requirement under subsection (e) for a certified interior designer who provides evidence satisfactory to the board that the certificate holder is unable to complete the requirement due to illness, emergency, hardship or active military service.
(i) Prohibition.--The board may not approve courses in office management or practice building for the purpose specified under subsection (e).
(j) Preapproval.--The board may preapprove continuing education providers and courses for the purpose specified under subsection (e).
(k) Regulations.--The board may promulgate regulations for the continuing education of certified interior designers to demonstrate competence in interior design services for the purpose specified under subsection (e).
(703 added Oct. 31, 2024, P.L.1163, No.144)