Practice Management Member Conversations

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Interior Architecture Committee and Practice Management Member Conversations .
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I'm registered/licensed in three states currently.  I recently was contacted by a friend from years back about the possibility of providing his organization with some interior design services in his state, in which I am not registered/licensed to practice architecture. 

So the question arises - Is it acceptable for an Architect to perform Interior Design services in a state in which he/she is not licensed to practice Architecture?  Do the state boards accept (or perhaps define) this distinction?  We all know that it can get somewhat blurry in where one stops and the other starts...

Any thoughts, insight, past experiences? Thanks all.

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Adam Hermanson AIA
Principal
Integration Design Group, PC
Henderson CO
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suggest checking with that state's board.

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Jerry Foster AIA
Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects LLP
Washington DC
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the answer is no.  You need to check with the licensing board for that state.  You need to be licensed in the state to practice there. All states have web sites that have their licensing standards and requirements.  Proceed with caution as well.  some states it is frowned upon to even engage in solicitation of services without registration, and can result in sanctions and fines. 

Some states have a registration law for interior design and some states have a sign/seal law as well.  Check with the state board.  Most states there is a distinction between architectural services and interior design services.  Check on line.  it is easy to do, and you better know the requirements of the state requires.
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Kerry Hogue AIA
HKS, Inc.
Dallas TX
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I would play it safe and get registered. I have a good lead on a project in another state and just had my NCARB transcript sent and will mail the states application today and I don't have the job yet.

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Thomas Streicher AIA
Thomas Streicher, Architect
Monroe NY
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-01-2012 08:31
From: Kerry Hogue
Subject: Cross-state Registration - Interior Design?


the answer is no.  You need to check with the licensing board for that state.  You need to be licensed in the state to practice there. All states have web sites that have their licensing standards and requirements.  Proceed with caution as well.  some states it is frowned upon to even engage in solicitation of services without registration, and can result in sanctions and fines. 

Some states have a registration law for interior design and some states have a sign/seal law as well.  Check with the state board.  Most states there is a distinction between architectural services and interior design services.  Check on line.  it is easy to do, and you better know the requirements of the state requires.
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Kerry Hogue AIA
HKS, Inc.
Dallas TX
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In the commonwealth of KY architects are licensed and interior designers are "certified". Here, architects have, and continue, to provide interior design services without the interior designer certification. With respect to your question "is it acceptable for an architect to perform interior design services in a state in which he is not licensed to practice architecture" I would suggest that, at least in KY, that would be acceptable as licensure is not a requirement. 

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Larry Schwering AIA
Larry Schwering Architect PLLC
Lexington KY
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Adam,
Your first stop should be the state's laws to see if the new state that you are looking at has registration requirements for the practice of Interior Design. Some jurisdictions have title registration for Interior Designers and a few have practice registration. 

Once you know what the reqiurements are, you can decide what to do. A phone call to the new jurisdiction might be a good place to start.

Hope this helps,

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John Ehrig FAIA, LEED AP
Vice President - Case Project Manager
Helman Hurley Charvat Peacock / Architects Inc.
Maitland FL
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Adam,

I think each state law on the practice of architecture is clear that you must be licensed to practice architecture in that state. Interior design is regulated in some states, so you'd need to check to see if licensing is required for interior designers in that state. If the state allows you to practice as an interior designer without licensing, you would not advertise yourself as an architect, and you would not seal drawings. So you would not be an "architect" in that state.

David Clarke AIA
Senior Architect
Williams Design Group, Inc.
Las Cruces NM
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As suggested by others it all starts with the state professional liscense board or local Hells Angel chapter, as to what you are doing and what is needed to comply with the regulations. Best of luck David ------------------------------------------- David DeFilippo AIA Tsoi/Kobus Associates; Cambridge, MA Milton MA -------------------------------------------
Original Message: Sent: 01-31-2012 17:27 From: Adam Hermanson Subject: Cross-state Registration - Interior Design? This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Interior Architecture Committee and Practice Management Member Conversations . ------------------------------------------- I'm registered/licensed in three states currently. I recently was contacted by a friend from years back about the possibility of providing his organization with some interior design services in his state, in which I am not registered/licensed to practice architecture. So the question arises - Is it acceptable for an Architect to perform Interior Design services in a state in which he/she is not licensed to practice Architecture? Do the state boards accept (or perhaps define) this distinction? We all know that it can get somewhat blurry in where one stops and the other starts... Any thoughts, insight, past experiences? Thanks all. ------------------------------------------- Adam Hermanson AIA Principal Integration Design Group, PC Henderson CO -------------------------------------------

I can say for Indiana, you must be registered in Indiana either as an architect licensed in our State or as a registered Interior Designer in Indiana (a new professional registration created fairly recently).  You have not mentioned which state you need - so I expect your responses from interested readers may miss the one you need.  I suggest you contact that state's registration board and just ask them.

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Matthew Bartlett AIA, NCARB, LEED-AP
Architect
Aspect Architects, LLC
Indianapolis IN
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Jay Boothe AIA
BraytonHughes Design Studios
San Carlos CA
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Our firm practices Interior Design in many states and we are not licensed in most of those. What we have done is partner with a local Registered Architect. We become part of that Architect's team and provide the Interior Design information desired by the Client. The Architect participates in all phases and includes our design information in their construction documents. They also select and coordinate any other engineers required.The local architect creates the final construction documents, obtains permits, administers his drawings and provides most of the construction administration services.
This works well in that the Client gets the design they want and also has a qualified local Architect to work with in getting the project built.
This also builds professional relationships that can lead to other projects to colaborate on.

I have been registered to practice architecture in 31 states but now I am only registered in five states.  First, I would suggest that you find out if Interior Design requires a seperate registration in the state you are asking about. 
SAlso look at that state's architectural licensing laws and see what they say about the practice of Interior Design. If you don't have an architectural license in that state and one is not required by state law to practice Interior Design  then I would think you are home free. 

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Charles Tomlinson AIA
Stone Harbor NJ
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I think it depends on the state.  A few states have licensing requirements for ID services.  It also depends on the code used, if any.  If there is a code, there are usually requirements related to volume (over 50,000 cf) or relocating partitions or replacing lighting and ceilings such that exiting or ventilation is affected (don't forget the lighting cals that might have to be submitted).  If the project must go through plan review, some, like Wisconsin, require local "supervision" of construction by a state licensed architect or PE (they have to sign the plan review application here).  Often there is an code allowance that design and CDs may be done by a professional not licensed in the state so long as they obtain the services of one that is to take responsibility for the project (co-sign and co-seal the CDs).  Contract forms for this sort of joint venture should be fairly easy to come by and you might be able to find someone on this forum that could help you out.

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Roger Retzlaff AIA
Green Bay WI
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