Interior Design Regulation Across North America

Twenty-nine U.S. states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and eight Canadian provinces have legislation regulating the interior design profession. With the collaborative efforts of CIDQ, Member Boards, professional organizations, and industry coalitions, further progress is expected at both local and federal levels.

Interior design regulation in the U.S. and Canada falls into two categories: Title Acts and Practice Acts. Title Acts protect the use of professional titles by qualified individuals. Practice Acts regulate the provision of specified interior design services within a defined scope of practice or grant exclusive authority to perform certain regulated activities, such as submitting documents for permit review. Some jurisdictions include elements of both approaches, combining title protection with limited practice privileges.

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