CLCID Brings the California Stakeholders Together
From left to right: SANDRA FRIEND, NCIDQ Board Member; BRUCE GOFF, CIDA Legislative Director;
CARMEN OLSSON-RIGDON, CLCID President; CAROL LAMKINS, NKBA Nat'l. Legislative Committee Member;
DOUGLAS STEAD, CCIDC Executive Director. |
Legislative Round Table Commentary
By Carmen Olsson Rigdon, President of CLCID The Legislative Round Table discussion was held on October 18, 2006 at the San
Francisco architectural offices of Chong & Partners and sponsored by IIDA, Northern California Chapter. Stakeholders present were Sandy Friend (NCIDQ), Doug Stead (CCIDC), Bill Barrett, (NASAD) Bruce Goff (CIDA) and
Carmen Olsson-Rigdon (CLCID). After the CEU presentation, the room was broken into 2 groups, testing and accreditation bodies and coalitions, for more personal Q & A.
Now that our sunset has been extended to
January 1, 2010, each stakeholder was questioned about the next plan of action.
Doug Stead, Executive Vice President of CCIDC, discussed NCIDQs withdrawal of a waiver for those who do not meet standard NCIDQ
qualifications but do meet CCIDCs broadly experienced requisite, citing that the architects and attorneys are allowed to sit for there respective exams if they have met the experience qualification. CCIDCs position, in
accordance with the goals of Sunset Review Committee and rules of Department of Consumer Affairs, is that NCIDQ has now become a barrier to entry into the profession in California. He stated it has serious repercussions
with regard to those wishing to become CIDs and professional members of associations. He noted that potential CID applicants who are heavily experienced have opted to do nothing upon finding they cannot sit for the
NCIDQ. This is clearly a lose-lose. They continue to practice unregulated and independent of professional associations without accountability for consumer protection. Within the exam topic, Doug stressed the California
Examination Validation Policy that states it is the responsibility of each board to determine what examinations it uses and it is also the responsibility of each board to determine if the examinations are valid or not
following the State's guidelines. No where in the Examination Validation Policy does is it written that the state requires an "outside analysis" of any examinations the board uses or accepts.
Sandy
Friend, Director NCIDQ, maintained that NCIDQ is the single most acceptable exam for the entire profession and is critical for testing minimum levels of competency for any designer. Bill Barrett, NASAD, explained the
encompassing accreditation program of NASAD.
Bruce Goff, Legislative Director CIDA, announced that they intend to introduce practice legislation February, 2007. Carmen Olsson-Rigdon, CLCID President, inquired as
to the verbiage and sponsor so that CLCID could take it under consideration. Bruce responded it has yet to be written and sponsored. Carmen stated that although the political climate is uncertain, the Sunset review
goals remain constant. AIA and NCARB have publicly announced opposition to a practice act and encouraged the profession to seek strengthening the current statute.
Carol Lamkins, representing the NKBA Exams, read
a national NKBA position statement backing California's inclusive aspect of all interior designers sharing the right to practice regardless of specialty.
CLCID has continued to strongly promote incrementally strengthening our statute with
"occupational standards language", which identifies our professional services along with a required contract and stamp and seal. Carmen
went on to say this 'language" (referred to as "scope of services") has been openly professed as crucial to legislative advancement by the current ASID president. CLCIDs proposed language takes in consideration the 'I"
codes which uses the term "Registered design professional" and sees this verbiage far more attainable although CLCID is committed to goal of a practice act that is acceptable to the California Legislature and the entire
profession of interior design regardless of specialty.
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