Mass. lawmakers hear bipartisan support for licensure path for commercial interior designers

Advocates, architects and building officials urged the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure to advance bills (H.324 and S.254) that would create a licensed registration for commercial interior designers in Massachusetts.

Supporters said the proposal would define the profession's scope, align language with existing architectural licensing statutes and preserve public-safety limits that keep architecture and engineering work with structural or primary building systems under those licensed professions.

Amanda Vigneault, director and certified interior designer at Shepley Bulfinch and vice president of advocacy for IIDA New England, told the committee the bill "would create a licensure path for interior design professionals to be recognized as registered commercial interior designers" and would allow those who "demonstrate a depth of education and experience and also pass our nationally accredited exam, the NCIDQ" to practice at capacities the…