Building Relationships, Building Homes, Building Lives
July 23, 2013Remodelers: Professional Designations, and Why They Matter
August 6, 2013
By now you have probably noticed the “alphabet soup” of designations behind the names of designers—including those on our own staff. Perhaps you have wondered what they mean, and why they are so important; how does one become a CMKBD or an AKBD, and why? Let’s take a closer look at these professional certifications.
For information on certifications and their requirements, we turn to the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) website. In addition to getting certified, these designations require Continuing Education Units (CEU’S) every year to maintain these certifications. On their Certification Requirements page, they give a helpful breakdown—including definitions—of each of the eight designations they confer; here are three examples:
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Associate Kitchen & Bath Designer (AKBD): Requires two years of experience within the kitchen & bath industry, and 30 hours of NKBA professional development courses (or NKBA approved college coursework), as well as two professional affidavits and an AKBD academic exam.
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Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD): A CKD (or a CKB) requires seven years of experience that include three years (min.) as a full-time residential kitchen/bath designer and four years of related industry experience, as well as 60 hours of NKBA professional development courses (or NKBA approved college coursework), two client references or professional affidavits, an AKBD academic exam, and CKD (or CBD) design exam.
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Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer (CMKBD): A CMKBD requires ten years of kitchen and bath industry experience, in addition to experience demonstrated for the first certification, of which a minimum of five years is kitchen and bath design is required. It also requires 100 hours of NKBA professional development courses or NKBA approved college coursework, three examples of design excellence by third-party endorsement, and possession of both CKD and CBD certifications.
NKBA professional certifications require hard work, dedication, and a passion for design. We are proud that our designers apply that dedication to their own professional development as well as the work they do for our clients. We know you will see the difference in our designs—stop in and see us at Cabinets & Designs today.
