Board of AELSLAGID
Andrea Baker
85 East 7th Place, Suite 160
Saint Paul, MN 55101
651 296-2388
651 297-5310 FAX
andrea.barker@state.mn.us

Completion Requirements
Attention Minnesota Interior Designers: The Minnesota State Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design does not pre-approve any continuing education materials. The licensee is responsible for reporting their activities to the board and should be ready to defend those activities if audited and challenged.

Renewal Dates
Renewal occurs biennially June 30 of even years starting on June 30, 2002.

Statute
326.107

Special Designations or Stipulations
License and certificate holders are required to have 24 PDH's by June 30, 2002, then 24 PDH's every two years thereafter.

Professional development hours means contact hours consisting of not less than 50 minutes each of instruction or presentation meeting the continuing education courses and activities criteria. The 24 professional development hours must be satisfied during the two-year period prior to biennial renewal except for a carryover permitted from the previous renewal period, which must not exceed 50 percent of the biennial requirement of professional development hours.

Dual license or certificate holders who have obtained a license or certificate for two professions must earn professional development hours required by the license or certificate requiring the greatest number of professional development hours and must obtain in each profession a minimum of one-third of the total professional development hours required. The remaining one-third requirement may be obtained in either profession at the sole discretion of the licensee or certificate holder.
For important updates concerning Interior Designers link here.

Audit Potential
Random

Allowed Carry-Over Hours
12 PDH per renewal period

Applicable Course Study
Continuing education must consist of learning experiences which enhance and expand the skills, knowledge, and abilities of practicing professionals to remain current and render competent professional services to the public. Practitioners may pursue technical, non-technical, regulatory, ethical, and business practice needs for a well-rounded education provided the education directly benefits the health, safety, or welfare of the public.

Continuing education activities which satisfy the professional development requirement include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) completing or auditing college-sponsored courses;
(2) completing self-study college or non-college sponsored courses, presented by correspondence, Internet, television, video, or audio, ending with examination or other verification processes;
(3) participation in seminars, tutorials, televised or videotaped courses, or short courses;
(4) attending self-sponsored and prepared in-house educational programs;
(5) completing a study tour with a structured program resulting in a written or visual presentation by the licensee or certificate holder;
(6) presenting or instructing qualifying courses or seminars. Professional development hours may be earned for preparation time for the initial presentation;
(7) authoring published papers, articles, or books. Professional development hours earned may equal preparation time spent, may be claimed only following publication, and shall be given for authorship or presentation, but not for both;
(8) participating in professional examination grading or writing. A maximum of five professional development hours per biennium may be applied from this source;
(9) providing professional service to the public which draws upon the licensee's or certificate holder's professional expertise on boards, commissions, and committees such as planning commissions, building code advisory boards, urban renewal boards, or non-work-related volunteer service. A maximum of ten professional development hours per biennium may be applied from this source; and
(10) patents, after they are granted, for a credit of ten professional development hours.

CRITERIA
Continuing education courses and activities must meet the following criteria:
(1) There must be a clear purpose and objective for each activity which will maintain, improve, or expand skills and knowledge obtained prior to initial licensure or certification or develop new and relevant skills and knowledge.
(2) The content of each presentation must be well organized and presented in a sequential manner.
(3) There must be evidence of preplanning which must include the opportunity for input by the target group to be served.
(4) The presentation must be made by persons who are well qualified by education or experience.
(5) There must be a provision for documentation of the individual's participation in the activity, including information required for record keeping and reporting.

Proof of Compliance
The licensee or certificate holder shall maintain a file in which records of courses and activities are kept, including dates, subjects, duration of programs, sponsoring organization, professional development hours earned, registration receipts where appropriate, and other pertinent documentation, for a period of two years after submission to the board. This information may be required to be produced by licensees or certificate holders. The board may require a licensee or certificate holder to produce this information in connection with verification of a renewal application, a random audit conducted by the board, or upon receipt of a complaint alleging noncompliance on the part of a licensee or certificate holder.

Non-CompliancE Penalties
A licensee or certificate holder who does not satisfy the continuing education requirements for licensure or certification renewal shall be placed on probationary status and shall be promptly notified of that fact. The licensee or certificate holder has 180 days after notification to substantiate the original claim or to earn other 6.5 professional development hours to meet the minimum requirement. If the deficiencies are not made up within the specified period of time, the individual's licensure or certification shall be suspended. Professional development hours earned within the probation period and applied to current renewal may not be applied to the requirements for the following biennial renewal. An individual who applies for license or certification renewal after the biennial renewal period has lapsed and has not satisfied the continuing education requirements shall be notified of that fact. The licensee or certificate holder shall have 180 days after notification to substantiate the original claim or to earn other professional development hours to meet the minimum requirement. If the deficiencies are not made up within the specified period of time, the individual's licensure or certification shall be suspended.

Disallowed Credits
Currently the Board is not pre-approving any courses or venders. If your course meets all of the requirements listed on the Board's website, there should not be a problem with it counting toward professional development hours.

Exceptions and Exemptions
A licensee or certificate holder is exempt from the continuing education requirements for one of the reasons listed below:
(1) A new licensee or certificate holder is exempt for the individual's first biennial renewal.
(2) A licensee or certificate holder who has experienced during the biennial renewal a serious illness, injury, or other extenuating circumstances as reviewed and approved by the board is exempt. Supporting documentation must be furnished to the board prior to the end of the biennial renewal period.
(3) A licensee or certificate holder is exempt who, for a period of time exceeding 120 consecutive days, serves honorably on active duty in the military services where such activity restricts participation in a continuing education program.

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