Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 0120 - Architectural Engineering Examiners
Chapter 0120-04 - Interior Designers
Section 0120-04-.10 - PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Current through April 3, 2024
(1) The registrant shall comply with all applicable laws, regulations and codes governing the practice of interior design, and the use of the title "registered interior designer."
(2) The registrant shall at all times recognize the primary obligation to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public in the registrant's practice of interior design.
(3) The registrant shall perform services only in areas of the registrant's competence.
(4) The registrant shall not engage in any form of false or misleading advertising or promotional activities including, but not limited to, implying unregistered staff members or employees of the firm are registered interior designers.
(5) The registrant shall not divulge any confidential information about the client or the client's project, or utilize photographs or specifications of the project without the express permission of the client; provided, however, this provision shall not apply to those specifications, drawings or photographs over which the designer retains proprietary rights or the designer is required by law or in connection with an investigation by the Board to furnish.
(6) The registrant shall be completely objective and truthful in all professional reports, statements and testimony.
(7) The registrant shall not assist or abet improper or illegal conduct of anyone in connection with a project.
(8) When in public service as a member, advisor, or employee of a governmental body or department, the registrant shall not participate in considerations or actions with respect to services provided by the registrant or the registrant's organization in private professional practice.
(9) The registrant shall not solicit or accept any contract from a governmental body on which the registrant, or a principal or officer of the registrant's organization, serves as a member.
(10) The registrant shall not pay or offer to pay, either directly or indirectly, any commission, political contribution, or gift or other consideration in order to secure work, exclusive of securing salary positions through employment agencies.
(11) The registrant shall not falsify or permit misrepresentation of the registrant's or the registrant's associates' academic or professional qualifications to a prospective or existing client or employer. The registrant shall not misrepresent or exaggerate the registrant's degree of responsibility in or for the subject matter of present or prior assignments.
(12) The registrant shall not request, propose or accept a professional commission on a contingent basis under circumstances in which the registrant's professional judgment may be compromised.
(13) The registrant shall not knowingly associate with, or permit the use of the registrant's name or firm name in, a business venture by any person or firm which the registrant knows, or has reason to believe, is engaging in business or professional practice of a fraudulent or dishonest nature.
(14) The registrant may be deemed by the board to be guilty of misconduct if:
(15) The registrant shall not engage, or offer to engage, in the providing of services specified by law to require other licensed professionals, such as the design of mechanical, plumbing, electrical and load-bearing structural systems, except for specification of fixtures and their location within interior spaces.
(16) Before accepting a project, a registrant shall reasonably inform the prospective client of:
(17) A registrant possessing knowledge of an applicant's qualifications for registration shall cooperate with the applicant and/or the Board by responding appropriately regarding those qualifications when requested to do so. A registrant shall provide timely verification of employment and/or experience earned by an applicant under his or her supervision if there is reasonable assurance that the facts to be verified are accurate. A registrant shall not knowingly sign any verification document that contains false or misleading information.
(18) The registrant shall maintain the continuing education records required by rule 0120-05-.10 Records for a period of four (4) years and shall furnish such records to the Board for audit verification purposes within thirty (30) days of the Board's request.
Authority: T.C.A. §§ 62-2-105 and 62-2-203(c).