Professional Development is a Crucial Component of Membership
The Association is currently in its Professional Development (PD) cycle, which runs from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027.
Professional Development is a fundamental component of our work—both collectively as a regulated profession and individually as members of ARIDO. Like members of other regulated professions such as architects, lawyers, and physicians, interior designers have an ongoing responsibility in the public interest to maintain and enhance their knowledge in accordance with evolving standards and practices.
This commitment to continuous learning remains one of the defining distinctions of ARIDO members. It reinforces public trust and clearly differentiates qualified professionals from individuals who are not held to comparable standards or requirements.
Under the current PD program, Intern, Registered, and Educator members are required to complete 12 professional development credits per cycle, including:
- 4 Health & Safety (HS) credits
- 8 General Education (GE) credits
ARIDO continues to support members in meeting these requirements by providing a broad range of learning opportunities, including structured courses, industry events, webinars, and resources available through ARIDOAccess and other platforms.
Importantly, ARIDO does not require pre-approval of education providers. Members are encouraged to pursue relevant learning opportunities that support their area of practice, including professional, technical, business, and design-related topics, provided they align with ARIDO’s PD criteria.
The inclusion of diverse topic areas, such as accessibility, sustainability, equity and inclusion, and evolving technologies, reflects the profession’s ongoing commitment to serving the public interest and advancing design excellence. These areas contribute meaningfully to building more inclusive, safe, and responsive interior environments.
Members are encouraged to approach professional development as an extension of their ongoing practice, an opportunity to deepen expertise, expand competencies, and stay current in a continually evolving field. To support compliance and avoid last-minute reporting challenges, it is recommended that members complete and record their credits progressively throughout the cycle.
Detailed information on PD requirements, eligible activities, and reporting processes is available through the Professional Development section of ARIDOAccess.
Should you have any questions regarding Professional Development requirements or reporting, please contact ARIDO’s Regulatory Coordinator.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Cheff | DID | ARIDO | BCIN
President, ARIDO President 2025-2027
