Notice is hereby given that the following changes have been made to the proposed rule in accordance with subparagraph 120.54(3)(d)1., F.S., published in Vol. 35 No. 20, May 22, 2009 issue of the Florida Administrative Weekly.

The change is in response to written comments submitted by the staff of the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee. The changes are as follows:

1. Subsection (2) shall now read as follows:

(2) An applicant must meet the requirements of Section 481.209(2)(c), F.S., or must have obtained a degree from a board approved program of study according to the diversity of programs as required in Section 481.209(2), F.S. Board approved educational standards are based on the Professional Standards established by the CIDA. Course work involving practical applications such as studio, technical and graphic skills shall be completed in residence or delivered through alternate methods such as distance education. The Professional Standards, effective July 1, 2009, are hereby incorporated by reference and can be obtained at http://www.accredit-id.org/profstandards.php.

(a) The First-Professional Degree program of study available at a 3 year professional certificate or degree program, a 4 or 5 year professional degree program or a first-professional master’s degree program in interior design, which meets the requirements of Section 481.209(2)(a), (b), (c), F.S., based on an accumulation of not less than 120 semester, or equivalent, credit hours including a minimum of 30 semester, or equivalent, credit hours of diverse university-level liberal arts, sciences and humanities obtained at an institution which has been recognized by the appropriate regional or national institutional crediting body. The first-professional degree program curriculum shall conform to the Professional Standards with a minimum of 60 semester, or equivalent, credit hours in first-professional degree, or related coursework. Where applicable, those programs requiring in excess of these requirements shall, after fulfilling the minimum requirements, determine the type of additional studies to promote their individualized mission.

(b) The 2 year degree program which meets the requirements of Section 481.209(2)(d), F.S., shall include an accumulation of not less than 60 semester, or equivalent, credit hours including a minimum of 15 semester, or equivalent, credit hours of diverse post-secondary level liberal arts, sciences and humanities obtained at an institution which has been recognized by the appropriate regional or national accrediting body. The 2 year degree program shall conform to the Professional Standards with a minimum of 45 semester, or equivalent, credit hours in interior design, or related course work. Where applicable, those programs requiring in excess of these requirements shall, after fulfilling the minimum requirements, determine the type of additional studies to promote their individualized mission.

2. Section 481.2055, F.S., will be removed from the Law Implemented.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Anthony Spivey, Executive Director, Board of Architecture and Interior Design, 1940 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0750