Professional Requirements

ECIA on self-regulation

One of ECIA's main goals is to receive the general recognition of the profession by the public and legislative bodies at local, national and EU level, and to discuss banning of protective legislation by national and local governments.

Associated Interior Architects are well-trained and skilled professionals, who distinguish themselves by intensive training and practical professional experience. At the General Assembly held in Verona (It.) in September 2004 all ECIA member organizations adopted a uniform admittance policy for Associated Interior Architects. In practice, this means that all Associated Interior Architects have a level of education in accordance with the ECIA Charter of Interior Architecture Training, in addition to sufficient professional experience. This ensures clients that the work is carried out by experienced and highly trained professionals. It also ensures that rules and regulations, in particular concerning health, safety and well being of the service users and general public, are adopted as required by local governments.

Uniform Admittance Policy

Interior architects who are full members of a ECIA member-organization, shall comply with minimum education standards as follows:

• 5 years of professional education in accordance with the ECIA Charter of Education plus 1 year of professional practice in an interior architects or architects office, or as a self-employed interior architect, proven by employers recommendation letter or by portfolio

or:

• 4 years of professional education in accordance with the ECIA Charter of Education plus 2 years of professional practice in an interior architects or architects office, or as a self-employed interior architect, proven by employers recommendation letter or by portfolio

or:

• in the case of insufficient education, 1,5 year of professional practice is needed as a substitute for every year of missed education, proven by employers recommendation letter or by portfolio and checked by an admission committee of the national organization.

ECIA on international exchange

ECIA recognises the impact of globalisation and the new opportunities and fields of activity for Interior Architects created by it. However, ECIA also recognises that the increased mobility makes a significant impact on unique local cultural and social contexts, and therefore sees the need to engage in the debate and analysis of best ways to responsibly and sensitively preserve and add to the European cultural diversity. ECIA encourages the reciprocal exchange of students, teachers and professional practitioners, with respect to these values.