Professional Certification

NKBA developed its certification programs as a way for kitchen and bath professionals to enhance their careers and market themselves as experts in the specific competencies related to their business.

1. Levels of certification available
2. Certification requirements
3. Examination
4. Applications
5. Certification Policies and Procedures

• Associate Kitchen & Bath Designer (AKBD)
• Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD)
• Certified Bathroom Designer (CBD)
• Certified Kitchen Educator (CKE)
• Certified Bathroom Educator (CBE)
• Certified Kitchen & Bath Installer (CKBI)
• Certified Master Kitchen & Bath Designer (CMKBD)

	Experience	Education	Endorsement	Expenses*	Exam
AKBD	2 years 1 year min. kitchen/bath industry experience 1 year related experience or formal education	30 hours of NKBA professional development programming	2 Professional affidavits	$75 application fee $200 exam fee	AKBD academic exam
CKD or CBD	7 years 3 years min. full-time residential kitchen/ bath design and; 4 years related experience or formal education	60 hours of NKBA professional development programming	2 Client references 2 Professional affidavits	$75 application fee $400 exam fee ($200 per section)	AKBD academic exam andCKD Design exam or CBD Design exam
CKE or CBE	7 years 3 years min. full-time teaching experience in kitchen/bath design or Interior Design 4 years related experience or formal education	60 hours of NKBA professional development programming	2 Professional affidavits	$75 application fee $400 exam fee ($200 per section)	AKBD academic exam andCKD Design exam or CBD Design exam
CKBI	5 years 2 years min. full-time kitchen/bath installation experience 3 years related experience or formal education	N/A for this level	2 Client references with project portfolios 2 Professional affidavits	$75 application fee $200 exam fee	CKBI Academic exam
CMKBD	10 years of kitchen and bath industry experience in addition to experience demonstrated for 1st certification, of which min. 5 years is kitchen/bath design	100 hours of NKBA professional development programming (can include education used to achieve AKBD and/or CKD and CBD)	3 examples of design excellence by 3rd party endorsement -(design contest placement, published projects, television interviews, community endeavors, etc.)	$75 application fee	None- must possess both CKD and CBD certifications

*Expenses listed above pertain only to the certification application/exam process. Members must also pay their annual membership dues, and once certification is awarded, a $100 certification maintenance fee.

Late fees:

The deadline to apply for any NKBA certification exam is 12 weeks prior to the test date. NKBA will assess a late fee of $30.00 for any applications postmarked beyond the application deadline. Late applications will NOT be accepted more than 4 weeks after the application deadline.

Transfer fees:

Any candidate who cancels or postpones their exam, or who switches from one test site to another, will be assessed a $40.00 transfer fee. If NKBA is not notified of any cancellations, changes, or postponements within 3 weeks of the exam date, the candidate will lose their entire exam registration fee.

AKBD:

Defined: AKBDs are industry professionals with documented experience and education in the kitchen and bath industry. While it is not predominantly design experience that the AKBD must demonstrate, the AKBDs range of expertise could include sales, manufacturing, design, drafting, fixtures, etc. This combination of experience and education ensures that the AKBD is a trained, qualified professional in the kitchen and bath industry.

Requirements: Applicants must document a minimum of two (2) years of experience. A minimum of one year must be specifically within the kitchen/bathroom industry, including but not limited to: kitchen/bath design, space planning, sales, project management, drafting, manufacturing, distribution, cabinet design, installation, decorative plumbing/hardware sales, manufacturer's rep., etc.

The second year can consist of kitchen/bath industry-related experience or formal education. Related experience is defined as interior design, interior decorating, architecture, remodeling or construction. Industry-specific formal education will be considered only if college transcripts accompany the application.

Applicants must also earn a minimum of 30 hours of NKBA education or equivalent college. Education must be completed before the candidate's application for certification can be approved. Courses should be documented as accurately as possible on the application.

CKD/CBD:

Defined: CKDs and CBDs specialize in the design, planning and execution of residential kitchens and bathrooms, and prove advanced knowledge of technical and personal communication skills required to succeed as a design specialist.

Requirements: Applicants must document a minimum of seven (7) years of experience. A minimum of three years must be specifically from full-time residential kitchen/bath design experience, including design execution or project management. The remaining four years can consist of full-time kitchen/bath design, related experience, or formal education.

Applicants must also earn a minimum of 60 hours of NKBA education or equivalent college. Education must be completed before the candidate's application for certification can be approved. Courses should be documented as accurately as possible on the application.

CKBI:

Defined: Certified Kitchen & Bathroom Installers (CKBIs) are skilled individuals who specialize in kitchen and bathroom installation, safety awareness, customer relations and business management. Kitchen and bathroom installations require more than just the ability to physically install cabinets, fixtures, and appliances. Professional installers must also be able to competently manage a project from start to finish. CKBIs prove advanced knowledge of technical and personal communication skills required to succeed as an installer specialist.

Requirements: The primary requirement is five years of full-time experience (35 hours per week) in kitchen and/or bathroom installation. As an alternative, related industry experience or education may be combined with a minimum of two years of full-time kitchen and/or bathroom installation experience to meet the five year requirement. No NKBA education is required for the CKBI level.

CKE/CBE:

Defined: Certified Kitchen Educators and Certified Bathroom Educators are college instructors who specialize in teaching residential kitchen and/or bathroom design. They understand the unique qualifications required for kitchen and bathroom design specialization, and they transfer their knowledge to interior design students. A college instructor achieves the CKE or CBE designation by proving experience as an interior design college educator and passing the CKD exam for CKE certification, or the CBD exam for CBE certification.

Requirements: CKEs and CBEs must demonstrate a minimum of seven years of full-time teaching experience in interior design or a minimum of three years teaching experience combined with formal education for a total of seven years. No formal design experience is required.

Applicants must also earn a minimum of 60 hours of NKBA education. Education must be completed before the candidate's application for certification can be approved. Courses should be documented as accurately as possible on the application.

CMKBD:

Defined: The Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer is a program which recognizes extraordinary experience and achievements in the kitchen and bath industry. The CMKBD must possess not only both their CKD and CBD certifications, but must have an additional 10 years of experience in the industry beyond the date of their first certification. This means that CMKBDs must have a minimum of 17 years of industry experience!

Requirements: Candidates applying for the CMKBD certification are required to have both their CKD and CBD certifications prior to applying. Candidates must also have an additional 10 years of industry experience in addition to the experience they already demonstrated to earn their CKD and/or CBD designation. Five (5) years of this additional experience must be from full-time kitchen/bath design.

Applicants must also earn a minimum of 100 hours of NKBA education. Education must be completed before the candidate's application for certification can be approved. Courses should be documented as accurately as possible on the application.

To learn more about our Examination process, please visit our Certification Examinations page.

To request a certification application, please contact our customer service department at 800 THE-NKBA (843-6522).

Application, Examination and Certification Procedures

1. Submitting the paperwork - The complete application, including payment, college transcripts (where required) and any additional forms must be submitted at least 12 weeks prior to the examination date. NKBA will not accept an application if payment is not included, nor will NKBA invoice applicants for these fees. Payment will be accepted via personal check, credit card, or money order. Company checks will also be accepted, but MUST accompany each individual application.
   
   
2. Review process - Once your application is received by NKBA, it will be reviewed within 6 weeks' time.
   
   If you do not meet the experience requirements, you will be ineligible to take the certification exam. If you are denied because an affidavit or reference could not be accepted, or if additional clarification regarding your experience or education is needed, you will be given the opportunity to re-submit that information. Re-submissions will only be accepted up to 4 weeks before the exam date.
   
   If your application is approved, a confirmation letter will be sent to you. It will state your test date and test location, and will indicate what material you will need to prepare for the exam. Approximately 3-4-weeks prior to the exam date, you will receive a second, final confirmation letter, indicating exactly where the exam is being held, directions to the site, what time to report, what to bring, and how to prepare. This final confirmation letter serves as your entry ticket into the exam, so you must bring it with you to the test site on the day of the examination.
   
   
3. Special Testing Arrangements - You may request special testing arrangements if you have a disability or religious obligation (most examinations are offered on Saturdays) which does not allow you to adhere to the standard testing procedures or regulations. Requests must be made in writing at the time your application is submitted to NKBA (at least 12 weeks prior to the examination date). Requests must be accompanied by medical or religious verification, such as a letter from your physician or clergyman. Requests for special testing arrangements will be individually evaluated by NKBA's Certification staff. Candidates will need to specifically state their request, and will be notified, in writing, of the decision within four weeks' time.
   
   
4. Appeals Process - If a candidate needs to challenge an exam, whether it be the conduct of the proctor, test site conditions, or errors on the examination itself, the challenge must be returned with the original examination packet, or reported to NKBA within 30-days of the examination. Candidates who choose to pursue their challenge may file a formal appeal - an appeal will entitle the candidate to request a re-scoring of their examination by a third juror, for a fee of $50.00. An exam challenge does not automatically ensure a passing score, and failure alone is not a valid reason for an appeal. All appeal results are considered final.
   
   
5. Invoicing - Once the candidate successfully completes the certification exam, they are entered into the invoicing phase. During this phase, the candidate is mailed an invoice for their initial certification processing fee of $100 and any applicable membership dues. After a candidate passes the exam, certification is only finalized after NKBA has received this $100 fee, and awards the candidate their certification packet.
   
   Membership with NKBA is a mandatory requirement for obtaining and maintaining certification. As an active Certified member, you will be required to pay an annual $100 certification maintenance fee, submit an annual census and pay annual membership dues (where applicable).
   
   
6. Certification - Once NKBA receives the candidate's paid invoice, certification is issued. The candidate will receive a certificate, NKBA membership packet, lapel pin, stamp (CKD/CBD only), Code of Professional Conduct, NKBA logo, and information on the Continuing Education program (which requires 10 hours of continuing education every two years).