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NKBA Student Logo:

The Student Member NKBA logo proudly proclaims student affiliation with the National Kitchen & Bath Association. The NKBA recommends this logo for use on business cards, student resumes, projects, and other mediums where promotion of membership is beneficial. Click here to download your student logo today.

Looking for Scholarship Money?

The NKBA Student Design Competition deadline is approaching soon. The competition is open to all NKBA student members. Be sure to adhere to the following tips.

Tips for Winning 2008/2009 NKBA Student Design Competition:

Don’t let your design be disqualified because you forgot something. Take your entry form and follow the checklist so this won’t happen to you.

• Each entry for the kitchen and bath must be accompanied by a completed entry form that includes all required signatures (coordinator and student) and drawings. If you do not have a current membership or are a new student member, sign up for NKBA membership before entering.
• Personal identification and school identification MUST NOT APPEAR anywhere permanently on the drawings or material board, but may be included on removable tags (i.e. post-it notes).
• Entries may be hand-drawn or computer drafted.
• Don’t forget that the four required drawings include a floor plan, construction plan, mechanical plan, and elevations (significant walls) following the NKBA Graphics and Presentation Standards (i.e. fully dimensioned). No color may be used on required drawings.
• A design statement is required. Design statements must be typed and should not exceed one page in length. They may be in narrative or bulleted format. Make sure your design statement clarifies any changes in the program, material selection and emphasizes planning decisions.
• A concept board no larger than 12” x 12” must be submitted. This should include materials, photos, etc. to fully communicate design concepts. (Hint: Make sure your materials are secure, screw handles into wood, use glue that is strong enough for the materials you are using).
• DO NOT send glass boards, glass chips, or large marble tiles. Instead, take a color photograph and adhere to a foam board. Last year, submissions were received and the glass pieces and boards came through broken.
• When sending multiple entries in one box, please make sure that each entry is attached to the proper drawings and concept boards.
• DEADLINE: Entries must be postmarked by December 1, 2008.

The NKBA is not responsible for those entries that do not arrive by the time of judging.

We suggest sending entries by a carrier that can track your mailing to ensure timely arrival to NKBA headquarters. Early arrival is always encouraged and appreciated.

For NKBA Accredited and Supported Students Only

NEW: K/BIS T-Shirt Contest- Use Your Design Skills…and Win a Scholarship:

Do you have a heart for design? Give it a workout in the NKBA’s first-ever T-Shirt Design Competition. The National Kitchen & Bath Association wants students at NKBA accredited and supported colleges to design a t-shirt with the NKBA logo that expresses the theme of the kitchen and bath as the “heart of the home.” The winning design will be printed on t-shirts sold at K/BIS and elsewhere. One winner receives a $500 scholarship prize; runners-up each receive a $100 scholarship. Visit the NKBA website for entry form, voting, and official rules. Entries must be received by 5 pm EST on January 9, 2009; winners will be notified in March.

GE Charette Contest:

This year, the administration of the GE Charette Contest will be handled by the NKBA. The contest remains the same except that three contestants per school will receive a $50 scholarship and a Certificate of Achievement. The winners will also be honored in Profiles, the quarterly magazine of the NKBA. Those three designs will be entered in the NKBA/GE National Charette Scholarship to earn thousands of dollars more. Be sure to choose your date and complete the registration form, then mail to Sally Spencer or email .

The NKBA Provides a Direct Career Path Into The Industry

Internships:

Are you looking for an internship? Our new intern provider program was highly successful with more than 75 companies listing internship offerings. Many of our members offered paid internships and some even provided housing/travel assistance. A recent survey to our providers revealed that only 38% of the respondents filled their internship position and 60% of those that had an intern are still seeking additional interns. The Careers section allows you to search for internships/jobs, manage you resume, and create an electronic portfolio of your work. Don’t wait; check it out now!

Free NKBA Certification (AKBD) Exam for Students

The NKBA certification department has a new program exclusively for NKBA Accredited Program students. Students at our NKBA Accredited Programs will have the opportunity to take the Associate Kitchen & Bath Designer (AKBD) Certification Examination on their campus and postpone the exam fee until they apply for certification.

Free Registration and Assessment Test:

The exam will be offered on NKBA Accredited campuses from January 10–30, 2009. Both students and Accredited Program coordinators will receive results. The exam provides a benchmark for students to assess their kitchen and bath knowledge, as well as their readiness for the AKBD, and gives confidence to students that successfully pass the exam.

Participation Criteria:

Students must be in their final year of the program accredited by National Kitchen & Bath Association.

How Does My School & Students Register?

Your school’s testing center will register as a CASTLE testing center. Students at NKBA Accredited Programs that wish to take the exam should contact their NKBA Coordinator immediately. Click here for a complete Exam Registration Form and return the form to your coordinator. The coordinator must send all forms postmarked by November 15, 2008.

Will I Become Certified If I Pass The Exam?

No. Successful candidates can apply to become NKBA certified once they complete the requirements for the Associate Kitchen & Bath Designer designation.

These requirements include:

• A minimum of two (2) years of experience or graduation and completion of 160-hour internship from a NKBA Accredited Program and submission of the NKBA Graduation Verification Form.

• A minimum of 30 hours of NKBA education, equivalent college or graduation from an accredited program.
• Complete the NKBA Application for Certification- Associated Kitchen & Bath Designer, AKBD, including the following:
  • AKBD Application for Certification
  • Two AKBD Professional Affidavit Forms (be sure to obtain signatures for these forms during their internship/work experience)- may not be relatives, employers, co-workers, or relatives of employers
  • Candidate testimony
  • Certification Fees:
  • Application Fee: $75
  • Certification Processing Fee: $100
  • Exam Registration Fees: $200
  • Must be a registered NKBA member (student or industry)

Why Should I Take the AKBD Exam?

Increased marketability. Students that demonstrate competency at a professional level verified by a standardized examination are more desirable to employers. Employers will be pleased that they will not have to spend money and time towards certification. Even students planning to enter the commercial area of design should be encouraged to sit for the exam. Many commercial settings involve the specification of cabinetry. The domains that are tested, planning and design, construction/ mechanical systems, business management, and products/materials are valuable and applicable to all areas of design.

Should I Sit for the AKBD If I Didn’t Take a Kitchen or Bath Internship?

Yes. Life always has an element of uncertainty. Even though your plans today don’t include kitchen and bath, you may take a job in the industry in the future. The NKBA will honor the results of any exams passed for up to 7 years. Candidates who fail to obtain certification after 7 years will have to retake all/both parts of the exam.

Professional Resource Library:

Planning to sit for the AKBD exam? If you don’t already have the complete set of the Professional Resource Library, now is the time to get your set and start studying for the exam. Students attending a NKBA supported/accredited program receive a special discount on the complete set of the Professional Resource Library. Please contact NKBA Customer Service at (800) THE-NKBA for more details.

Student Chapters and Officers:

Does your school have a student chapter? Start one this year! The NKBA is offering a yearly renewable grant of $500 for new student chapters or existing chapters who submit the proper paperwork.

Does an Interior Design Club already exist on campus? Why not add the NKBA to the list of organizations that students can join? Be sure to follow all the guidelines by including officers that are NKBA student members and designating at least three meetings to the NKBA activities.

If you serve as a student chapter officer, and have served at least one full academic year (minimum of 8 months), you will be given a complimentary registration for the AKBD Preparation course, subject to space availability, for up to two years from your graduation date.

Interested in finding out how to start a student chapter? Contact Sally Spencer at .. There are 37 student chapters; your school could be #38!

20/20 Technologies:

20/20 Technologies have a wonderful program offer for NKBA students seeking to use their design software.

Student License

• $99 for software plus $15 for shipping
• Free renewal upon proof of eligibility for the second year
• 25% discount to trade up to the professional 20-20 design after graduation
• Discount extended to student’s first employer

Eligibility

• Proof of enrollment in a certificate or degree/diploma (minimum 1 year program) at an educational institution that has incorporated 20/20 design in its curriculum
• Or an NKBA student member in good standing who can provide proof of enrollment in a certificate, degree or diploma program
• Strictly for educational purposes- students may not use the software in a professional design capacity

For more details, please contact Maria Angelopoulos at 866-698-2020 ext. 376.