The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is thrilled to announce the launch of its Certified Remodeling Designer (CRD) certification, a groundbreaking program tailored specifically for experienced remodeling designers committed to creating functional, buildable, and beautiful remodeling projects. With a focus on enhancing collaboration among designers, production teams, clients, and vendors, the CRD certification offers designers an opportunity to become leaders in the remodeling industry by validating their expertise and mastery of key remodeling principles.
“The remodeling design field demands more than an eye for beauty—it requires an in-depth understanding of construction principles and strong cross-functional collaboration,” says NARI President Jason Hensler. “Remodeling designers must anticipate and address the complexities unique to renovation projects.”
The CRD certification recognizes designers’ roles as essential liaisons who bring together the vision, functionality, and practicality needed to deliver profitable, client-satisfying results.
“This is a phenomenal education that you’re not going to get from any other certification out there, and they definitely don’t teach this in design school,” says Sarah Gaffney, CKBR, design and development director at Next Stage Design/Build in Santa Clara County, California. “A remodeling designer needs to understand the remodeled space and that transition between existing space and new space. NARI’s CRD education is very specific to the remodeling designer.”
To prepare for the rigorous CRD certification exam, candidates have the following options:
- CRD Prep Course: Engage in an eight-week online preparatory course with weekly two-hour sessions.
- Self-Study: Using program study guides, you can study at your own pace.
CRD Online Prep Course Curriculum
CRD offers a comprehensive curriculum developed by experienced designers and business owners. It empowers designers to:
- act as leaders and bridge communication across all project phases
- create functional, on-budget designs within existing conditions
- collaborate seamlessly with the production team to meet client expectations
- uncover client priorities for budget-friendly, functional designs
- set clear client expectations to streamline the process
- evaluate existing conditions to prevent construction challenges
- optimize layouts for kitchens, baths, and other spaces to tackle design obstacles
- choose materials, fixtures, and appliances tailored to function, aesthetics, and maintenance.
NARI’s CRD enrollment opens Dec. 9, 2024, with preparatory classes starting March 5 and Sept. 24, 2025. The first CRD test is scheduled for May 2025. Learn more at nari.org/crd.
