Certifications
Steven A. Ramaekers, CR
Deciding to remodel your home is a big decision. Outside of buying your home, it may be the single biggest investment you make. You need to know that the remodeling contractor you choose is a full-time, dedicated remodeling professional. NARI’s certification program offers this assurance through its extensive screening and testing process.
Only full-time, professional remodeling contractors are eligible for certification by NARI. You can be assured that any time you hire a NARI certified remodeling con- tractor, you are hiring an individual who has made a strong commitment to the professionalism of the remodeling industry and to his or her business. And because remodelers are not eligible for certification until they have been actively involved in the remodeling industry for at least five years, you know that the NARI certified remodeling professional you hire has had a number of years to develop the experience and skills that can only be gained through extensive hands-on practice.
In the highly competitive remodeling industry, isn’t it good to know that your remodeler has a long-term commitment to his or her work?
Christine M. Ramaekers, CKD
Planning Your Kitchen – Consult a Certified Kitchen Designer
A room for sharing describes today’s kitchen. Would you have much family time together if you didn’t meet in the kitchen? When you entertain, do your friends follow you into the kitchen, offering to help, hoping to chat? You may already be thinking of your new kitchen as a second living room – a well furnished space for visiting, cooking, eating, laughing, listening and hugging. You also know that the kitchen is the most technically complex room in the house, and possibly the most expensive to purchase. Designing a good kitchen, making it work as well as it looks, requires very specialized skills and knowledge. While there are many designers who “do” kitchens, only a limited number hold credentials as Certified Kitchen Designers.
CKD’s are trained to help you achieve what you really want in your new kitchen. The plans you see, the options described, and the products recommended by CKD’s will reflect your individual needs and style.
Kurt Neiswender, A.I.A, LEED-AP
Architects see the big picture when it comes to your project. They help you explore what appeals to you aesthetically and what you require functionally. They coordinate with teams of design, engineering and construction professionals; they sort through the maze of building codes and zoning requirements; and they ensure your project is built the way it was intended.
Members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) adhere to the AIA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, assuring you of their dedication to the high standards of professional practice. AIA architects also fulfill annual continuing education requirements to maintain their professional standing and to stay current in the profession.
Architect members are entitled under law to practice architecture. Individuals must be licensed (registered) before they may call themselves architects or contract to provide architectural services. Many architecture school graduates work in the field even though they are not licensed or while they are in the process of becoming licensed. But they may not call themselves an architect.
To become a registered architect, the candidate must have:
• a professional degree in architecture
• a significant period (usually 3-5 years) of practical training or internship
• and passage of all divisions of the Architect Registration Examination (ARE)
The LEED Professional Credentials were developed to encourage green building professionals to maintain and advance their knowledge and expertise. A LEED Professional Credential provides stakeholders with assurances of an individual’s current level of competence and is the mark of the most qualified, educated, and influential green building professionals in the marketplace. All the LEED Professional Credentials require adherence to the LEED Professional Disciplinary and Exam Appeals Policy and require ongoing credential maintenance requirements either through continuing education and practical experience or through biennial retesting. The LEED AP (Accredited Professional) credential will continue to signify an advanced depth of knowledge in green building practices.
