NKBA Accreditation serves the professional needs of the industry and ensures consistent, quality education for students who want to become

 kitchen or bath professionals

The National Kitchen & Bath Association recently announced that Joliet Junior College, located in Joliet, IL has met all requirements to continue as an NKBA Accredited Program provider of their A.A.S. Interior Design Degree, a 2-year program, consisting of 71 semester credit hours.

NKBA Accreditation serves the professional needs of the industry and ensures consistent, quality education for students who want to become kitchen or bath professionals. The NKBA currently recognizes over 55 schools in North America whose kitchen and bath curriculum, based on the comprehensive material provided in the NKBA Professional Resource Library (PRL), meet the educational standards established by the NKBA.

These established standards, detailed in the PRL, include the knowledge and skills necessary for competent practice in the profession, divided into four categories: Planning and Design, Construction Systems, Business and Project Management, and Products/Materials. Each school seeking accreditation must adequately meet stringent NKBA standards in each of these areas. These schools submit a self-study report and an analysis of competencies as related to these areas of study.

An evaluation is conducted which consists of classroom observations, a curriculum review meeting with faculty, a presentation of projects, and interviews with students, faculty and administration. The educational institution must have accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or a provincial ministry of education in Canada.

NKBA Accredited Programs are evaluated with respect to mission, administration, curriculum, faculty, and resources to determine eligibility and the students’ aptitude toward fulfilling the Association’s required competencies. Industry professionals evaluate student work samples as a subjective measure of the program. Programs that meet the qualifications for accreditation, or a preliminary status of supported, are published both in print and on the NKBA website. Each year, the Association monitors the progress of these schools with the submission of student work samples based on the NKBA Student Design Competition. This process provides an outcome-based assessment to the schools. Accredited Programs have a reevaluation period of seven years.

Joliet Junior College first earned full NKBA Accreditation in 2009 by demonstrating that it meets these requirements, which represent the basis of a program the NKBA considers essential for quality education. Each student must complete classroom work and internships monitored by the educational institution, which will enhance and extend the classroom experiences and make certain that they meet the NKBA’s required student competencies. Programs accredited by the National Kitchen & Bath Association must have an NKBA Certified advisor or faculty member.

 About the National Kitchen & Bath Association and the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is a not-for-profit trade association that owns the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS®). With 60,000+ members, the NKBA has educated and led the kitchen and bath industry since its founding in 1963. The mission of the NKBA is to enhance member success and excellence, promote professionalism and ethical business practices, and provide leadership and direction for the kitchen and bath industry worldwide. For more information, visit NKBA.org or call 1-800-THE-NKBA (843-6522).

KBIS® and NKBA® are registered trademarks of the National Kitchen & Bath Association.

For editorial assistance, including photography, kitchen and bath trend reports, or access to kitchen and bath design experts for interview purposes, contact John O’Reilly c/o O’Reilly DePalma: 815-469-9100 or john.oreilly@oreilly-depalma.com

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