Preparing for the Exams
Study Groups
Each NKBA chapter has a Vice President of Professional Development. One of the responsibilities of this officer is to organize and conduct study groups for the CKD/CBD examinations. These study groups have proven to be beneficial in keeping candidates motivated to complete the correspondence courses and improve the pass rate of examinees. Study group formats vary from three (3) to ten (10) months because they are conducted individually by each NKBA chapter. To find out if your chapter is or will be conducting a CKD or CBD Study Group, contact your local chapter's Vice President of Professional Development. To find your local NKBA chapter, please click here.
Practice Exam
The NKBA's testing service, CASTLE Worldewide, Inc. offers an online, 50-question AKBD practice exam. This cost of the practice exam is $50 and must be paid directly to CASTLE Worldwide, Inc. To access the practice exam, please click here and select National Kitchen & Bath Association from the list of available practice exams.
Preparatory Courses
The NKBA offers certification prep courses for aspiring AKBDs, CKDs and CBDs. Recommended for individuals preparing for the certification exams, this program offers participants a time-effective way to review the competencies and skills required of a certified designer, including the NKBA Graphic and Presentation Standards and Kitchen & Bath Planning Guidelines. The prep courses offer practice academic and design exams, and are available in three (3) or five (5) day segments.
Distance Learning
You can prepare for the AKBD, CKD, or CBD examinations at home on your own time and at your own pace with any of the NKBA's six (6) online courses, which are held in partnership with Century College. Course topics include Kitchen/Bath Design (regular and advanced), Business Management, Lighting, and Drafting to name a few. Visit the Online Courses section for more information.