Thomas Edison State College
The NKBA and Thomas Edison State College of New Jersey have entered into a partnership that enables NKBA certified members to earn college credits.
NKBA Certified Kitchen and Bath Designers and Educators set the standard for the industry. In recognition of that, individuals who have earned their AKBD, CKD, CBD, CKE, CBE, or CMKBD certifications are now eligible to receive up to 54 credits toward either an associate’s or bachelor of science degree in Applied Science and Technology in Kitchen & Bath Design from Thomas Edison State College.
The recommendations for academic credits were prepared by a team of professional educators, including three academic institutions with expertise in interior design, kitchen and bath design and construction standards. This team conducted an in-depth review of the roles and backgrounds of volunteer members of the Certification Test Board Committee and the Examination Development Sub-Committee. They did the same for the personnel at CASTLE Worldwide, who administer and evaluate the results of the NKBA examinations. The committees thoroughly reviewed every policy and procedure, as well as every document relating to advertising, administration, grading and record keeping. They closely examined how the integrity of the exams is maintained, the requirement that certified members remain current through CEUs and the experience requirement that each candidate must meet to qualify for an NKBA certification.
The NKBA and Thomas Edison State College recognize that adults can acquire college-level knowledge without attending college. As a result, the NKBA has partnered with pioneers in Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) to allow students to demonstrate that they possess college-level knowledge of a subject. This knowledge may have been acquired outside of a traditional classroom setting, such as through work, volunteer service, or, in this case, NKBA certification. Both the NKBA and Thomas Edison State College realize that professionals in the kitchen and bath industry possess a wealth of knowledge and experience in their field. NKBA Certification is one aspect of demonstrating that expertise—an associates or bachelor’s degree in Kitchen & Bath Design is another.
Thomas Edison is a fully accredited college. It’s also a distance learning institution, so members can take any additional classes required online. As a further benefit, the NKBA has arranged for its members to pay tuition comparable with the rate New Jersey residents are charged to attend this state college. Ron Dolan, NKBA Director of Education and a staunch supporter of PLA, added, “Our members have clearly demonstrated that they can be successful without a college degree. However, many may want a degree and some may need one for state licensure. This partnership with TESC provides them with an excellent time and cost-effective mechanism to achieve that goal.”
Please call the NKBA Certification Department at (800) THE-NKBA for additional details, or click here to download a flyer describing the program.