Kitchen & Bath Program

Students in the Housing Option can complete the requirements for the Accredited Program in Kitchen and Bath Design. This popular opportunity prepares students for a variety of jobs in the kitchen and bath industry and provides them with advanced credit toward certification as a kitchen or bath designer.

Background

The Accredited Program in Kitchen and Bath Design at Virginia Tech was one of the first programs in the country to receive this recognition from the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). Accreditation recognizes that the program meets national educational standards and competencies. Participation in the accreditation provides considerable benefits to students, such as resource materials, networking with industry professionals, design competitions, opportunities to attend professional conferences, employment services, and scholarships.

The Virginia Tech program has achieved national recognition through student design competitions and alumni who have achieved career success and designations as certified designers. Alumni are frequently employed as kitchen and bath designers, but also work for manufacturers and retailers as showroom designers, project managers, and account managers. Students are in high demand, and employment opportunities exceed the number of graduates.

Career Benefits

Students who complete the Accredited Program are recognized as entering the workforce with credentials that prepare them to quickly succeed. "Name recognition" as a graduate of an Accredited Program is important. In addition, a graduate is qualified to immediately sit for the Associate Kitchen and Bath Designer (AKBD) certification exam. After two years of professional experience, graduates of the Accredited Program may apply to sit for the Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) or Certified Bath Designer (CBD) exams, a process that otherwise would require seven years work experience.

Accredited Program Requirements

The primary way to complete the Accredited Program in Kitchen and Bath Design is through the Housing Option course of study. Most of the competencies for the Accredited Program are integrated into the requirements for this option. In addition, there is a specific requirement for:

• AHRM 4964 Field Study- This must be completed with a kitchen and bath firm and be supervised by the Coordinator of the Accredited Program.

Interested and qualified graduate students in the AHRM Department may also complete the Accredited Program, in consultation with the Coordinator.

Please contact the Accredited Program Coordinator, Dr. Kathleen Parrott, for more information.