Levels of Certification
- Associate Kitchen & Bath Designer (AKBD)
- Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD)
- Certified Bathroom Designer (CBD)
- Certified Kitchen Educator (CKE)
- Certified Bathroom Educator (CBE)
- Certified Kitchen & Bath Installer (CKBI)
- Certified Master Kitchen & Bath Designer (CMKBD)
| AKBD |
2 years
1 year min. kitchen/bath industry experience
1 year related experience or formal education |
30 hours of NKBA professional development programming |
2 Professional affidavits |
$75 application fee
$200 exam fee |
AKBD academic exam |
| CKD or CBD |
7 years
3 years min. full-time residential kitchen/ bath design and;
4 years related experience or formal education |
60 hours of NKBA professional development programming |
2 Client references
2 Professional affidavits |
$75 application fee
$400 exam fee ($200 per section) |
AKBD academic exam andCKD Design exam or CBD Design exam |
| CKE or CBE |
7 years
3 years min. full-time teaching experience in kitchen/bath design or Interior Design
4 years related experience or formal education |
60 hours of NKBA professional development programming |
2 Professional affidavits |
$75 application fee
$400 exam fee ($200 per section) |
AKBD academic exam andCKD Design exam or CBD Design exam |
| CKBI |
5 years
2 years min. full-time kitchen/bath installation experience
3 years related experience or formal education |
N/A for this level |
2 Client references with project portfolios
2 Professional affidavits |
$75 application fee
$200 exam fee |
CKBI Academic exam |
| CMKBD |
10 years of kitchen and bath industry experience in addition to experience demonstrated for 1st certification, of which min. 5 years is kitchen/bath design |
100 hours of NKBA professional development programming (can include education used to achieve AKBD and/or CKD and CBD) |
3 examples of design excellence by 3rd party endorsement -(design contest placement, published projects, television interviews, community endeavors, etc.) |
$75 application fee |
None- must possess both CKD and CBD certifications |
| CMKBE |
10 years of full-time teaching experience in the kitchen and bath industry in beyond the experience demonstrated for the first CKE/CBE certification |
100 hours of NKBA Professional Development Programming (can include education used for to achieve CKE/CBE). CEUs are not applicable towards earning certification |
3 Samples of 3rd party endorsements - course development, published material, interviews, community endeavors and or contest placement |
$75 application fee |
No exam, but must possess both CKE/CBE certifications. One of which must be in good standing for 10 years. |
*Expenses listed above pertain only to the certification application/exam process. Members must also pay their annual membership dues, and once certification is awarded, a $100 certification maintenance fee.
Late Fees
The deadline to apply for any NKBA certification exam is twelve (12) weeks prior to the test date. The NKBA will assess a late fee of $75 for any applications postmarked beyond the application deadline. Late applications will NOT be accepted more than four (2) weeks after the application deadline.
Transfer Fees
Any candidate who cancels or postpones their exam, or who switches from one test site to another, will be assessed a $75 transfer fee. If the NKBA is not notified of any cancellations, changes, or postponements within three (3) weeks of the exam date, the candidate will lose their entire exam registration fee.