Since 1950, the American Institute of Building Design (AIBD), the nationally recognized association of Professional Building Designers, has provided its members professional and educational resources, and has developed nationwide design standards and a code of ethics for the building design profession.

Today, AIBD represents professional and associate members in 47 states, has 23 chartered state societies as well as a growing membership in Canada. Its chartered state societies are active in their respective legislative arenas and work to promote public awareness of the building design profession. Because of interest and expertise as well as individual state statutes, most AIBD members specialize in custom residential and light commercial projects. Our members are required to comply with state statutes and to follow the guidelines established by regional building codes. Our membership is recognized and supported by various state Home Builder associations, and we have been recognized and authorized to certify plans and specifications by the Farmers Home Administration. Many of our members are also approved to certify plans for the Federal Housing Administration and the Veteran's Administration on an individual basis. Many AIBD members serve on individual metropolitan area planning commissions and various municipal code review boards.

AIBD is also meeting the challenge of the future by educating members about new and improved building materials and 2l-century technology that will impact how we live in the future. In response to the ever-changing needs of the design profession, the AIBD Board of Directors has established the National Council of Building Designer Certification (NCBDC), and has charged its leadership with overseeing the Designer Certification Program. For those who have chosen the profession of building design, there is no greater evidence of competency than achieving the status of Certified professional Building Designer (CPBD). Application for this credential is available to building designers – both professional members of the AIBD and non-AIBD members – who qualify.

Alternately, the credential of Professional Building Designer is the highest classification level, which a professional member of the AIBD can attain. To qualify, an individual must first possess a minimum of six years of educational and professional design experience. As with the CPBD credential, a Professional Building Designer must subscribe to a code of professional ethics. Equally significant, both require a commitment to professional development through a continuing education policy.

The national headquarters for AIBD is incorporated as a non-profit professional corporation and maintains its headquarters in Stratford, Connecticut. Its board of directors, elected from eligible members of state societies and members at large, governs AlBD nationally.

Councils

• Council of Publishing Home Designers

• National Council of Building Designer Certification

Council of Publishing Home Designers is an independent council established to address the concerns of the pre-dawn home plans market. The principal goals are to ensure the consuming public of the highest quality product, reduce copyright infringement by educating the design community and consumers alike, provide an honorable, low cost and non-disruptive means for the resolutions of copyright disputes between designers. National Council of Building Design Certification.

The American Institute of Building Design endorses and encourages their members to be Certified Professional Building Designers under the National Council of Building Designer Certification (NCBDC). The NCBDC program is the only certification for residential and light frame building designers in the nations. The certification program has been certifying light frame building designers for over 40 years and measures a designer's qualifications on a nationally recognized level. This program is a true test of an applicant's complete understanding of residential and light frame building design. Certification allows designers to demonstrate professional capabilities and is a designation of professional excellence.