Become an ARCS Approved CEU Instructor

Bring Valuable Rug Education to Interior Designers in Your Market

As an ARCS member, you have the opportunity to teach "Basic Rug ID: Know What You Are Buying," an IDCEC-approved Continuing Education Unit (CEU) course created specifically for interior designers.

This educational program helps designers better understand rug construction, fiber performance, maintenance considerations, and the long-term factors that impact a rug's appearance and lifespan. Rather than turning designers into rug experts, the course equips them with the knowledge needed to ask better questions, make more informed recommendations, and recognize when a qualified rug professional should be involved.

For ARCS members, this CEU provides a professional, education-focused way to build relationships with local designers, design firms, showrooms, and industry organizations while positioning yourself as a trusted resource within the design community.

Unlike a sales presentation, this course is designed to establish credibility and foster meaningful professional connections through education.

What Designers Will Learn

The Basic Rug ID course provides a practical foundation in the rug topics that most directly impact client decisions and project outcomes.

Topics include:

• The differences between handmade and machine-made rugs
• How rug construction affects durability, value, consistency, and maintenance requirements
• The performance characteristics of natural, synthetic, and cellulosic fibers
• Common considerations that influence rug longevity and care
• How proper rug selection impacts long-term client satisfaction

By the end of the course, designers gain a stronger understanding of the factors that influence rug performance and develop greater confidence when discussing rug options with clients.

Why Teach This CEU?

Teaching this course allows you to:

• Build relationships with interior designers in your market
• Position yourself as a trusted educational resource
• Increase awareness of professional rug care and maintenance
• Strengthen connections with local design firms and showrooms
• Support the design community through objective, industry-approved education

This is an opportunity to share your expertise while helping designers make better-informed decisions for their clients.

Who Can Become an Instructor?

Any ARCS member in good standing may apply to become an approved instructor.

Once approved, you'll receive the official instructor toolkit, which includes:

• Approved presentation slide deck
• Instructor speaker notes
• Attendance tracking materials
• Course reporting documentation
• Everything needed to confidently present the course and maintain compliance with IDCEC requirements

Instructor Tutorial

Watch this brief tutorial with additional tips for teaching this course in your market.

How It Works

Step 1: Enroll as an Instructor
Contact ARCS Executive Director Ann Marie Thompson to begin the approval process.
Email: info@rugcarespecialists.org
Call: (503) 949-9700

Step 2: Verify Membership
Confirm your ARCS membership is active and in good standing.

Step 3: Complete Registration
Submit your instructor enrollment and payment.

Step 4: Receive Your Materials
Gain access to the official CEU instructor toolkit and presentation resources.

Step 5: Schedule Your Event
Coordinate an in-person educational session with designers, design firms, showrooms, or industry groups in your market.

Step 6: Teach the Course
Present the CEU using the approved materials provided by ARCS.

Step 7: Submit Attendance
After the event, submit attendance records to Ann Marie Thompson so participants can receive their 1-hour IDCEC CEU credit.

Important Compliance Information

Because this course is approved through IDCEC, all instructors must present the course exactly as provided.

To maintain course approval and ensure all participants receive valid continuing education credit:

• Course content may not be modified
• Sections may not be skipped or shortened
• Additional promotional or sales material may not be inserted into the presentation
• The course must remain educational in nature

These requirements protect the integrity of the CEU program, the designers receiving credit, and the professional reputation of all ARCS instructors.

Ready to Get Started?

Take the next step toward becoming an ARCS Approved CEU Instructor.

Contact Ann Marie Thompson, ARCS Executive Director, today to begin the enrollment process and receive your instructor materials.

Email: info@rugcarespecialists.org
Call: (503) 949-9700