CLARB Certification is the industry recognized distinction for licensed Landscape Architect professionals that signifies you have met the professional standards established by CLARB and carries our recommendation that you be granted licensure without further review. Becoming CLARB Certified gives you a competitive advantage, as well as fast tracks your path to licensure. Learn more about CLARB Certification.

1. Begin your CLARB Council Record, the only application for CLARB Certification.
2. Complete your Council Record for verification.
3. CLARB will evaluate your credentials against the industry professional standards.
4. If eligible, CLARB will notify you via a formal letter and you will receive the right to use the "CLARB Certified Landscape Architect" logo and slogan on all of your marketing materials (e.g. John Doe, PLA., CLARB).  You will also receive an official wall certificate and a lapel pin to wear at industry events.

If you are not eligible for CLARB Certification at the time of initial evaluation, you will receive information indicating the necessary requirements in order to meet the CLARB Certification standards. Once these requirements have been met, you will be notified by CLARB. 

Please review the professional standards for information on the requirements for Certification and policies for revocation.

The Council Record is a valuable tool throughout your career – from exam candidate to established professional. It is a verified history of your education, experience, examination, licensure history and professional references. Use your Council Record to apply for examination, licensure and certification. Access or purchase your Council Record.  

To ensure your information is up to date and ready to use for an exam registration or licensure application, your Council Record is renewed annually on your anniversary date (not calendar year) and can be updated at any time

Please visit the Council Record Fees page for cost information. 

CLARB’s verification process takes the workload off of you with a streamlined licensure process for you and for the registration board in your jurisdiction by guaranteeing accurate, up-to-date information.

Your Council Record enables you to:

• Register for the L.A.R.E.  
  An active Council Record is required to register for the L.A.R.E. To ensure your information is up to date and ready to use for an exam registration or licensure application, your Council Record is renewed and updated annually.
• Apply for licensure
  Utilizing the Council Record for licensure application is faster and more efficient for you and jurisdictions because you’ve already compiled – and CLARB has verified -- the information that jurisdictions require. Use your Council Record to apply for licensure today.
• Track continuing education
  As a licensed professional, continuing education (CE) is required by most jurisdictions, many of which have different requirements.  Use the free CE tracking tool – available exclusively to professionals who have a Council Record – to easily track your CE efforts and provide a digital CE report to each jurisdiction where you are licensed.
• Receive CLARB Certification
  Maintaining a complete Council Record enables you to be evaluated for CLARB Certification, an important, recognized credential that will help you obtain licensure more quickly—a competitive advantage in today’s marketplace.

Renew your Council Record with these simple step:

To ensure ease of transmitting your Council Record, the Record must be renewed annually. During the renewal period, you provide updated information for the previous 12 months and CLARB verifies this new information so that your professional credentials remain up-to-date.

To see your renewal date, login to the website and access “My Council Record" (link accessible in the top right-hand corner of every webpage). Your Council Record expiration date is listed in the “Council Record Renewal Status” box.

You can rejoin your CLARB record at any time. Please note there will be a reactivation fee in addition to the annual renewal fee. Check the Council Record Fees page for Council Record and rejoin fees. Your Record will renew at the annual anniversary of when you rejoin your Council Record. To process your reactivation, please contact the CLARB office at 571-432-0332.

CLARB offers a free continuing education (CE) tracking tool exclusively to Council Record holders.The easiest way to use this tool:  take CE courses that are offered by LA CES approved providers. When you register for a LACES course, please make sure you list your first name, last name, and Council Record number exactly as it appears in your Council Record (no nicknames or old record numbers) to ensure your data will automatically upload into your Record.  Please note: it can take 60-90 days for CE to upload into your record.

You may also manually upload CE information. Any non-LA CES courses must be manually entered into your record. When you need to provide proof of CE compliance, you may generate a CE transcript via the CLARB website and provide it to your licensure board. Please check with your licensure board to see how to appropriately submit CE to meet their specific requirements.

LA CES establishes, maintains and enforces standards for evaluating professional development and continuing education programs for landscape architects. Learn more here.