Supporting and defending licensure
CLARB, with its Board of Directors and staff of 14, works every day to support our Council Record holders to ensure sustainability of the regulation of the profession you love which allows you to continue to protect the public’s health, safety and welfare in your work. Over the last five years alone, efforts to deregulate and/or weaken the licensing standards within landscape architecture have grown exponentially across North America. In addition to the invaluable services CLARB offers you through the Council Record and the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.), we want to share more information on how
CLARB works to defend licensure for landscape architects.
CLARB utilizes several strategies and partnerships to make sure the voice of landscape architecture is injected into the ongoing debate surrounding occupational licensing and works to ensure the profession remains licensed.
CLARB is committed to doing our part to serve you through defending licensure and the standards for licensure of landscape architecture.
If you have any questions about CLARB’s work to support licensure, ARPL or any of the licensing reform bills and inquiries listed, please
contact us.
Licensure support resources
CLARB is pleased to share research and tools to support Council Record holders and members in your licensure and advocacy efforts. Additionally, some resources have been provided courtesy of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and the Federation of Associations of Regulatory Boards (FARB), these documents provide information you can use to educate the public (including legislators) about what landscape architecture is, why licensure is important and much more.
One pager: Importance of Licensure
The public interest is best served when qualified, licensed professionals carry out responsibilities safely following rigorous and essential professional standards, and when other non-qualified individuals are prevented from providing such services to the public.
Download and share this PDF to help explain why landscape architects must be licensed.
Members and Council Record Holders, please sign in to access all licensure support resources.
The “Three E’s” Explained
The Three E’s – Education, Experience, and Examination – form the bedrock of professional licensing in the United States. These three essential components ensure practitioners possess the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to
protect the public and the environment.
The Problem with Anti-licensing
Anti-licensing is a misguided effort that undermines the vital role of licensing in safeguarding public welfare. This explainer video covers the misconceptions, risks, and potential harm associated with anti-licensing.
Universal Licensing: A Closer Look
Experts weigh in on the concept of universal licensing, which proposes that a license obtained in one jurisdiction should be valid in any other jurisdiction. While it may seem like a good idea on the surface, the implementation of this policy is complicated
and could compromise public protection. State lawmakers should carefully consider the impact of universal licensing before implementing it.
Interstate Practice: Common Pitfalls & How to Get it Right
Interstate practice refers to the ability of professionals to practice across state lines. In this video, licensing experts share examples of how states can responsibly accomplish flexibility and mobility. Lawmakers should consider this guidance as they
work to achieve interstate practice for a broader mix of professions and occupations.
Previous advocacy and legislative efforts
2021
Within the U.S., it has become increasingly common for governor’s offices and state legislatures to review existing occupational licensing laws to determine the appropriate level of regulation of an occupation or profession. When these reviews appear on our radar, CLARB works with our members (regulatory/licensure boards), ASLA counterparts, and allied professions to respond to these inquiries and to defend licensure.
- The state of Virginia reviewed the regulation of landscape architecture to see if licensure was still appropriate. CLARB worked with ASLA National and ASLA Virginia to respond to this inquiry and ultimately won, keeping landscape architecture a licensed profession in Virginia. We encourage you to click here to read the report.
2020
CLARB expanded our internal work by adding a dedicated Government Affairs and Advocacy Manager to the team. By having an in-house specialist, CLARB is able to monitor legislation and regulatory changes that will impact landscape architecture which allows CLARB to respond to proposed bills and regulatory changes quickly. Examples of recent occupational licensing reform include:
- CLARB, along with NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards) and NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying), sent a letter to the leadership of the Ohio House Committee on State and Local Government in response to a universal licensing bill in the House. The comment letter addressed potential problems with the bill and showcased the models our professions have in place that aid mobility.
- CLARB worked with ASLA National on a comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation in response to proposed changes to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD). The comment letter focused on a specific change to the MUTCD implying that provisions under the MUTCD only apply to engineers or those under the supervision of an engineer. CLARB and ASLA National advocated for the right of landscape architects to continue to practice safely in this area.
Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing
To expand our abilities in serving you, CLARB is a founding member of the Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL) which is a coalition made up of the U.S.-based professional societies and regulatory associations for landscape architecture, accounting, architecture, engineering, and surveying. We encourage you to learn more about this alliance by visiting the ARPL website and following on Facebook and Twitter.
Get involved
CLARB relies on volunteer support to advance our mission and strategic objectives.
You can join our efforts to design and promote landscape architectural standards. Learn more about our variety of volunteer opportunities and get started today.