The "CLARB Uniform Licensure Standard for Landscape Architecture" (CLARB Uniform Standard) establishes common, consistent requirements for education, experience and examination across jurisdictions. Developed through the Rethink Regulation initiative, this standard helps licensure boards reduce unnecessary barriers to entry, enhance mobility and strengthen regulatory consistency.
Participating jurisdictions
Highlighted in orange on the map below.
Eight CLARB member boards have implemented the Uniform Standard since it was adopted by the membership in 2022.
Adopted
- Alaska
- Alberta
- Illinois
- Maine
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Wyoming
Exploring
- Alabama
- Arizona
- British Columbia
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Minnesota
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Washington
Key components
Education
Accredited landscape architecture degree (LAAB, LAAC or international equivalent) or an alternative education pathway with additional supervised experience.
Experience
Two years of experience in the regulated practice of landscape architecture under the direct supervision of a licensed landscape architect or a licensed professional in a related field.
Examination
Pass the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.), developed and administered by CLARB.
Reciprocity
Licensees in good standing from another jurisdiction may qualify without additional requirements as determined by the board.
Benefits
The CLARB Uniform Licensure Standard for Landscape Architecture (Uniform Standard) establishes consistent, defensible and accessible licensure requirements across the United States, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands and Canada. Developed and adopted by CLARB’s membership, this model framework outlines education, experience and examination requirements to support licensure mobility, improve access and strengthen public protection.
Serving as a policy guide for jurisdictions, the standard provides a framework for aligning licensure requirements while allowing flexibility to meet unique regulatory needs. By adopting the standard, jurisdictions can streamline licensure processes, reduce barriers and promote greater professional mobility.
To explore how your jurisdiction could adopt the Uniform Standard, please reach out to Zach Druga.
CLARB Uniform Licensure Standard for Landscape Architecture 2022
Adopted by the CLARB Member Boards April 20, 2022.
The CLARB Uniform Licensure Standard for Landscape Architecture 2022 (“Uniform Standard”) is a policy guidance document established and adopted by the CLARB membership to outline detailed model requirements for education, experience, and examination to be eligible for licensure as a landscape architect. If implemented within member jurisdictions, the standard would achieve consistent licensure requirements across the United States and Canada thereby improving the landscape architecture mobility model, providing for increased equity and access to practice, increasing defensibility of licensure requirements, and ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of the public and the environment.
Approval of the Uniform Standard by the CLARB membership does not commit any jurisdiction to the implementation of the Uniform Standard. This policy guidance document serves as a resource to members to update their applicable laws by referring to or adopting the document or any section of it, but ultimately each jurisdiction must determine the appropriate level of regulation of the practice of landscape architecture within its borders.
Section 1
Qualifications for Licensure
To obtain a license to practice landscape architecture, an applicant must:
A. Education: Either (i) hold a degree in landscape architecture accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB), Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Accreditation Council (LAAC), or their international equivalent; or (ii) satisfy the alternative education requirements set forth in Section (2); and
B. Experience: Have completed two (2) years of experience in the regulated practice of landscape architecture under the direct supervision of a licensed landscape architect or a licensed professional in a related field; and
C. Examination: Pass the licensure examination developed and administered by CLARB; or
D. Reciprocity: In lieu of providing evidence that the applicant has completed the education, experience, and examination requirements noted in provisions (A) through (C) of this Section (1), provide evidence acceptable to the Board that the applicant is licensed and in good standing to practice landscape architecture under the laws of another jurisdiction, and other requirements as established by the Board.
Section 2
Alternative Education
In lieu of a degree in landscape architecture accredited by LAAB, LAAC, or their international equivalent, an applicant must obtain six (6) additional years of experience in the regulated practice of landscape architecture under the direct supervision of a licensed landscape architect or a licensed professional in a related field or, if eligible, an applicant may earn credit toward the remaining years of experience in regulated practice through one of the following options:
A. If an applicant holds a non-accredited degree or certificate in landscape architecture, then the applicant may be credited with one (1) year of experience for each year of schooling completed up to a maximum of four (4) years of credited experience, OR
B. If an applicant holds any degree or certificate, then the applicant may be credited with six (6) months of experience for each one (1) year of schooling completed up to a maximum of two (2) years of credited experience.
Section 3
Experience in the Regulated Practice of Landscape Architecture
A. To be considered “experience in the regulated practice of landscape architecture,” an applicant must gain experience in the following practice domains as determined by the Job Task Analysis to ensure competency necessary to protect the public and the environment:1
- Project and Construction Management: includes pre-project management, project management, bidding, construction, and maintenance;
- Inventory and Analysis: includes site inventory, physical analysis, and contextual analysis;
- Design: includes stakeholder process, master planning, and site design;
- Grading, Drainage, and Construction Documentation: includes site preparation plans, general plans and details, specialty plans, and specifications.
B. All applicant’s experience in the regulated practice of landscape architecture should be performed under the supervision of a licensed landscape architect or a licensed professional in a related field.
Section 4
Amendments
This CLARB Uniform Licensure Standard for Landscape Architecture [2022] may be amended at any special meeting or Annual Meeting of CLARB by resolution submitted to the member boards. The affirmative vote of the majority of the member boards represented at any CLARB meeting is required to adopt any amendment to this CLARB Uniform Licensure Standard for Landscape Architecture.
1 Notwithstanding the standards set forth herein, each jurisdiction within the CLARB membership will determine how it will evaluate experience based on its unique circumstances and requirements.
