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Landscape Architects

Certification, Licensing, and Special Requirements

Certification or Licensing

All states require landscape architects to be licensed or registered, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The American Society of Landscape Architects offers links to state licensing boards on its Wen site, https://www.asla.org/StateGovtAffairsLicensure.aspx. To obtain licensure, applicants must pass the Landscape Architect Registration Examination, sponsored by the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB). Though standards vary by state, most require applicants to have a degree from an accredited program and to be working toward one to four years of experience in the field. In addition, some states require prospective landscape architects to pass another exam that tests knowledge of local environmental regulations, vegetation, and other characteristics unique to the particular state. Because these standards vary, landscape architects may have to reapply for licensure if they plan to work in a different state. However, in many cases, workers who meet the national standards and have passed the exam are granted the right to work elsewhere. For more information on licensing, contact the CLARB (https://www.clarb.org) or the ASLA (https://www.asla.org).

Landscape architects working for the federal government need a bachelor's or master's degree but do not need to be licensed.

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