[Chris Heiler]

I'm hoping someone can provide me with a concise answer to this question.

What exactly is required to become a Registered Landscape Architect?

I'm a landscape designer with a bachelor's in Horticulture (design emphasis). I have friends who have their bachelor's in Landscape Architecture but are not registered. I always assumed you at least needed to have a bachelors in LA and possibly even a masters to become registered. I also realize you need to pass the registration exam.
So what are the requirements? Can I as a designer, with no LA degree, pass the exam and become a Registered Landscape Architect?

Your answers are appreciated.

[papercutter]

Depends on the state. From what I was reading, in RI, I could submit to the board and potentially get to call myself an LA based on my experience and ties to an RLA, even though I didn't go to school for it.

[saslandscape]

Check the ASLA website. They have the most info on what is required for your state. For my state (TX), you have to have a B.S. in Landscape Architecture and have worked under a registered Landscape Architect. If you didn't get your degree in Landscape Architecture, then you can either get your Masters in it and do the internship, or you have to have at least seven years of landscape design experience working under a registered landscape architect. This will possibly qualify you to take the L.A.R.E. TX is different then a lot of states, because if you can pass it here, you can practice pretty much anywhere in the country and only have to take a minor exam in each state you want to be registered in. I'm going to be taking mine next year, as a lot of my former classmates have already passed the exam.

[agla]

Here is the link to ASLA's summary of Michigan.

http://www.asla.org/Members/govtaffa...chigan2007.pdf

One thing that is often overlooked is that by defining a title law that states that landscape architecture and terms like "landscape architectural" can not be used without it being under the direct full time control of one holding a license, it means that experience in "landscape architectural work" typically means working under the direct supervision of an LA rather that doing the exact same work for anyone else. I know that is the case here in MA.

The reason that there are way more people with BSLA or BLA degrees than are licensed is largely because they skip the internship and either start or already had a business on their own. No one gives up a business to intern for someone else (if they'd hire you). It is not because they can't pass the test, but because they can't sit at the table to take it.

[Chris Heiler]

Thanks for the good information all. I appreciate it.

[pineapple]

The first step is to contact your state board of professional registration/licensing. They will have a list of requirements you must meet in order to be allowed to take the LARE.

I doubt that you can take the test without a degree in LA.

In Illinois, you must have a degree from an accredited program (not all are accredited), a number of professional and character references, transcripts, work history etc to apply to take the LARE.

Then you take the test, which is quite an experience.

In Illinois, you have 3 years to pass it, then have to go through the entire application again.

I also attended an LARE review session, which helped.
The total cost for the test, study materials, applications, test fees, etc - about $4000.

[tfld]

No offense, but the LARE is probably a little more complicated than you may think (but I know what happens when one assumes).

I've had a few classes in contract docs and specs and advanced site engineering and it's pretty complicated. Considering the entirety of these two courses probably comprise about a tenth of the exam and I've already forgotten how to do half of it, I'd assume the exam would be VERY difficult to pass without a formal education.

Does any of this sound familiar?

cut-fill calcs
ADA....
stormwater detention
road alignment (vertical and horizontal)
construction standards...

Here in Colorado alot of firms and universities have review sessions. I'm not sure if anyone interested can attend, if they cost money...?

-n

[agla]

It sounds very familiar.

Very little of the LARE has to do with plants. Planting desgn is limited to abstract descriptions like evergreen upright medium size rather than a genus and species. It is also not graded on creativity or artistry, but on functionality. Everything is set up with a scenario that you are supposed to be able to analyze and then deduce the criteria of the planting design and react accordingly. In other words you may have to screen a commercial site from a residential zone and at the same time you would not want to provide an ambush area for a mugger or interfere with a traffic sight line. You may have a plan showing contours of a couple of hills and be told to use point A as a vista viewing point and to frame a view of point B while screning a view of point C.

There is a lot of parking and vehicular circulation layout as well as pedestrian circulation within it. It is mostly about avoiding conflicts between vehicles and people or other vehicles. ADA definitely comes into play.

Then there is grading and drainage which will have you calculate spot grades and draw in the contour lines for roads, parking lots and such as well as adding in drainage swales in the softscape surrounding it. Then there is the layout f dranage systems that start wth calculating the amount of water bsed on a certain type storm, calculating the pipe sizes and pitch through the whole system and possibly sizing a retention pond and contouring that as well.

The was a section on administrative stuff like various ownerhip types, insurance, contracts, change orders, and tha sort of stuff. Then there was stuff about government regulations like planning and zoning issues, wetlands protection, and so on.

Most states have an add on section or two. This usually includes regional plants and possibly conservation issues in a particular state.

I had some things like laying out of a number of activities in a ficticious state park. This has a lot to do with understading activities and where they should be and how they relate to each other.

The idea of the test is minimal competency in every aspect of landscape architecture. The criteria is public safety and welfare rather than aesthetics. It is not about how it looks but how well it functions partiularly in regard to health, safety, security, and the protecion of the environment.

A great residential landscape designer may have absolutely no clue on any of it. Conversely, someone who can ace the LARE may have no clue on how to put an aesthetically nice landscape together on a plan.

The biggest misunderstanding is that landscape architecture is high garden design. It is site planning. It may include high garden design, but the training is in everything to do with site design.

Think of it as building construction. If you want to be a finish cabinet maker, would you want to spend 5 years learning about high rise building framing and concrete block work as well as a little about cabinet making? If you did do that five years of building construction, would you be judged by how well you could build a piece of furniture? If you built great furniture, would you have a need to hang a piece of paper on the wall that told everyone that you had a great overall understanding of building?

[tfld]

Originally Posted by agla

It sounds very familiar.

Very little of the LARE has to do with plants. Planting desgn is limited to abstract descriptions like evergreen upright medium size rather than a genus and species. It is also not graded on creativity or artistry, but on functionality. Everything is set up with a scenario that you are supposed to be able to analyze and then deduce the criteria of the planting design and react accordingly. In other words you may have to screen a commercial site from a residential zone and at the same time you would not want to provide an ambush area for a mugger or interfere with a traffic sight line. You may have a plan showing contours of a couple of hills and be told to use point A as a vista viewing point and to frame a view of point B while screning a view of point C.

There is a lot of parking and vehicular circulation layout as well as pedestrian circulation within it. It is mostly about avoiding conflicts between vehicles and people or other vehicles. ADA definitely comes into play.

Then there is grading and drainage which will have you calculate spot grades and draw in the contour lines for roads, parking lots and such as well as adding in drainage swales in the softscape surrounding it. Then there is the layout f dranage systems that start wth calculating the amount of water bsed on a certain type storm, calculating the pipe sizes and pitch through the whole system and possibly sizing a retention pond and contouring that as well.

The was a section on administrative stuff like various ownerhip types, insurance, contracts, change orders, and tha sort of stuff. Then there was stuff about government regulations like planning and zoning issues, wetlands protection, and so on.

Most states have an add on section or two. This usually includes regional plants and possibly conservation issues in a particular state.

I had some things like laying out of a number of activities in a ficticious state park. This has a lot to do with understading activities and where they should be and how they relate to each other.

The idea of the test is minimal competency in every aspect of landscape architecture. The criteria is public safety and welfare rather than aesthetics. It is not about how it looks but how well it functions partiularly in regard to health, safety, security, and the protecion of the environment.

A great residential landscape designer may have absolutely no clue on any of it. Conversely, someone who can ace the LARE may have no clue on how to put an aesthetically nice landscape together on a plan.

The biggest misunderstanding is that landscape architecture is high garden design. It is site planning. It may include high garden design, but the training is in everything to do with site design.

Think of it as building construction. If you want to be a finish cabinet maker, would you want to spend 5 years learning about high rise building framing and concrete block work as well as a little about cabinet making? If you did do that five years of building construction, would you be judged by how well you could build a piece of furniture? If you built great furniture, would you have a need to hang a piece of paper on the wall that told everyone that you had a great overall understanding of building?

Agreed on all counts, and well said. I have yet to take the exam, but plan to within the next five years. I've worked in a couple of top international firms while in school and there are plenty of people at each who would be considered very smart, creative, and knowledgable people that have failed at least one section of the exam at least once. Actually, I'm not sure I've met anyone that's aced it in one shot, but I'm sure theres plenty.

Someone said once..landscape architects are like "engineers with flair.."

I thought that was funny, forgot who said it..

-n

[tfld]

Originally Posted by Chris Heiler

I'm hoping someone can provide me with a concise answer to this question.

What exactly is required to become a Registered Landscape Architect?

I'm a landscape designer with a bachelor's in Horticulture (design emphasis). I have friends who have their bachelor's in Landscape Architecture but are not registered. I always assumed you at least needed to have a bachelors in LA and possibly even a masters to become registered. I also realize you need to pass the registration exam.
So what are the requirements? Can I as a designer, with no LA degree, pass the exam and become a Registered Landscape Architect?

Your answers are appreciated.

Short answer; No.