How to Become a Landscape Architect

Do you ever stop and admire the scenery at your local parks, playgrounds, gardens, college campuses, shopping centers, golf courses, roads or parkways? If you do, remember that a landscape architect designed the area. To put it simply, landscape architects have two main goals; make it functional and make it beautiful. Landscape architects also plan and design the location of buildings, roads, walkways, and the arrangement of flowers, trees, and shrubs. Plus, many landscape architects plan and design human-disrupted wetlands, stream corridors, mined areas and forested land.

So how do landscape architects make a career out of planning and designing these areas? There are three basic steps to achieve this goal:

1. Earn an accredited degree in landscape architecture
2. Participate in an internship or apprenticeship
3. Pass the LARE, or Landscape Architect Registration Exam

Educational Requirements

To become a licensed or non-licensed landscape architect you need to make sure you have a strong educational background. Graduating with an undergraduate or graduate degree is necessary for employment in most firms, large or small. There are generally four different degrees a landscape architect can earn:

• Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, or BLA
• Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture, or BSLA
• Master of Landscape Architecture, or MLA
• Master of Science/Master of Art in Landscape Architecture, or MS/MA

It’s important to know that the LAAB (Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board) is the agency that accredits professional degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels in the United States. Other degree programs, such as MLA, PhD and MS/MA fall outside the scope of LAAB accreditation.

Internship Requirements

To gain licensure, all States require some form of work experience under the supervision of a licensed landscape architect. Most students begin looking for an internship or apprenticeship while in their final years of study. Requirements for each State vary, however most jurisdictions require 1-4 years of internship or apprenticeship to meet their standards of a knowledgeable, educated landscape architect.

Pass the Exam

In some States, candidates are qualified to take the LARE prior to meeting all other requirements for licensure. It’s important that a candidate checks with their states licensing board to learn more about eligibility requirements, schedules, locations and application deadlines. The LARE consists of two separate styles; multiple-choice and graphic exams. Multiple-choice exams make up Sections A, B and D and are administered every March and September at Prometric test centers. Graphic exams make up Sections C and E and are administered every June and December by licensing boards and CLARB (Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards) Test Centers. Exam candidates should check the CLARB website to determine if the test center they plan on using is a CLARB Test Center. Candidates need to prove educational and training requirements have been met before becoming eligible to take the LARE.

As of right now, there are 13 States that require a candidate to take and pass a State Examination in addition to the LARE to meet registration requirements. Again, check with your state’s licensing board beforehand.

The five sections of the LARE are:

A- Project and Construction Administration (multiple-choice)

B- Site Analysis (multiple-choice)

C- Planning and Site Design (graphic exam)

D- Structural Considerations and Materials & Methods of Construction (multiple-choice)

E- Grading, Drainage and Stormwater Management (graphic exam)

Job Outlook for Landscape Architects

Landscape Architects are expected to see a bit of competition for jobs, especially right after graduation and when trying to enter a prestigious firm. Over the course of the next few years, the BLS expects to see a 20% increase in job growth for landscape architects, as these positions will need to be filled as new construction developments need planning, existing buildings and land need refurbished, and due to environmental concerns and an increased demand for sustainability, employment will grow as landscape architects become more and more involved in designing green roofs and managing storm water run-off waterways.

Many employers of small and large firms prefer to hire entry-level landscape architects who are fresh out of school and testing, as well as have some experience in the field. This criteria allows these employers to groom, train and shape the new employees to perform to their standards, plus it reduces the amount of actual hands-on-training the employer will need to provide the new hire to give them the practice they need to perform well on projects.

Still, opportunities will always be best for those who have strong technical skills, communication skills and knowledge of environmental codes and regulations. Plus, those who consistently stay unique, creative, up-to-date with society’s needs and wants and have additional experience in areas such as urban planning, also find better opportunities after licensure has been granted.