Landscape Architecture

Licensure Requirements

General Requirements

The practice of landscape architecture or use of the title "landscape architect" within New York State requires licensure as a landscape architect except in certain exempt settings. These settings are detailed in Section 7326 of the Education Law.

To qualify for a license as a "landscape architect" in New York State you must:

• be of good moral character;
• be at least 21 years of age;
• meet education requirements;
• meet examination requirements;
• meet experience requirements; and
• be a United States citizen or alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States (USCIS I-551 Status/"Green Card")

You must file an application for licensure and the other forms indicated, along with the appropriate fee, to the Office of the Professions at the address specified on each form. It is your responsibility to follow up with anyone you have asked to send us material.

The specific requirements for licensure are contained in Title 8, Article 148, Section 7324 of the New York State Education Law and Subpart 79-1 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education.

You should also read the general licensing information applicable for all professions.

Fees

The fee for licensure and first registration is $294.

The fee for a limited permit and three-year registration is $249.

Fees are subject to change. The fee due is the one in law when your application is received (unless fees are increased retroactively). You will be billed for the difference if fees have been increased.

• Do not send cash.
• Make your personal check or money order payable to the New York State Education Department. Your cancelled check is your receipt.
• Mail your application and fee to:

  New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions
  PO Box 22063
  Albany, NY 12201

Partial Refunds

Individuals who withdraw their licensure application may be entitled to a partial refund.

• For the procedure to withdraw your application, contact the Landscape Architecture Unit by e-mail at opunit1@mail.nysed.gov or by calling 518-474-3817 ext. 250 or by fax at 518-402-5354.
• The State Education Department is not responsible for any fees paid to an outside testing or credentials verification agency.

If you withdraw your application, obtain a refund, and then decide to seek New York State licensure at a later date, you will be considered a new applicant, and you will be required to pay the licensure fee and meet the licensure requirements in place at the time you reapply.

Education and Experience Requirements

Education

Units assigned to each educational category below are the maximum that the Department may grant. After evaluating the degree or courses you successfully completed, the Department may grant less than the maximum number of units. Credit in Categories A through D may not be combined; the highest professional education level attained determines the maximum credit to be awarded. If you completed:

1. an American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) accredited undergraduate curriculum and graduated from a:
   1. 4-year program - 8 units
   2. 5-year program - 9 units
   Note: Partial credit will be considered for incomplete programs based on review of transcripts (2 units per year for a maximum of 6 units).
2. a graduate degree in landscape architecture AND an ASLA accredited undergraduate degree from a:
   1. 4-year program - 9 units
   2. 5-year program - 10 units
3. a 4-year non-landscape architecture degree AND a degree from an ASLA accredited graduate program.
   1. - 8 units
4. a degree in landscape architecture from an undergraduate or graduate curriculum that is NOT ASLA accredited¹
   1. - 7 units (maximum)
5. an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited civil engineering program or National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) accredited architecture program
   1. - 6 units (maximum)
6. a 2-year landscape architecture-related technical program,¹ you will be awarded one unit for each year successfully completed (or the equivalent in course credit)
   1. - 4 units (maximum)
7. a non-landscape architecture program (other than above) and have earned:
   1. an Associate's Degree - 2 units
   2. a Bachelor's Degree or higher - 4 units
8. a certificate of study or individual courses in landscape architecture, design or technology in non-accredited programs
   1. - 0 units

Professional Experience

Full-time diversified general practice in landscape architecture of a scope and nature satisfactory to the State Board for Landscape Architecture is needed to meet the experience requirement for licensure.

You must complete at least two years of your professional experience requirement directly under the supervision of a lawfully practicing landscape architect. You may make a written request for waiver of this requirement to the State Board for Landscape Architecture. You will be required to present, in person and to the satisfaction of the Board, evidence that your work experience is equivalent to that which would be obtained under the direct supervision of a lawfully practicing landscape architect.

The Board will review and determine credit for other training, education, teaching or practical experience of a professional nature including:

1. Employment in a landscape architectural capacity under the direction of a licensed professional architect or engineer up to a maximum of two years when, in the opinion of the Board, your work is clearly within the scope of landscape architectural practice.
   1. - 2 units (maximum)
2. Teaching of landscape architecture courses in an ASLA accredited landscape architecture program and/or structured research in landscape architecture culminating in publication. One full year of your experience will be considered the equivalent of one-half year of full-time professional experience, but no more than two units of credit toward the professional experience requirement will be given for such experience.
   1. - 2 units (maximum)
3. Employment by planning firms, government agencies, landscape contractors and general contractors, in work directly related to landscape architectural construction, may be substituted for professional experience as defined above. One full year of such experience will be considered the equivalent of one-half year of full-time professional experience, but no more than two units of credit toward the professional experience requirement will be given for such experience.
   1. - 2 units (maximum)

Examination Requirement

To meet the examination requirement for licensure in New York State, you must successfully complete all five sections of the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards' (CLARB) Landscape Architecture Registration Examination (LARE) as follows:

1. Section A - Project and Construction Administration
2. Section B - Inventory, Analysis and Program Development
3. Section C - Site Design
4. Section D - Design and Construction Documentation
5. Section E - Grading, Drainage and Stormwater Management

Examination administration:

• Sections A, B and D are a computer-based examination administered by CLARB.
• Sections C and E are graphic response examinations administrated by an independent examination vendor, CASTLE Worldwide, Inc., for New York State.

Eligibility:

• CLARB will determine your eligibility to take sections A, B and D of the examination.
  
  You may obtain additional information and/or register for sections A, B, or D at www.clarb.org.
  
  
• The New York State Education Department will determine your eligibility to take sections C and E of the examination. Eligibility will be determined once you have met the application, education and experience requirements for licensure. If you are eligible for the examination, you may sit for one or both parts. The State Board for Landscape Architecture will notify you in writing and send you an examination scheduling form. This form must be completed and submitted, with the appropriate fee, to CASTLE Worldwide, Inc. If you are not eligible, the Board will inform you of any outstanding requirements.
  
  To take sections C and/or E of the licensing examination:
  
  
  1. Submit the Application for Licensure (Form 1), licensure fee and the Report of Professional Experience (Form 4) to:

     New York State Education Department
     Office of the Professions
     Division of Professional Licensing Services
     PO Box 22063
     Albany, NY 12201

  2. Have the required Certification of Professional Education (Form 2) and Verification of Professional Experience (Form 4A) sent to:

     New York State Education Department
     Office of the Professions
     Division of Professional Licensing Services
     Landscape Architecture Unit
     89 Washington Avenue
     Albany, NY 12234-1000

  After you have taken the examination, the examination administrator will notify you of the results and include another scheduling form, if necessary.

Reasonable Testing Accommodations

If you have a disability and may require reasonable testing accommodations for:

• Sections A, B and D of the examination - contact CLARB for information on the procedures for requesting such accommodations (see Contact Information).
• Sections C and E of the examination - complete and submit a Request for Reasonable Testing Accommodations form. You may request this form by e-mailing opforms@mail.nysed.gov or by calling 518-474-3817 ext. 320. The completed form, along with the necessary supporting documentation (described in detail on the request form), must be submitted to CASTLE Worldwide along with the CASTLE Examination Scheduling Form for sections C and E. (The CASTLE Scheduling Form is sent to all candidates who are approved by the New York State Education Department to sit for the examination.)

Applicants Licensed in Another Jurisdiction

If you are applying for licensure based upon licensure in another jurisdiction, see the Education and Experience Requirements section for the amount of experience to be documented, based upon the education received.

You must submit full documentation of compliance with all New York State licensure requirements, including professional education and satisfactory professional experience, among other requirements, as part of your application for licensure.

Limited Permits

A limited permit may be issued to an individual who seeks to practice in New York State who is licensed as a landscape architect in another jurisdiction. The limited permit allows you to work on a specific project within New York State and is valid for the duration of the project, however, if this exceeds three years you will be required to re-register and pay the registration fee.

To obtain a limited permit, you must submit or have submitted on your behalf, the following:

• Application for Limited Permit for Non-Resident Landscape Architect (Form 5) with a limited permit and three-year registration fee of $249;
  • Letters of reference from three licensed landscape architects substantiating your lawful practice of landscape architecture as the responsible person in charge of projects;
  • A specific description of the project you will be working on in New York State that includes:
    1. scope of the project;
    2. approximate size;
    3. location-including address (street and number, lot number or other definite location information); and
    4. name and address of client.
• Verification of Other Licensure/Certification (Form 3) completed by the jurisdiction(s) in which you were licensed as a landscape architect that shows the date you were licensed, basis for licensure, license number and the current status of your license.

Applicants With Ten Years of Lawful Practice

Candidates for licensure who have ten years of lawful practice as a landscape architect, principal and shareholder of their own firm, and as the responsible person in charge of projects, including the stamping and signing of contract documents, who have not taken the CLARB examination, may be eligible for licensure based upon their lawful practice and successful completion of the practical examination.

To apply for licensure based upon ten years of lawful practice, you must submit or have submitted on your behalf, the following:

• Application for Licensure (Form 1) and the $399 licensure and first registration fee;
• Verification of Other Licensure/Certification (Form 3) completed by the jurisdiction(s) in which you were licensed as a landscape architect that shows the date you were licensed, basis for licensure, license number and the current status of your license; and
• letters of reference from three licensed and registered landscape architects substantiating your 10 years of lawful practice of landscape architecture as the responsible person in charge of projects.

Once these materials are reviewed and the Board approves you as eligible, you must pass a practical examination to demonstrate competence by presenting and discussing with the Board three of your projects executed during the required 10 years of lawful practice.