Landscape Architect or Poser??

[Bernard Brennan]

Who is entitled to call themselves a Landscape Architect, Are there any
regulatotry bodies about that control such "professions" . I have been
badly stung by such a "poser"
Help required please. BB

[Donald Duncan]

Hi Bernard,

The regulations on who can call themselves a landscape architect varies from
area to area. In Canada, most (perhaps all) have "name acts" in place which
restict the use of the title to a person who is a member of the local
provincial society (eg. BCSLA here in British Columbia). I am not sure how
the system works in various parts of the US but each state should have its
own Landscape Architecture Society (there is also a national association)
which can anwser your questions. Your local library should be able to
provide you with contact information and there is always the internet of
course.

Regards,
Donald

[grdngal]

Bernard Brennan wrote:

> Who is entitled to call themselves a Landscape Architect, Are there any
> regulatotry bodies about that control such "professions" . I have been
> badly stung by such a "poser"
> Help required please. BB

A Landscape Architect is an individual who has received a degree from a
certified university in that field, served a term of apprenticeship with a
licensed landscape architectural firm, passed a certification exam and is a
member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). Anyone else who
calls themselves a landscape *architect* without these credentials is indeed a
poser.

There are no similar licensing requirements governing the profession of
'landscape designer' and you need to be much more careful in evaluating and
selecting someone with this title. This is not to say that there are not many
*very* skilled landscape designers who have had a great deal of educational
training and experience. There are also a number of certification programs
across the country to which many designers belong, however there is no uniform
national certification process *yet*. One should ask for and receive client
references and a portfolio of completed work as well as proof of any required
local licenses before contracting with a landscape designer. Membership in
professional or trade organizations is also a plus and a contractors license is
required in most places if that individual also installs the completed design.

Pam Sinclair
member, Association of Professional Landscape Designers

[Tom Breedlove]

This depends on the state you reside in (or more specifically, what state
the project exists in).

Most states (40+ ??) have a licensing board for landscape architects and
before the title of "Landscape Architect" can be used the person would have
to have met the requirements for licensure by that board. These
requirements can vary from state to state, but are similar.

Also, a licensed LA in Georgia isn't automatically granted license to
practice in, say South Carolina, for example. If the person has obtained
licensure in one state he/she can typically apply for reciprocity in another
state (may or may not have to take additional examinations particular to
that state) and if granted reciprocity will then be legally entitled to
practice as a "Landscape Architect."

To see if your state has licensure requirements for landscape architects,
contact your state board of examiners.

tb.

Bernard Brennan wrote:

> Who is entitled to call themselves a Landscape Architect, Are there any
> regulatotry bodies about that control such "professions" . I have been
> badly stung by such a "poser"
> Help required please. BB

--
Tom Breedlove,
Information Analyst
mailto:tbree...@camplan.uga.edu - 706.542.3605
Office of the University Architects - University of Georgia