Part VI. Qualifications for Licensing of Landscape Architects
18VAC10-20-400. Fee schedule.
All fees are nonrefundable and will not be prorated.
Application for Initial Landscape Architect License | $150 |
Application for Landscape Architect License by Endorsement | $150 |
Renewal | $190 |
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-404 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR130-01-2 § 6.1, eff. October 18, 1985; amended, Virginia Register Volume 4, Issue 8, eff. March 1, 1988; Volume 6, Issue 20, eff. September 1, 1990; Volume 7, Issue 14, eff. May 8, 1991; Volume 8, Issue 7, eff. February 1, 1992; Volume 10, Issue 15, eff. May 19, 1994; Volume 13, Issue 23, eff. October 1, 1997; Volume 15, Issue 24, eff. October 1, 1999; Volume 18, Issue 7, eff. March 1, 2002; Volume 21, Issue 3, eff. December 1, 2004; Volume 23, Issue 1, eff. February 1, 2007; Volume 32, Issue 6, eff. January 1, 2016; Volume 42, Issue 16, eff. May 1, 2026.
18VAC10-20-410. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from VR130-01-2 § 6.2, eff. October 18, 1985; amended, Virginia Register Volume 4, Issue 8, eff. March 1, 1988; Volume 6, Issue 20, eff. September 1, 1990; Volume 7, Issue 14, eff. May 8, 1991; Volume 8, Issue 7, eff. February 1, 1992; Volume 10, Issue 15, eff. May 19, 1994; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 7, eff. March 1, 2002.
18VAC10-20-420. Requirements for licensure.
Applicants for licensure as a landscape architect must satisfy the requirements of subdivision 1 or 2 of this section.
1. An applicant who has graduated from a landscape architecture program accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) must have:
a. Obtained a minimum of 36 months of experience as follows:
(1) A minimum of 12 months of experience under the direct control and personal supervision of a licensed or certified landscape architect;
(2) The remaining 24 months of experience under the direct control and personal supervision of a licensed or certified landscape architect or a licensed architect, professional engineer, or land surveyor in accordance with the Landscape Architects Experience Credit Table; or
(3) In lieu of the provision in subdivisions 1 a (1) and 1 a (2) of this section, a minimum of 48 months of experience under the direct control and personal supervision of a licensed architect, professional engineer, or land surveyor; and
b. Passed all sections of the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Board (CLARB)-prepared exam.
2. Applicants who have not graduated from a LAAB-accredited landscape architecture program must have obtained a minimum of eight years of combined education and work experience in accordance with this subsection.
a. Only semester and quarter hours with passing scores will be accepted. Credit will be calculated as follows:
(1) 32 semester credit hours or 48 quarter credit hours will be worth one year.
(2) Fractions greater than or equal to one half-year, but less than one year, will be counted as one-half year.
(3) Fractions smaller than one half-year will not be counted.
b. The maximum years indicated in subdivisions a through d of the Landscape Architects Education Credit Table will apply regardless of the length of the degree program.
c. All applicants must have a minimum of two years of experience under the direct control and personal supervision of a licensed or certified landscape architect.
d. Education and experience will be evaluated against the Landscape Architects Education Credit Table and the Landscape Architects Experience Credit Table to determine if an applicant has met the minimum eight years required in this subsection.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS EDUCATION CREDIT TABLE | ||
Categories | Values | Examples |
(1) Credits completed applicable toward a LAAB-accredited degree. | Credit will be given at the rate of 100% with a maximum of four years allowable. | An applicant has 86 semester hours of credit. Calculation: 86/32 = 2.6875 years 100% credit for a maximum of four years (2.6875 x 100% = 2.6875 years). 0.6875 is ≥ 0.5 years, which is worth 0.5 years. Final result: 86 semester hours equals 2.5 years. |
(2) A degree in landscape architecture, or credits completed applicable toward a degree in landscape architecture, from a non-LAAB-accredited program. | ||
(3) A degree, or credits completed applicable toward a degree, in an allied professional discipline approved by the board (i.e., architecture, civil engineering, environmental science). | Credit will be given at the rate of 75% for the first two years and 100% for succeeding years with a maximum of three years allowable. | An applicant has 101 semester hours of credit. Calculation: 101/32 = 3.15625 years 75% credit for the first two years (2 x 75% = 1.5 years). 100% credit for succeeding years (1.15625 x 100% = 1.15625 years). 1.5 + 1.15625 = 2.65625 years. 0.65625 is ≥ 0.5 years, which is worth 0.5 years. Final result: 101 semester hours equals 2.5 years. |
(4) Any other undergraduate degree or credits completed applicable toward that degree. | Credit will be given at the rate of 50% for the first two years and 75% for succeeding years with a maximum of two years allowable. | An applicant has 95 semester hours of credit. Calculation: 95/32 = 2.96875 years 50% credit for the first two years (2 x 50%= 1 year). 75% credit for succeeding years (.96875 x 75%=.72656 years). 1 +.72656 = 1.72656 years. 0.72656 is ≥ 0.5 years, which is worth 0.5 years. Final result: 95 semester hours equals 1.5 years. |
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS EXPERIENCE CREDIT TABLE | ||
Categories | Values | Examples |
(5) Experience gained under the direct control and personal supervision of a licensed or certified landscape architect. | Credit will be given at the rate of 100% of work experience gained with no maximum. | An applicant worked under a landscape architect for 3.7 years. Calculation: 3.7 years x 100% = 3.7 years (no maximum). Final result: An applicant with 3.7 years of work experience will be credited for the entire 3.7 years. |
(6) Experience gained under the direct control and personal supervision of a licensed architect, professional engineer, or land surveyor. | Credit will be given at the rate of 50% of work experience gained with a maximum of four years allowable. | An applicant has worked under a land surveyor for eight years or more. Calculation: 8 years x 50% = 4 years. Final result: eight years or more of experience is worth only four years based on the maximum allowable. |
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-404 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR130-01-2 § 6.3, eff. October 18, 1985; amended, Virginia Register Volume 4, Issue 8, eff. March 1, 1988; Volume 6, Issue 20, eff. September 1, 1990; Volume 7, Issue 14, eff. May 8, 1991; Volume 8, Issue 7, eff. February 1, 1992; Volume 10, Issue 15, eff. May 19, 1994; Volume 18, Issue 7, eff. March 1, 2002; Volume 23, Issue 1, eff. February 1, 2007; Volume 23, Issue 21, eff. August 1, 2007; Volume 26, Issue 4, eff. July 1, 2010; Volume 32, Issue 6, eff. January 1, 2016; Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. September 2, 2021; Volume 42, Issue 16, eff. May 1, 2026.
18VAC10-20-425. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 6, eff. January 1, 2016; amended, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. September 2, 2021; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 16, eff. May 1, 2026.
18VAC10-20-430. Experience standard.
Qualifying landscape architectural training and experience must be progressive in complexity and based on knowledge of natural, physical, and mathematical sciences and the principles and methodology of landscape architecture.
The experience must be obtained in an organization with a practice regulated by this chapter and must be verified on the board experience verification form by a licensed landscape architect, professional engineer, architect, or land surveyor in the organization's practice.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-404 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR130-01-2 § 6.4, eff. October 18, 1985; amended, Virginia Register Volume 4, Issue 8, eff. March 1, 1988; Volume 6, Issue 20, eff. September 1, 1990; Volume 7, Issue 14, eff. May 8, 1991; Volume 8, Issue 7, eff. February 1, 1992; Volume 10, Issue 15, eff. May 19, 1994; Volume 18, Issue 7, eff. March 1, 2002; Volume 32, Issue 6, eff. January 1, 2016; Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. September 2, 2021; Volume 42, Issue 16, eff. May 1, 2026.
18VAC10-20-440. Examination.
A. Applicants with a LAAB-accredited degree may be approved to sit for the exam prior to completing the 36-month experience requirement contained in subdivision 1 a of 18VAC10-20-420.
B. The Virginia board is a member of the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) and is authorized to make available the CLARB prepared exams. All applicants for original licensure in Virginia are required to pass the CLARB-prepared exam.
C. Applicants approved to sit for the exam must register and submit the required exam fee to be received in the board office, or by the board's designee.
D. Grading of the exam will be in accordance with the national grading procedures administered by CLARB. The board will utilize the scoring procedures recommended by CLARB.
E. Applicants will be advised only of their passing or failing score and the CLARB minimum passing score.
F. The board may approve transfer credits for parts of the exam taken and passed in accordance with national standards.
G. Applicants approved to sit for the exam will be eligible for a period of three years from the date of their initial approval. Applicants who do not pass all sections of the exam during their eligibility period are no longer eligible to sit for the exam. To become exam-eligible again, applicants must reapply to the board as follows:
1. Applicants who have taken at least one section of the exam and who reapply to the board no later than six months after the end of their eligibility may be approved to sit for the exam for an additional three years. The original application requirements will apply.
2. Applicants who do not meet the criteria of subdivision 1 of this subsection must reapply to the board and meet all entry requirements current at the time of reapplication.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-404 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR130-01-2 § 6.5, eff. October 18, 1985; amended, Virginia Register Volume 4, Issue 8, eff. March 1, 1988; Volume 6, Issue 20, eff. September 1, 1990; Volume 7, Issue 14, eff. May 8, 1991; Volume 8, Issue 7, eff. February 1, 1992; Volume 10, Issue 15, eff. May 19, 1994; Volume 16, Issue 3, eff. December 1, 1999; Volume 18, Issue 7, eff. March 1, 2002; Volume 23, Issue 1, eff. February 1, 2007; Volume 23, Issue 21, eff. August 1, 2007; Volume 26, Issue 4, eff. July 1, 2010; Volume 32, Issue 6, eff. January 1, 2016; Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. September 2, 2021; Volume 42, Issue 16, eff. May 1, 2026.
18VAC10-20-450. Licensure by endorsement.
Applicants who hold a valid active license in another state or other jurisdiction that is accepted by the board may be granted a license provided the applicant:
1. Possesses a CLARB certificate.
2. Submits to the board verifiable documentation for education, experience, and exam meeting current requirements in Virginia; and
3. Satisfies all other applicable requirements of this chapter.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-404 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR130-01-2 § 6.6, eff. October 18, 1985; amended, Virginia Register Volume 4, Issue 8, eff. March 1, 1988; Volume 6, Issue 20, eff. September 1, 1990; Volume 7, Issue 14, eff. May 8, 1991; Volume 8, Issue 7, eff. February 1, 1992; Volume 10, Issue 15, eff. May 19, 1994; Volume 16, Issue 3, eff. December 1, 1999; Volume 18, Issue 7, eff. March 1, 2002; Volume 23, Issue 1, eff. February 1, 2007; Volume 23, Issue 21, eff. August 1, 2007; Volume 32, Issue 6, eff. January 1, 2016; Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. September 2, 2021; Volume 42, Issue 16, eff. May 1, 2026.