Membership Applications

Applications are reviewed monthly except for August and December. All applications are reviewed by the BCSLA Credentials Committee, which makes recommendations to the Board of Directors, who have the final approval on all applications. Once a completed application form and all supporting documents are submitted, processing may take up to 30 business days. Candidates will be contacted shortly following the review. An non-refundable application fee of $55.13 will be invoiced and payment instructions will be provided. The BCSLA Pathway to Accessible Licensure Program is a secure online application portal. To get started:

Create an account from the main menu
Follow the prompts to set up your account
From your Dashboard, Click on the "Apply to Join" button

The BCSLA Pathway to Accessible Licensure Program is supported by the BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs under the Credentials Assessment Improvement Fund. Applicants may request a review or appeal decisions made during the credential assessment process to the Credentials Committee.

BCSLA Board of Examiners

Appearance before the BCSLA Board of Examiners is the last step towards licensure as a landscape architect in British Columbia and is essential to ensure that an individual has demonstrated sufficient knowledge, skill and ability to practice the profession while protecting the health, safety and welfare of the public.

BCSLA Registered Landscape Architect

A Registered Landscape Architect is a person admitted into Membership of the Society in accordance with the requirements of the Bylaws and the Act, including qualification by education, examination and experience, payment of fees and annual fees when due, and compliance with the requirements of professional conduct and standards.

BCSLA Landscape Architect (Limited License/Non-Stamp)

A Landscape Architect may be one who chooses to withdraw from active practice in the field of landscape architecture, but wishes to retain his/her professional status; or full-time employee in the public sector or private industry, working in primarily management, policy, administrative or co-coordinating roles; or a full-time faculty, lecturer or writer working primarily in teaching or research. More information about this category can be found in the BCSLA Bylaws #2.11 to #2.15.

⚠️IMPORTANT NOTICE

As part of the transition to the Professional Governance Act, applications for the Landscape Architect (Limited License/Non-Stamp) category will no longer be accepted as of November 15, 2025. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply before this deadline, as submissions received afterward will not be processed or reviewed.

BCSLA Intern

An Intern is an Associate who has been accepted by the Board into the Admission Program for Membership in the Society, and upon such acceptance, the applicant is entitled to use the designation “BCSLA Intern”.

> Download the BCSLA Intern Associate Policy

> Download the BCSLA Internship Policy (Revised June 2025)

> Download the BCSLA Mentor Confirmation Form

BCSLA Pre-intern Associate

A Pre-intern is an Associate who is in the process of meeting all the requirements needed to apply as an Intern of the BCSLA, who: has been employed for less than six (6) years in the field of Landscape Architecture; or has a degree in an allied discipline; or has work experience in a related field.

> Download the BCSLA Pre-Intern Associate Policy

BCSLA Student

An individual who is registered in an accredited post-secondary school Landscape Architecture program of study, may apply for recognition as an Associate of the Society, and upon acceptance by the Board and payment of all fees when due, the individual is entitled to use the designation “BCSLA Student”.

On May 30, 2016 the BCSLA Board of Directors meeting the following Motion was carried: MOTION #4: It was moved and seconded to set the BCSLA annual student fees to $0.00. CARRIED

> Download the BCSLA Student Associate Policy

BCSLA Affiliate

Any individual, organization, institution, or business with an affiliation to the Principles and Practice of landscape architecture may apply for recognition as a "BCSLA Affiliate". BCSLA Affiliates must not be any individual, organization, institution or business who provides services similar to that of a Landscape Architect. As BCSLA Affiliates are not bound by the Principles and Standards of the Society, applications will be thoroughly reviewed before acceptance to ensure that there is no possibility for confusion with services provided by BCSLA Members.

> Download the BCSLA Affiliate Policy

CREDENTIALS EVALUATION FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

There are several options available for credentials evaluation services. The supplier evaluates formal for-credit educational programs of study for people who have studied in other provinces or countries and determines comparable levels in British Columbian and Canadian terms. Membership applicants are responsible for payment in full of all fees, including investigation fees for an extra-jurisdictional review, admission fees and other reasonable assessments.

International Credentials Evaluation Service (ICES): Download the BCSLA ICES Evaluation Requirements. All candidates must provide the "Comprehensive Evaluation Report" to assist the Credentials Committee in ensuring that complete educational history can be reviewed. The Basic Report does not contain sufficient information to make an informed decision. Candidates should contact the BCSLA office for information on alternate credentials evaluation services.

World Education Services (WES): BCSLA requires the Course By Course Evaluation Report to assist the Credentials Committee in ensuring that complete educational history can be reviewed. Candidates should contact the BCSLA office for information on alternate credentials evaluation services.

If you require an English language proficiency assessment, we will accept IELTS-Academic or TOEFL-iBT. No other assessment test will be accepted. This information is used primarily by post-secondary institutions and professional organizations.