Requirements
Licensure
Licensure is a formal recognition that an individual has demonstrated sufficient knowledge, skill and ability to practice the profession without endangering the health, safety and welfare of the public.
Licensure:
- Conveys legal professional privileges and responsibilities and allows the licensee to use the title "Landscape Architect."
- Increases the number of job and advancement opportunities you will have throughout your career.
- Increases your annual earning potential by $25,000 on average.
The Road To Registration
To become a Member of the BCSLA, candidates must successfully complete an oral exam conducted by the provincially appointed Board of Examiners
There are several methods to qualify for the exam:
a) Internship (for those who have applicable education and/or employment related to landscape architecture)
b) Reciprocity (for those who are registered as landscape architects in good standing in another jurisdiction recognized by the Board of Directors
c) Senior Practitioner (for those who have been practicing for 10 or more years)
The Road to Registration details the licensure process for North American candidates. The Bridge to Registration details the process for Internationally Trained Professional licensure candidates. See BCSLA Licensure requirements for additional details.
Landscape Architectural Registration Exams Information
The Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.) is a four-part fully computerized examination designed to determine whether applicants for landscape architectural licensure possess sufficient knowledge, skills and abilities to provide landscape architectural services without endangering the health, safety and welfare of the public. It is prepared and scored by the Council of Landscape Architecture Registration Boards (CLARB) in accordance with all current standards for fairness and quality of licensure exams. All BCSLA Interns were issued a candidate ID number upon acceptance of the application. You do not have to be pre-approved after the initial acceptance. After L.A.R.E. Candidates create a CLARB Profile, you must also create a mandatory CLARB Council Record before you can register for the L.A.R.E. The sooner that you register the better - you will have the widest choice of exam administration times so book early. Please see the Path to Licensure.
We respectfully note that there is some overlap as the BCSLA Admission Program and Intern Policy and the CLARB Council Record (CCR) process. You can find out more about the L.A.R.E. on CLARB’s website.
CLARB is pleased to offer you the opportunity to be part of the remote proctor program. Candidates are able to register and write the exam from home, any time day or night, using their own computer. A remote proctor will monitor the exam live through a video feed using advanced security protocols.
CLARB offers a variety of resources—many of them free of charge—to help candidates better understand the content, format, and delivery of each section of the L.A.R.E. These resources are designed to familiarize candidates with the exam experience and help set realistic expectations; they are not intended as instructional or educational materials. Available resources include YouTube videos, practice exams, the L.A.R.E. Orientation Guide, and other materials designed to help candidates become familiar with the examination process. Candidates are also encouraged to participate in L.A.R.E. workshops or form study groups as part of their exam preparation strategy.
- Click here to view CLARB's exam preparation resources
- Click here to vatch CLARB videos on YouTube
Practice Vignettes
Practice vignettes are sample project scenarios that allow candidates to experience the style and format of case-based questions used on the L.A.R.E. They are designed to help candidates become familiar with the examination process, practice analyzing project information, and develop realistic expectations for the testing experience. Read the License Agreement first before proceeding with the practice vignettes.
Practice E1 | Solution A | Solution B
Practice E2 | Solution A | Solution B
Practice E3 | Solution A | Solution B
Practice E4 | Solution A | Solution B
Practice E5 | Solution A | Solution B
Practice E6 | Solution A | Solution B
Sample Questions
At the 2018 CLARB Annual General Meeting, CLARB leadership, in collaboration with Adrienne Cadle, Senior Psychometrician at Professional Testing, Inc., led an informative workshop for Member Board Members and Member Board Executives. The session featured newly released examination questions that were presented to delegates to illustrate the exam development and validation process. CLARB has since made these sample questions and answers available. Please see below: