To become a landscape architect, one must complete high school courses in relevant subjects, earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in landscape architecture, complete an internship, and pass certification or licensure exams. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, and practical experience is helpful. Accredited schools offer courses in surveying, geology, and computer-aided design. Certification or licensure requires exams and experience.
Landscape architect training means preparing with core courses like horticulture in high school, earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree in landscape architecture, completing an internship, and completing the necessary tests to earn certification or licensure. Requirements to enter the industry vary by jurisdiction; therefore, those interested in the field should contact their state licensing bureau or major certifying agency for current standards. In most cases, it takes four to seven years to complete academic training and an additional one to three years to complete required internships.
Individuals who want to become landscape architects can begin their landscape architecture training as early as high school. Courses such as ecology, biology, horticulture and chemistry are relevant to the field. An emphasis on math or computers is also helpful, because much of landscape architecture work involves creating blueprints or models for landscape design. Working as an assistant gardener, landscaper or nursery manager can provide some industry-relevant basic practical experience during this time.
Landscape architect training begins with undergraduate study at a college or university. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum education requirement for entering the industry, with many employers preferring a master’s degree. When selecting a school, students should verify that the institution is accredited by a major landscaping agency within the student’s jurisdiction. In the United States, for example, the main accrediting agency is the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Council of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
During bachelor’s or master’s study, those who complete landscape architect training typically take courses such as surveying, landscaping, geology, computer-aided design, model building, site design, and landscape ecology. Additional courses include construction, urban and regional planning, video simulation, and general management. Part of the training is provided through hands-on projects, which allow students to work under supervision in real-world environments. Many programs recommend a summer internship.
While earning a bachelor’s degree is ideal for training landscape architects, some master’s programs allow individuals who do not hold a landscape architecture degree to enter the industry. These programs take three years to complete, rather than the usual two, because they have to spend time teaching some of the information that is typically included in bachelor’s degree programs. This option is a good option for people who decide they want to get into landscape architecture later on.
Upon receipt of a bachelor’s or master’s degree, the next step in landscape architect training is to become certified or licensed, if required by the architect’s jurisdiction. This usually requires a minimum number of years of experience, as well as one or more exams through the state or a large certifying agency. In the United States, for example, to obtain a license, a landscape architect must take the Landscape Architecture Registration Examination (LARE), which requires one to four years of experience and a degree in landscape architecture. Architects are sometimes required to take an additional state exam that focuses on region-specific architecture-related regulations. National standards for landscape architects include a diploma, completion of LARE and a supervised internship of approximately three years.
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