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Landscape Architect License

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Landscape Architect Registration Exam (LARE)

The Landscape Architect Registration Exam (LARE) is a national exam prepared and updated by the National Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB). In order to keep the exam contents legally defensible and in line with current industry standards, CLARB distributes a national survey every five to six years to businesses offering landscape architectural services to determine what is expected of an individual seeking an entry level position. The LARE is formatted to test for minimum competency based on the results of this survey.

Requirements to sit for Registration Exam:

  • An accredited degree in landscape architecture and two years experience (as outlined in Table of Equivalents)
    or
    Eight (8) years varied landscape architectural experience under the supervision of a registered landscape architect
  • Pass Landscape Architect Registration Exam

South Carolina offers this exam semi-annually. The exam consists of five (5) sections, three multiple choice and two graphic. The graphic sections are given in Columbia, SC in June and December, and the multiple-choice sections are given by computer at the LaserGrade Testing Centers in March and August.
Please note:

  • You must be approved by the SC Landscape Architect Registration Program to sit for any section of the examination in South Carolina, including the computerized sections.
  • Your grades for the computerized sections will not be valid in the State of South Carolina unless you pre-register with our Board prior to registering for the computerized sections with CLARB.

Candidates may test for the complete exam or may test by section. Once a section is passed, the candidate does not have to retake that section. Exam results are not contestable.

The LARE consists of the following sections:

  • Section A - Project and Construction Administration (Multiple-Choice)
  • Section B - Inventory, Analysis and Program Development (Multiple-Choice)
  • Section C - Site Design (Graphic Response)
  • Section D - Design and Construction Documentation (Multiple-Choice)
  • Section E - Grading, Drainage & Storm Water Management (Graphic Response)
LARE Exam Dates
Test Date Registration Deadline Test Location
Sections C & E - Graphic
December 8-9, 2008 September 30, 2008 Columbia, SC
Sections A, B, & D - Multiple Choice
September 16-18, 2008 August 15, 2008 Sylvan Learning Center

The cost of each section of the exam varies.

A pre-exam review session is held at the University of Georgia at Athens.
For information, contact:

David Spooner, Assistant Professor
University of Georgia - College of Environmental Design
604 Caldwell Hall
Athens, GA 30602-1845
(706) 542-0063
spoonerd@uga.edu

Contact CLARB for more information on exam surveys, pre-exam preparation materials, post-exam reviews and how to start a council record, at:
http://www.clarb.org

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Rembert C. Dennis Building, 1000 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29201
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