Landscape Architects Technical Committee

Public Protection through Examination, Licensure, and Regulation

The Landscape Architects Technical Committee (LATC), under the purview of the California Architects Board, was created by the California Legislature to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public by establishing standards for licensure and enforcing the laws and regulations that govern the practice of landscape architecture in California. It is one of the numerous boards, bureaus, commissions, and committees within the Department of Consumer Affairs responsible for consumer protection and the regulation of licensed professionals.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Changes to the Landscape Architect Registration Exam (LARE) in 2012!!

The LARE is changing beginning in September 2012 with the final change in December 2012. The five-section exam will become a four-section exam. All four sections of the exam will be computer-based to improve relevance, reliability, and accessibility for all candidates. The current five-section exam consists of sections A through E. After the LARE transition, the four-section exam will be identified as sections 1 through 4. A LARE Transition Chart has been created by CLARB and is a good tool to use to see how the current sections of the LARE will translate to four sections.

Find out more information about the LARE Transition or view the LARE Transition Chart.

LARE Eligibility Information

Individuals interested in obtaining a license to practice landscape architecture must complete an Eligibility Application. The application and all required documents must be received by the LATC no later than 70 days before the date of any Landscape Architect Registration Examination (LARE) section they wish to take. In order to ensure your eligibility is determined in time for examination, please observe the following dates:

LATC Eligibility Deadline	LARE Date	LARE Sections
December 26, 2011	March 5 – 17, 2012	A, B and D
April 2, 2012	June 11 – 12, 2012	C and E
July 2, 2012	September 10 – 22, 2012	1 and 2
September 24, 2012	December 3 – 15, 2012	3 and 4

1. September 10 – 22, 2012 (Sections 1 and 2 may be taken on any day within the two-week window.)
2. December 3 – 15, 2012 (as with previous computer administered exams, candidates will have a two-week testing window starting with the December 2012 administration.)

Exam Administration

To improve services to current candidates for licensure, the LATC will affect the following changes:

• The LATC now contracts with the CLARB to administer ALL sections of the LARE.

Review and Exam Registration Dates

All candidates previously determined eligible should check with CLARB to verify review and examination registration dates and deadlines. Note that eligible California candidates will be able to register with CLARB after administration of the current exam. (For example: If you are registering for the June 2010 graphic exams, you will have to wait until AFTER the March 2012 multiple choice exams have been administered.)

Fees

California Supplemental Examination, original license and renewal license fees were increased effective July 1, 2009.

Potential License Denial or Suspension for Failure to Pay Taxes

Effective July 1, 2012, the Board is required to suspend a license/certificate/registration if a licensee has outstanding tax obligations due to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) or the State Board of Equalization (BOE) and appears on either the FTB or BOE's certified lists of top 500 tax delinquencies over $100,000. (AB 1424 [Perea], Chapter 455, Statutes of 2011)

Once it has been determined a licensee is on a certified list, the licensee has 90 days from the issuance of a "Preliminary Notice of the Intent to Suspend" to either satisfy all outstanding tax obligations or enter into a payment installment program with the FTB or BOE. If the licensee fails to come into compliance they will have their license suspended until the Board receives a release from the FTB or BOE.

The FTB and BOE are currently expanding the certified lists from 250 to 500, but you can check if you are currently on the FTB's certified list or the BOE's certified list. If you believe you are on either list in error, please call the FTB at (866) 418-3702 or the BOE at 916-445-5167.