The NC Board of Landscape Architects is responsible for reviewing and considering applications for license by examination, comity, reinstatement and corporations.
Applicant must be a graduate of a curriculum in landscape architecture from a Landscape Architect Accreditation Board (LAAB) accredited institution.*
Applicants must have at least four years of experience working under a licensed landscape architect.*
Applicants with an LAAB accredited degree in landscape architecture may begin the exam registration process directly through CLARB. Once you have taken and passed all sections of the Landscape Architect Registration Exam (L.A.R.E.) and have met all of the requirements for licensure as listed above, you may then make application to the NC Board for license by examination. Begin the Exam Process through CLARB: https://www.clarb.org/take-the-exam
*Applicants without an LAAB accredited degree, but who have had a minimum of 10 years of education and experience in landscape architecture, in any combination deemed suitable by the Board, may make application to the Board to take the L.A.R.E. Applicants should include an electronic portfolio, ten pages or less, representative of their relevant landscape architecture experience.
About the L.A.R.E. The North Carolina Board of Landscape Architects uses the Landscape Architect Registration Exam (L.A.R.E.), a national examination developed by the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB). The L.A.R.E. is a four-part examination designed to determine whether applicants for landscape architectural licensure possess sufficient knowledge, skills and abilities to provide services without endangering the health, safety and welfare of the public.
Complete the Individual Application for License and submit to the Board
Pay the $100 application fee. Acceptable forms of payment: Visa or MasterCard, check or money order.
Contact CLARB and ask that they transmit your CLARB Council Record to the NC Board*
Obtain 3 references, one of whom must be a licensed landscape architect (not necessarily in NC). Please provide the confidential reference form to each of your references, and request that they submit their completed forms via email to contact@ncbola.org, the email address on the form. (Note: CLARB no longer provides references as part of the Council Record, but the rules of the Board still require three references).
Upon approval, applicants must pay a $250 certification fee to activate the license. All licenses must be renewed annually by June 30.
*If you do not have a CLARB Council Record, in addition to the application, you must
Have official college transcripts transmitted directly to the Board. Electronic transcripts may be sent to contact@ncbola.org.
Have Employer Verification Forms from past and present employers in all related fields submit verification to the Board.
Please note the following…
Even if you have the CLARB Council Record, you are required to complete the entire Individual Application for License process.
Individual License by Comity
Applicants for Comity must have an active license in another jurisdiction with equal or equivalent requirements to those of the NC Board, and must have taken and passed the Landscape Architect Registration Exam (L.A.R.E.) or equivalent examination. Applicants must complete the entire application process including requesting transmission of the Council Record from CLARB or by requesting that transcripts, references and employer verification be sent to the Board. The Board will require verification of license in all jurisdictions where a license has been or is held to be sent directly from each jurisdiction.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
Applicants must be of good moral character.
Applicants must be a graduate of a curriculum in landscape architecture from a Landscape Architect Accreditation Board (LAAB) accredited institution.*
Applicants must have at least four years of experience working under a licensed landscape architect.
Applicants must have taken and passed the L.A.R.E. or equivalent examination.
Applicants must hold a valid license in another jurisdiction with equal or equivalent requirements to those of the NC Board of Landscape Architects.
*Applicants without an LAAB accredited degree, but who have had a minimum of 8 years of education and experience in landscape architecture, in any combination deemed suitable by the Board, may make application to the Board. Applicants should include an electronic portfolio, ten pages or less, representative of their relevant landscape architecture experience.
Complete the Individual Application for License and submit to the Board
Pay the $100 application fee. Acceptable forms of payment: Visa or MasterCard, check or money order.
Contact CLARB and ask that they transmit your CLARB Council Record to the NC Board*
Obtain 3 references, one of whom must be a licensed landscape architect (not necessarily in NC). Please provide theconfidential reference formto each of your references, and request that they submit their completed forms via email to contact@ncbola.org, the email address on the form. (Note: CLARB no longer provides references as part of the Council Record, but the rules of the Board still require three references).
Upon approval, applicants must pay a $250 certification fee to activate the license. All licenses must be renewed annually by June 30.
*If you do not have a CLARB Council Record, in addition to the application, you must
Have official college transcripts transmitted directly to the Board. Electronic transcripts may be sent to contact@ncbola.org.
Have Employer Verification Forms from past and present employers in all related fields submit verification to the Board.
Please note the following…
Even if you have the CLARB Council Record, you are required to complete the entire Individual Application for License process.
Licensure FAQs
What’s the time frame for my application to be reviewed and approved?
The Board Administrator has been granted administrative authority to review and provisionally approve those applications that meet the requirements of the Board to the letter of the law. These applications will not be required to wait for the regularly scheduled quarterly meeting of the Board. The Administrator can provisionally approve applications and then the Board will give final approval to the application at their next regularly scheduled meeting. Applications are reviewed and approved by the Administrator on a daily basis. Applicants for comity may be licensed prior to the quarterly Board meeting, depending on when the application is received and if the required documentation is received in a timely manner.
If the application does not meet the minimum requirements, the application will be reviewed at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board, where the application and supporting documentation are received at least (3) weeks prior to that meeting.