The BC Society of Landscape Architects regulates the profession of landscape architecture in BC according to the provincial Architects (Landscape) Act.
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.
Solutions to Access Webinar 2022
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.
EDUCATION
Canadian Universities
Accredited programs in landscape architecture in Canada are those that have met the standards of the CSLA Landscape Architecture Accreditation Council (LAAC). These programs have been evaluated and found to provide the required instruction, faculty, facilities and financial support to deliver a sound program as demanded by the profession and the public. Accreditation reviews take place every five years. These programs are also recognized by the ASLA Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB).
Find Your Path: Education Planner BC
EducationPlannerBC provides you with the tools to plan, search, and apply to public post-secondary institutions in British Columbia.
American University and Colleges
Accredited landscape architecture programs in the United States are those that have met the standards of the ASLA LAAB.
Labour Mobility
In Canada, the profession of landscape architecture is regulated in Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia. The Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA) and BCSLA have had a reciprocity agreement since October 2, 2000, which assures easy mobility of Landscape Architects between Ontario and British Columbia. For the Board of Examiners to recommend reciprocity candidates to the BCSLA for registration in British Columbia, the candidates must only demonstrate a familiarity with local legislation to prove a minimum level of competence. Membership candidates moving from a non-regulated province or from outside of Canada will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. BCSLA is working with OALA and the Alberta Association of Landscape Architects to align membership categories and entry standards with a view to establishing a template to establish labour mobility across Canada, even where the profession is not regulated.
The Labour Mobility Coordinating Group came in to force in 2009 under Chapter 7 of the Agreement on Internal Trade (now called the Canadian Free Trade Agreement). On June 10, 2013 the AALA, BCSLA and OALA signed the Collaborative Letter of Intent on Reciprocity in the Profession to confirm our commitment to helping Canada be recognized for its national reciprocity of the profession of landscape architecture. The Labour Mobility Coordinating Group has reviewed the Letter or Intent and believes Landscape Architects have demonstrated excellent progress toward meeting labour mobility obligations.
On July 1, 2017, the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) replaced the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT). Regulatory authorities will continue to recognize, certify, and license qualified workers from other provinces or territories under CFTA as was directed under the AIT. Regulatory authorities, through appropriate provincial ministries and the province’s labour mobility coordinator, will continue to notify other provinces and territories of any modifications to occupational standards for the occupations they regulate. Further information on labour mobility can also be found on the Labour Mobility Coordinating Group website
New West Partnership Trade Agreement
Effective July 1, 2010 the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) has been expanded to become the New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA) between British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Built on the success of the TILMA between Alberta and British Columbia, the NWPTA extends Alberta's and British Columbia's commitments under the former TILMA. In practice, the obligations for British Columbia and Alberta do not change under the NWPTA.
National Reciprocity Agreement for the Profession of Landscape Architecture in Canada
Updated Reciprocity Agreement Signed by All Canadian Provincial, Regional and Territorial Landscape Architecture Associations. The updated agreement allows landscape architects to have their credentials recognized and work in other jurisdictions. Click here to read the agreement and a guide about reciprocity.
Frequently Asked Questions about Reciprocity: Applying to Practice in Another Canadian Jurisdiction
Work BC provides a comprehensive description of close to 200 occupations as they relate directly to the BC labour market.
As part of the Work BC Career Trek Program Pearl Yip, MBCSLA, was featured in a short video about landscape architecture. Watch Pearl provide information on the profession - it was very well done. Thank you Pearl and the team at Work BC! Watch now.
The Government of Canada Job Bank Website contains a wide variety of information, including tools for job seekers (Job Alerts, Job Match); tools for employers who wish to post an employment opportunity; as well as labour market information (trends, news). Under the Labour Market Information section of the website, which allows career exploration based on different criteria, the site also offers a link from the Career Tool to the Career Navigator quizzes.
Working in Canada is a comprehensive source of information on regulated trades and professions in Canada. It contains information on entry requirements in both official languages and is the only site designed primarily for professional or trades people moving within Canada. It also provides information for persons considering immigration to Canada.
CREDENTIALS EVALUATION
There are several options available for credentials evaluation services. The supplier evaluates formal for-credit educational programs of study for people who have studied in other provinces or countries and determines comparable levels in British Columbian and Canadian terms. Membership applicants are responsible for payment in full of all fees, including investigation fees for an extra-jurisdictional review, admission fees and other reasonable assessments.
International Credentials Evaluation Service (ICES): Download the BCSLA ICES Evaluation Requirements.
OR
World Education Services (WES): BCSLA requires both the Credentials Evaluation and Authentication Report and the Course By Course Evaluation Report
Candidates should contact the BCSLA office for information on alternate credentials evaluation services.
LICENSURE SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL
Are you ready to apply for BCSLA registration? Go to the on-line Licensure Self-Assessment Tool.
Internationally Trained Professionals
Internationally Trained Professionals should download and review the documents in the Internationally Trained Professionals section.
Alternative Assessment Framework
The Alternate Assessment Framework is presented as a resource to BC regulatory and certifying bodies. It may be voluntarily adopted, in whole or in part. Alternately, regulators may use this framework to develop their own process.
Chad Danos, licensed landscape architect who lives in the USA, explains the unique impact of his work on protecting the public and bettering communities — and why deregulating the profession would result in dangerous unintended consequences. Watch the video!
ASLA LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE LICENSURE HANDBOOK: Ensuring Safe, Healthy, and Resilient Natural and Built Environments
Produced by: Josh Sundloff, JD, ASLA
Produced for: The American Society of Landscape Architects
Original Creator and Contributor: Alex P. Schatz, JD
The purpose of this document is to educate and describe the importance and necessity of landscape architecture licensure through findings of empirical evidence of harm caused by incompetent landscape architectural work, which includes everything from the nuisance of repeated minor injuries all the way up to such things as permanent injury and death. In pursuit of that purpose, this document explains the justifications and reasons why landscape architecture is a licensed profession in all 50 states. This document also particularly illustrates the profession’s direct impact on the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
Visit the American Society of Landsape Architects (ASLA) Career Discovery page for information on becoming a landscape architect. This page contains stories about landscape architects, videos about landscape architecture and architects, a PowerPoint presentation on the profession, a downloadable brochure on landscape architecture as a career, links to Bureau of Labor Statistics on the profession, results of ASLA’s annual graduating student survey, examples of great landscape architecture, and a coloring book for the younger set.
2024 CSLA Report on the State of the Profession of Landscape Architecture
2019 CSLA Canadian Landscape Architect Compensation and Benefits Study
2012 BCSLA Professional Practice Survey Report
Download the 2012 BCSLA Professional Practice Survey Report
2012 BCSLA Strategic Initiatives
Download the 2012 BCSLA Strategic Initiatives
2007 BCSLA Workplace Survey
Download the 2007 BCSLA Workplace Survey
Useful Links
Go to Useful Links.
