LARE Exam Preparation and Study-Guide: Alaska Landscape Architect License Requirements

Alaska Landscape Architect License Requirements

How to Get Your License in Alaska.

Alaska is the largest state in the United States and is famous for its natural beauty and climatic extremes. Licensed landscape architects help protect the environment and make habitable spaces in this extreme climate.

Basic Requirements

There are a few basic requirements you must meet before you can apply for a landscape architect license in Alaska. First, you must be of good character and reputation. Second, you must demonstrate a combination of work experience and education in landscape architecture. Here are the highlights from the state of Alaska's regulations and statutes.

Education and Experience

If You Have an Accredited Degree in Landscape Architecture

You need a degree in landscape architecture to meet Alaska's education requirement. The state of Alaska requires a combination of education and experience to meet the licensure prerequisite. The quality and quantity of education are important. A LAAB accredited degree is worth one point for each year of coursework. That means a five-year BLA program equals five experience points. A four-year accredited degree is worth four experience points. You get an additional experience. In order to meet the state education and experience requirements, you need a total of eight years of combined education and experience.

My Landscape Architecture Degree is Not From An Accredited Program

No problem. You can still qualify for registration in Alaska with a non-accredited degree, but you will need more professional experience to satisfy state requirements. A non-LAAB accredited professional degree is worth three experience points. You still need to get five years of professional experience to meet the combined education and experience requirement, however.

There are some other paths that you can use to meet the education and experience requirements. Check out the latest requirements in the Alaska "Statutes and Regulations: Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors" on the Alaska board website.

Continuing Education

You need to take a continuing education course on Arctic engineering before the Alaska state board will issue a landscape architect license. You can find a list of board-approved programs on the Alaska state board's website. At least one class is a web-based course.

Step-by-Step Guide

Graduate from an accredited landscape architecture program.
Get professional work experience to satisfy the Alaska licensure requirements.
Apply to the Alaska state board for permission to take the LARE. Have your college send official transcripts to the Alaska board. You will also need to verify you professional work history on the work experience forms included in the application packet.
Set up a CLARB council record at the Council of Landscape Architect Review Boards website.
Register for the LARE exam. You can register for the multiple-choice sections through CLARB's website. Graphic LARE sections are administered through the Alaska board.
Prepare for the LARE. The LARE exam is challenging and many candidates do not pass the first time. You can improve your chances of success by studying from the CLARB-recommended books, take practice exams, or attend LARE workshops. The better prepared you are, the better your performance will be on test day.
Take and pass all sections of the LARE. You have five years to complete all sections. Don't panic if you don't pass everything the first time. Study some more at take the section when you feel ready. You have four chances to pass in a five year period.
Once you have passed all sections of the LARE, have CLARB forward your Council Record to the Alaska board.
Pay the license fee when all the requirements have been satisfied.
Wait for your landscape architect license to come in the mail. Celebrate! You are now a licensed landscape architect.
Get a rubber stamp made with your seal so you can sign and seal drawings.