Applicants for licensure are either licensed by completing the national examination (the Landscape Architect Registration Examination - L.A.R.E.) administered by CLARB and applying for an Initial License or by reciprocal/comity licensing whereby an applicant holds a current license in another state or province.
Initial License Information
- 21 years of age
- Graduate of an accredited landscape architecture curriculum approved by the Board
- Minimum of two years of professional landscape architectural experience
- Satisfactorily pass all sections of the national examination (L.A.R.E.)
- There is a $250 non-refundable application fee required with the application. Fee may be paid by check or by VISA or MC here.
Initial License & Examination (L.A.R.E.) FAQs
Q: As I live and work in Kentucky, shall I apply to the Kentucky Board to take the L.A.R.E.?
A: The Kentucky Board no longer administers the L.A.R.E. Beginning in 2012, all sections of the examination are administered by CLARB via computer. In order to apply & register for the examination, please visit www.clarb.org.
Q: Do I have to wait until I have two years of professional experience before I begin taking the L.A.R.E.?
A: Kentucky candidates may take the L.A.R.E. any time they wish. As Kentucky law requires that you acquire two years of professional landscape architecture experience prior to being granted a license, there is no need to apply for an initial license until you have accumulated two years of professional experience.
Q: I have a BLA from an accredited program & have now completed the L.A.R.E. When should I apply to the Kentucky Board for a license?
A: As Kentucky law requires that all licensees have an accredited degree, complete the national examination (currently the L.A.R.E.) and have two years of professional experience, the Board suggests that you apply once all of these requirements have been met.
Application Process
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Application For License
- A certified copy of the transcript from your accredited landscape architecture program must be forwarded to the Board from the college or university.
- Minimum of two years of professional landscape architecture experience under the supervision of a Landscape Architect, Architect or Engineer must be verified. Please forward the
Verification Of Work Experience form to the pertinent professional(s) & instruct them to send the completed form(s) to the Ky Board (ky.labd@ky.gov).
- There is a $250 non-refundable application fee required with the application. Fee may be paid by check or by VISA or MC here.
Continuing Education
Please note that all licensees are required to report a minimum of twelve (12) hours of continuing education activities annually. New licensees are exempt from reporting continuing education activities for the first partial-year of licensing.
CLARB Council Record Holders
CLARB Council Record holders who request that your Council Record be sent to the Kentucky Board do not need to complete the entire application. If your Council Record contains a certified copy of your LA transcript, there is no need to request a certified copy be forwarded to the Board from the University. Please note “See CLARB Council Record” in that section of the application.
Any professional references once a part of the Council Record are no longer transmitted to the Boards, so you'll need to provide (and we'll need to contact) five professionals to serve as references. Three must be landscape architects.
Reciprocity Information
Requirements
- 21 years of age
- Graduate of an accredited landscape architecture curriculum approved by the Board
- 2 years of professional landscape architectural experience under the supervision of a Landscape Architect, Architect or Engineer. Please forward the Verification Of Work Experience form to the pertinent professional(s).
- Satisfactorily pass the national examination (U.N.E. or L.A.R.E.)
- Licensed in the US or another country where the qualifications prescribed at the time of licensing were equal to those prescribed in the Commonwealth at the date of application
Application and Fee
Application For License
The non-refundable application fee which must accompany a reciprocal application is $250. When the application is approved for licensure, this fee includes licensure through the end of the current fiscal year. The Board's fiscal year begins July 1 and ends the following June 30.
Continuing Education
Please note that all licensees are required to report a minimum of twelve (12) hours of continuing education activities annually. Licensees are exempt from reporting continuing education activities for the first partial-year of licensing.
CLARB Council Record Holders
CLARB Council Record holders who request that CLARB send the Council Record to the Kentucky Board, do not need to complete the entire application. The "Experience" page of the application does not need to be completed; please note "See CLARB Council Record" in that section of the application.
License Reinstatement / Reactivation
Reinstatement Requirements
Pay a reinstatement fee, which is determined by the length of time your license has been expired:
- Within 30 days of expiration date: $300
- 31 - 60 days from date of expiration: $350
- 61 - 364 days from date of expiration: $500
- 365 or more days from date of expiration: $750
- Fee may be paid by check or by VISA or MC
here.
Report and provide verification of completion for twelve (12) to twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education activities, depending on how long the license has been expired. CE activities may be reported as far back as two (2) years from the request for reinstatement.
Reactivation Requirements
- Pay a reactivation fee
- Report & provide verifications of completion for between twelve (12) & twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education activities, depending on how long the license has been Inactive.
- CE activities may be reported as far back as two (2) years from the request for reactivation