My name is Terry Clements. I live and work in Virginia. I write this comment in STRONG support of the continued licensure of landscape architects and landscape architecture in Virginia. I am the chair of the Landscape Architecture Program at Virginia Tech as well as a Licensed Landscape Architect. Virginia Tech has a highly ranked program that draws undergraduate and graduate students from around the country and internationally. Our students look forward to practicing their chosen profession in Virginia and will pursue licensure. Please do not undermine the significance of the profession and its work for the students at Virginia Tech and at the University of Virginia. Removing licensure of landscape architecture would gravely harm Virginia Licensed Landscape Architects, the ability of licensed professionals to practice in areas that they are educated and to maintain a high-quality landscape architecture practice and a presence of landscape architects in Virginia. For example: – In order to hold a position on a corporate board for a “Professional Corporation,” the employee must be licensed or certified in their profession by the Commonwealth. Eliminating licensure of landscape architecture would prevent landscape architects from serving on the board of architectural-engineering and landscape architecture-only firms. – RFPs (Request for Proposals) and RFQs (Request for Qualifications) in the Commonwealth of Virginia and for Federal Government Projects that include Landscape Architecture Services require that the Landscape Architects providing these services be licensed. All other states and the District of Columbia have licensure of landscape architects. Eliminating the regulation would bar Virginia landscape architects from competing for these valuable project proposals.
Thank you!
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