I am a licensed landscape architect and run and operate a small landscape architecture design firm.  I am strongly in support of the continuation of a professional license for landscape architects in the state of Virginia.

To quote the American Society of Landscape Architects, as well as other landscape architects: 

"the practice of landscape architecture, for purposes of the licensing statute, should be defined as any service where landscape architectural education, training, experience and the application of mathematical, physical, social, and natural science principals are applied.  Practice includes consultation, evaluation, planning, design (including, but not limited to, the preparation and filing of plans, drawings, specifications, and other contract documents) and administration of contracts pertaining to projects principally directed at a safe functional and aesthetic use; conservation and integration of natural and built environments."

"All 50 states have regulation of landscape architecture is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, so for Virginia to deregulate this service would stand out in strong opposition to the rest of the country.  The practice of landscape architecture should keep the public safe from hazards, protect and maximize the use of natural systems and resources, and prevent damage to public or private property from changes in the built environment.  The education, experience, and examination required to earn a license ensures that licensed landscape architects can effectively protect the public and our communities from harm."

"landscape architects execute complex projects that demand extensive and complex technical knowledge including roadways, pedestrian systems, public plazas, stormwater control systems, erosion control systems, site plans for large office complexes, new towns, and the siting of individual buildings.  Such projects plus a wide range of additional ones directly affect the health safety and welfare of the public and need to be done by highly educated persons with complex technical training who have passed a comprehensive and demanding examination for licensure."

"attaining a professional license in landscape architecture supports the ability to practice independently without supervision or review of another professional.  This not only creates more opportunities for management and leadership, but supports several existing Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned Business (SWaM)."  "Not getting licensed limits the career opportunities for our future, and would significantly diminish our professional voice."

The scope of our professional work should not be left up to any random person, or other types of design professionals who do not have the best cultural and safety interest of our natural environment in mind.  Our young profession suffers a lot of uneducated confusion and misperceptions within the public realm.  Landscape Architecture is not a basic garden design hobby, or lawn & garden profession, but in fact, a complex multi-faceted type of architecture practice applied toward every contributing minutiae of the built and natural outdoor world and we have an intensive education based in architectural design theory, from accredited architecture schools.  Please do not remove regulations for licensure of landscape architecture during this legislative session, and all future sessions as well!  Repeated bi-yearly attempts to deregulate our profession by unscrupulous or uneducated people/entities are both unnecessarily cumbersome and stressful, to us, our professional work, our families, and communities.