I am writing in continued support of the licensure of landscape architecture.

I am a landscape designer currently pursuing my landscape architecture licensure. Listed below are several factors which have encouraged me to pursue my Landscape Architecture licensure.

1. Protection of public health, safety, and welfare. In addition to my 3-year graduate school education and 3-year professional practice under licensed landscape architects, licensure is the most appropriate way to ensure that I have the knowledge and skills necessary to protect the public from both physical and economic harm.

2. Leading interdisciplinary design teams. There are a lot of unique capabilities that landscape architects bring to the design and construction industry. I am currently working in a firm with licensed architects, civil engineers, and other related professionals. Without licensure, landscape architects would be prohibited from leading multidisciplinary teams on most projects and the unique design perspective landscape architects bring would be diminished.

3. Passion about the projects we are working on. I moved from South Carolina to my current firm here in Virginia not only because of the project, but also because landscape architects are the leading discipline in charge of overseeing large and highly complex projects in our firm. Our background and education enable us to create responsive and adaptive plans that serve communities and protect the public against concerns like increased storm severity and frequency, recurrent flooding, and sea level rise. Landscape architects have a significant impact on communities and quality of life and licensure is a measure of competence that can assist consumers in identifying appropriate professionals for design services.

In conclusion, licensure of landscape architecture will ensure that untrained individuals are prevented from engaging in a profession that is proven to play a critical role in public health, safety, and welfare. I strongly request that you continue to license Landscape Architects in Virginia.

Thank you.