Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
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Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
 
Board
Board for Professional and Occupational Regulation
 
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9/14/20  5:04 pm
Commenter: Chris Hale, PLA

SUPPORT continued regulation of landscape architects in Virginia
 

I am a licensed landscape architect (Virginia #1100) with over 20 years of experience practicing landscape architecture in the State of Virginia. I graduated from the 5-year accredited landscape architecture degree program at Virginia Tech in 1997, and continue to maintain my professional credentials through continuing education, professional practice, and regular involvement in the Virginia Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. I currently work as a Senior Planner in the Planning Department of Chesterfield County. In my day-to-day work reviewing and approving commercial site plans, residential subdivision plans, and building permits, as well my involvement in longer-range planning projects, public health, safety, and welfare, are of primary concern. Our work in the Planning Department also has a direct impact on economic viability within the County and surrounding region. Maintaining my credentials as a licensed landscape architect, regulated by the State, provides a critical measure of competency that directly impacts the citizens and development community within the County. Achieving licensure was no small task in the course of my career which involved acquiring the education, gaining the necessary years of experience, and passing the landscape architecture licensure exam. I feel it would be a severe detriment to both myself as a professional, and those I serve through practice, if landscape architects were deregulated in the State of Virginia.

I respectfully request that you SUPPORT continued regulation of professional landscape architects in the State of Virginia. In your consideration, please note the following regarding the licensure of our profession:

Protection of Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
• Landscape architects directly impact public health, safety, and welfare. Licensure is the most appropriate form of regulation to ensure that the public is adequately protected.
• Licensure of landscape architects ensures that professionals are qualified by virtue of their education, experience, and examination. 
• Licensure of landscape architects ensures that untrained individuals are prevented from engaging in professional practice that substantially (or significantly) impacts public health, safety and welfare. Licensed landscape architects fulfill educational training and examination requirements that prepare professionals to protect the public from both physical and monetary harm.
• Landscape architects are called upon for complex services that require highly technical skills, making it difficult for prospective clients to evaluate the competency of professionals. Licensure as a measure of competence can assist consumers in identifying appropriate professionals for design services.
• The scope of landscape architectural practice includes site plans, plans of development, grading plans, vehicular roadways and pedestrian systems design, stormwater and erosion control plans, and the siting of buildings and structures, all work that localities and federal agencies require to be sealed by licensed professionals. Consequently, the scope of landscape architecture overlaps with other licensed design professionals including architects, engineers, and Class B land surveyors.
 
Fair Competition and Economic Impact
• Without licensure, landscape architects would likely be prohibited from leading multidisciplinary teams. Currently, landscape architects serve as the prime consultants on projects where they coordinate and administer the services of engineers, architects, and land surveyors.
• Without licensure, landscape architects will be unfairly disadvantaged in the marketplace. Oftentimes, federal, state, and local contracts require the work to be completed by licensed individuals.
• Virginia landscape architects would be excluded from federal, state, and local work in Virginia that requires licensure.
• Licensure of landscape architects is necessary to keep the profession on an equal footing with its related licensed design professions, architecture and engineering. This equality enables landscape architects to lead projects, form certain business partnerships, and serve as principals in multidisciplinary firms.
• Licensure for one profession, and certification, registration, or no regulation for the other, can cause confusion in the marketplace and may be perceived by the consumer as an endorsement of the skill and competence of one profession over the other. Where the professions overlap, it provides a state-sanctioned advantage for one profession over the other. This destroys the competitive, free market in which design professionals compete.
 
Thank you for your consideration,
 
Chris Hale, PLA
 

 

 

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