I strongly support continued regulation of the profession of Landscape Architecture in Virginia. I am a professional Landscape Architect, licensed in eight states, and hold national certification by the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB). As Design Director of Woolpert, a national design firm, I oversee our Landscape Architecture services, performed by a licensed Landscape Architect in Virginia as well as services provided across the US. My perspective allows me to see the consistency of protection that licensure provides to the Federal, state and local governments and members of communities using the services of Landscape Architects across the country.

I have been in the professional practice of Landscape Architecture for almost 50 years, so I have seen the costs and harm to the public and the environment resulting from the performance of site and landscape design by persons inadequately trained in the artistic, social and technical principles of this profession. A review of the reasons for initiating regulation several decades ago, will illustrate the reasons why past legislators saw the wisdom of establishing standards for protection of public health, safety, and welfare as well as fair competition and economic justice for this valued profession.

In this time of increased concern for the natural and man-made environment and recognition of the dangers of unsustainable practices, it is highly counter productive to consider deregulating the profession of Landscape Architecture. Such deregulation will thereby remove any standard of competency and performance from the practice of services for which the profession of Landscape Architecture has a proven track record of providing for well over a century.

Licensure of Landscape Architects has upheld a standard of performance of Landscape Architecture that meets the public’s values for stewardship of this country’s natural resources. Also, and of great importance, licensure regulates the level of education, competency of practice and character of service of Landscape Architects, by providing technical oversight of a profession few customers have the knowledge to evaluate. This protection is vital to health, safety and welfare of individuals and communities, as well as financial protection of those investing in construction designed by Landscape Architects.

I have taught Landscape Architecture at the University level, and had the responsibility of developing emerging professionals and preparing them to pass the rigorous exam to attain licensure, I am convinced that the principal services Landscape Architects provide cannot be developed without the demanding, generally five-year formal education and accompanying in-service training (or many years of practice under a licensed professional) that state licensure laws require. Elimination of licensure would render the substantial investment of the many Landscape Architects in the state of little value by removing the standards they have trained to attain. Not only will the public suffer from deregulation, but professionals known for their environmental stewardship skills and public service would also be greatly harmed.