Licensure and Advocacy
ASLA Colorado's Advocacy Activities
Promoting licensure to maintain a high level of competence and training for the protection of the public and the profession.
Developing new laws and public policy to protect and maintain the environment.
Offering guidance to public and government professionals when reviewing new plans or policies that affect the environment.
Colorado's Statewide Licensure
In 2007, the Colorado Legislature re-established statewide licensure for Landscape Architects after a 20-year hiatus. All 50 states and the District of Columbia have recognized that regulation of landscape architecture is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare. Most state professional licensure laws have a term and the Colorado licensure law for landscape architects (Colorado Revised Statutes Section 12, Article 130) is set to expire on September 1, 2028.
This licensure expiration triggers a “sunset” review process by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) and the Colorado Legislature. The sunset review is based on an evaluation of the risks to the public presented by work performed by unlicensed landscape designers and the need for licensure of landscape architects to maintain public health, safety, and welfare. DORA will conduct this sunset review during 2027 to either recommend that the legislature re-authorize the licensure law, or let it expire and be abolished.
In defense of licensure, ASLA Colorado advocates for the awareness and understanding of the profession. We build relationships with lawmakers to educate them about the broad scope and impact of the profession on our communities. Our efforts focus on explaining how licensure protects public health, safety and welfare by ensuring that landscape architects have the “three E’s” to ensure competent practice: Education, Experience, and testing of core knowledge by Examination through the 4-part Landscape Architect Registration Exams (LARE).
ASLA Colorado also builds and maintains mutually supporting relationships with allied professional associations, including engineers and architects, to support licensure of the design professions that affect the public realm.
Professional Development
All 50 states have recognized that regulation of landscape architecture is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare. All but three states regulate the profession through a practice act, which requires a license to practice the profession and use the title ‘landscape architect.’ The remaining three states have enacted title act statutes, which is a weaker form of regulation that allows anyone to practice landscape architecture if they call it something else. A practice act is important because of the real danger to clients and the users of these public and private spaces: physical injury, property damage, and financial ruin.
Landscape Architecture Designations
Landscape architecture is a state-licensed profession and only licensed persons may hold themselves out as a landscape architect. For a variety of reasons, not all ASLA members are licensed. The following acronyms may be used to describe people in the profession:
PLA or RLA
Professional or Registered
Landscape Architect
Either of these designations indicates the person is a licensed landscape architect
LA
Landscape Architect
Informal term for a landscape architect
ASLA
Active Member of ASLA
FASLA
Fellow of ASLA
Recognized by the society for significant service to the profession
MLA
Holds the degree of Masters of Landscape Architecture
BLA
Holds the degree of Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
State Government Affairs
ASLA Colorado invests time and resources to monitor and influence state regulatory, legislative, judicial and citizen actions and initiatives that affect the profession and our communities. This work includes:
- Monitoring and taking action on legislation pertaining to licensed landscape architects
- Representing landscape architects before the Department of Regulatory Agencies and other rulemaking organizations
- Initiating interaction and dialogue among elected and appointed state officials and ASLA members at meetings, site tours and events
- Coordinating and regularly communicating with allied groups and organizations on issues of mutual interest
- Initiating state legislation and seeking legislative support as needed on behalf of the landscape architecture profession
- Working with the Governor’s office to integrate landscape architecture into the state’s future vision, and recognize Landscape Architecture Month by proclamations.
- Providing regular updates to members about issues of interest during Colorado’s legislative session and interim hearings
State Legislation
State Agencies
Federal Government Affairs
ASLA Colorado works closely with ASLA National in Washington, D.C. to ensure Colorado’s representatives and senators are kept up to date on issues important to the landscape architecture profession. Colorado’s Representatives and Senators need to hear directly from their constituents for ASLA’s federal advocacy program to work. ASLA Colorado and the iAdvocate network are critical toward those goals.
To see ASLA National’s advocacy priorities and sign for up for national iAdvocate network to get alerts about urgent legislative issues, click here.
Advocacy Support
Licensure Information Colorado
- Colorado Municipal League
August 2011 – Licensure Article (pdf) - LA 2017 Licensure Statute As Recodified Expires 2028 (SB 17-218)(pdf)
- Licensure Fee FAQs (pdf)
- DORA CO Licensee Database