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Continuing Education

The following information is available in PDF format for download:

General Requirements
Every landscape architect must complete a minimum of twenty-four contact hours of continuing education prior to the end of each renewal period.

Effective with the renewal period beginning November 1, 2009, sixteen of the twenty-four hours must be health, safety and welfare hours (HSW).

Renewal
The completion of these hours is a condition of renewal of the landscape architect’s registration.

An application for renewal or restoration of a license may not be submitted unless the continuing education requirement has been completely fulfilled or the registrant has been exempted from the continuing education requirement by the Board.

Carry-over
If the registrant exceeds the total number of required hours in any renewal period, a maximum of twelve hours may be carried forward into the next renewal period.

Contact hour
A contact hour is at least fifty minutes of participation in an approved course or activity.

Qualified/certified activities
Activities offered by any of the organizations listed below are automatically accepted by the Board: 

  • Landscape Architects Continuing Education System™ (LA CES)
  • American Society of Landscape Architects;
  • Council of Landscape Architect Registration Boards;
  • Ohio Board of Landscape Architect Examiners;
  • Urban Land Institute;
  • American Nurseryman’s Association;
  • American Planning Association;
  • National Society of Professional Engineers;
  • National Recreation and Parks Association;
  • American Institute of Architects;
  • Construction Specifications Institute’s Construction Education Network (CSI CEN);
  • Agencies of the state or federal government offering training programs in landscape architecture or a related field;
  • Coursework in landscape architecture or a related field at a university or college;
  • Other related technical/professional societies or organizations, including local, state or regional affiliates, chapters, components or sections whose programs have been certified by any of the above organizations.

Exemptions
Certain landscape architects may be exempt from the continuing education requirements.

Eligible landscape architects seeking an exemption should use the Application for Exemption from the CE Requirement, which can be downloaded.

The application for exemption should be submitted PRIOR to submitting the renewal application.

There is no exemption for retired landscape architects. Anyone with an active license must fulfill the requirement.

The following exemptions are available:

  • Landscape architects newly licensed by examination by the state of Ohio are exempt from the continuing education requirements for their first renewal period only.

    This exemption does not apply to reciprocal registrants.

    An exemption is automatic for individuals newly licensed by examination and an exemption form is not necessary. 
  • Interns and individuals in the process of taking the registration exam (LARE) are not required to complete the requirement
  • Landscape architect is on full time duty, or temporarily called up for active duty, in the United States military service, where such activity restricts participation in continuing education activities. The landscape architect shall complete and submit the Application for Exemption for the Board’s review and approval. 
  • Landscape architect has experienced a physical disability, illness, or other extenuating circumstances that prevents the landscape architect from practicing landscape architecture. The landscape architect shall complete and submit the Application for Exemption for the Board’s review and approval.  

Due to the wide availability of free continuing education on the Internet, the Board does not consider financial hardship a valid reason for exemption.

  • The landscape architect otherwise meets all renewal requirements and is registered in another jurisdiction having continuing education requirements, which the landscape architect has met, provided that other jurisdiction accepts satisfaction of Ohio’s continuing education requirements as meeting it own.

    This exemption is intended for only reciprocal registrants whose base state has a continuing education requirement.

Content requirements
Acceptable activities include those that increase the landscape architect’s knowledge and/or understanding of technical or professional subjects and contribute directly to the improvement of the landscape architect’s professional knowledge and competence to practice landscape architecture.

Health, safety and welfare
Effective with the renewal period beginning 11/1/09, Landscape Architects must earn at least 16 hours in topics related to health, safety and welfare (HSW).

These hours are topics in which at least seventy-five (75) percent of the subject matter applies the principles of mathematical, physical, and social sciences in 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 relative to projects principally directed at the functional and aesthetic use and preservation of land.

Health, safety and welfare subjects may include, but are not limited to: 

  • Building codes
  • Code of ethics
  • Codes, acts, laws, and regulations governing the practice of landscape architecture
  • Construction administration, including construction contracts
  • Construction documents
  • Design of environmental systems
  • Environmental process and analysis
  • Erosion control methods
  • Grading
  • Horticulture
  • Irrigation methods
  • Land planning and land use analysis
  • Landscape preservation, landscape restoration and adaptive reuse
  • Lateral forces
  • Natural hazards-impact of earthquake, hurricane, fire, or flood related to site design
  • Pedestrian and vehicular circulation
  • Planting design
  • Resource conservation and management
  • Roadway design principles
  • Site accessibility, including Americans with Disabilities Act standards for accessible site design
  • Site and soils analysis
  • Site design and engineering, including materials, methods, technologies, and applications
  • Site security and safety
  • Storm water management , surface and subsoil drainage
  • Structural systems considerations
  • Surveying methods and techniques as they affect landscape architecture
  • Sustainable design, including techniques related to energy efficiency
  • Use of site materials and methods of site construction
  • Vegetative management
  • Wetlands
  • Zoning as it relates to the improvement and/or protection of the public health, safety, and welfare.
  • Other matters of law and ethics that contribute to the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

Topics ineligible for HSW credit
The following subjects are not considered health, safety and welfare topics: 

  • Accounting/financial planning
  • Basic AutoCAD
  • Expanding a design professional’s business
  • General office management
  • Insurance
  • Laws related to arbitration, mediation, liens (unless they relate to safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of the public), real estate, real estate development.
  • Limiting the design professional’s liability
  • Marketing and public relations
  • Personal development
  • Project management related to profitability and maximizing fees
  • Risk management
  • Succession planning

Methods for fulfilling continuing education requirements
Continuing education may be earned by any of the methods listed below.

Credit may be awarded only once in a renewal period for the same program with the same content. 

  • Attending a graduate or undergraduate level course at an accredited institution of higher learning where academic credit is granted. Credit:  Twelve continuing education credits for each hour of academic credit received.  
  • Attending a course, program, seminar, conference, workshop or similar event where it is presented, sponsored, or approved by:  an accredited institution of higher learning or a approved professional organization. Credit:  One hour of continuing education credit for each hour of actual contact time of instruction provided.  
  • Teaching a graduate or undergraduate course, on a part-time basis, at an accredited institution of higher learning. Credit: Twelve hours of continuing education credit for each hour of academic credit provided by the course except that after the first year, the maximum credit may not exceed more than fifty per cent of the required continuing education credit of the renewal period. 
  • Teaching a course or seminar, delivering a lecture, presenting a paper, or a program, workshop or monograph at an educational event. Credit may be taken only once for the same program. Credit: Two hours maximum.
  • Publishing an article in a professional journal. One time credit for each article. Credit: One hour of continuing education credit for each hour of preparation, not to exceed five hours per article.
  • Publishing a book. One time credit for each book. Credit: One hour of continuing education credit for each hour of preparation, not to exceed twelve hours per book.
  • As a member of a professional committee responsible for researching, writing or grading questions for the landscape architect registration exam or other similar technical activities. Credit: a maximum of fifty per cent of the required continuing education credit of the renewal period.
  • Professional service to the public, which draws upon the landscape architect's professional expertise, on boards and commissions such as: planning boards, building code organizations, urban renewal boards, and other similar activities. The Board shall, in its discretion, determine applicable activities in this category. Service to professional associations (ASLA, APA, etc.) is not eligible for credit. Credit: One hour of continuing education credit for each hour of work in this activity, not to exceed twenty-five percent of the continuing education requirements of the renewal period.
  • Passing a LEED exam during the current renewal period. Official documentation from the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) must be provided. Credit: a one time credit of eight hours.
  • Self directed activities: self directed activities are those that are done independent of a structured format such as a seminar or lecture. Credit: not to exceed 50% of the continuing education requirements of the renewal period. 

In order for self-directed activities to qualify, an applicant shall:

·         Account for time spent completing activity;

·         Summarize the content of the activity, and

·         Relate the activity to public health, safety, and welfare

Documentation shall be required at the discretion of the Board.

Records
Do not submit any records to the Board unless requested.

Each landscape architect must maintain a written record of all continuing education courses or programs taken.

Records must be maintained for four years.

Registrants should request Certificates of Completion from program sponsors.

The Board offers a spreadsheet, Continuing Education Log, on its website.

LA CES™ offers transcripts.

Records shall be made available at any time to the Board upon written request for review and audit.

Records may be requested at any time in connection with an investigation or enforcement proceeding.

Failure to provide the requested information in the time frame established by the Board shall constitute cause for disciplinary action by the Board and may be cause for fines, reprimand, suspension revocation or denial of the application for renewal of the landscape architect’s registration. 

Audits
Audits may be conducted randomly, or in connection with an investigation or enforcement proceeding.

Audits may be conducted at any time.

Landscape Architects who are being audited will be notified in writing.

Upon request by the Board, each landscape architect shall provide proof of satisfying the continuing education requirement and a Continuing Education Log.

Failure to provide the requested information in the time frame established by the Board shall constitute cause for fines, reprimand, suspension, revocation or denial of the application for renewal of the landscape architect’s registration. 

Disallowance
If the Board disallows one or more continuing education activities, the landscape architect has up to ninety days after the notification to substantiate the original claim or to complete other continuing education activities sufficient to meet the minimum requirements.

Compliance
Every landscape architect shall attest to meeting of the requirements. Attestation is part of the renewal application. Landscape architects who have not met the requirement should not submit a renewal application.

Falsification of records
Any landscape architect falsifying the records of continuing education activities may be subject to disciplinary action by the Board.

Appeal
A landscape architect has the right to appeal any refusal by the Board to accept continuing educational activities for credit under these requirements. This appeal shall include the presentation of evidence supporting the landscape architect’s contention that the activity meets the requirements of this rule.

Requirements for late renewals, lapsed and reinstating applicants
A landscape architect who is renewing a license after the deadline or reinstating a lapsed license must submit proof of completion of twenty-four hours of continuing education within the last two years with the application. These 24 hours may not be applied towards the next renewal. If the applicant has more than 24 hours, up to 12 hours may be carried over to the next renewal period.

Where to earn continuing education credits
A wide range of providers offer continuing education. It is possible to complete the requirement for free via the internet. The list below is not all-inclusive:

  • A list of CE resources can be found here
  • Universities and colleges
  • LA CES™, CLARB, ASLA, AIA, or CSI websites
  • Lunch and learn programs at firms
  • NCARB self-study monographs
  • Seminars offered by the State Architect's Office
  • Board of Building Standards and other code related organizations
  • Industry organizations, such as the Builders Exchange
  • The ASLA maintains a database of CE programs on their website at http://laces.asla.org/
  • Many free courses are available on the internet. For example, AEC Daily www.aecdaily.com or Ron Blank www.ronblank.com.
  • Other online courses are available, for a fee, from organizations such as the ASLA, US Green Building Council, or at http://redvector.com/ or http://pdhcenter.com/
  • ASLA sections around Ohio
 
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