Have you ever wondered whose ideas and designs create the most beautiful structures in our world? Whose imagination brings forth green lawns, gardens, campuses, houses with natural elements, and carefully laid out structures in the most efficient way? Of course, everything is planned out from scratch by efficient and highly intelligent landscape architects.

Landscape architects are people who specialize and practice in the field of landscape architecture. As the name indicates, they design places, incorporating natural elements into them, and making them compatible with natural environment.

Besides designing, landscape architects sketch and plan out landscape projects in a detailed manner from scratch, taking into consideration the funds and resources available, studying the nature of landscape and other constructions, and working with other surveyors, engineers, architects, and other professionals.

The minimum requirement for landscape architects is a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture. Many universities offer bachelors and masters degree programs, but only some are accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB). The only organization that evaluates programs on certain standards and objectives, it certifies courses with strict vigilance. State University of New York, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Virginia, University of Washington, and many, many more are examples of universities offering LAAB approved landscape architecture courses. Such courses usually include fields like landscape and design, surveying, geology and many more.

Usually landscape architects are professionally qualified and can join in the world of landscape architecture in many states after completing their degree programs. However, some states require their landscape architects to have an additional license, which is based on the Landscape Architect Registration Exam (LARE). Rules for such licensure vary from one state to the other.

Landscape architects are usually represented by bodies such as the American Society of Landscape Architects and International Federation of Landscape Architects Central Region.

Apart from representing landscape architects and laying down conduct and codes of ethics for them, the American Society of Landscape Architects also promotes the architectural profession. Besides this, it also offers a number of continuing educational opportunities for landscape architects. Such programs are provided by independent providers and usually demanded by many states as a pre-requisite for maintaining licensure.