Facts About a Landscaper

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Landscape architects design gardens, public parks and spaces and parkways so that they are not only beautiful and harmonious with the natural environment, but also fully functional, meeting people's aesthetic and practical needs. Landscape architects work as part of a multi-disciplined team, usually including building architects, surveyors, engineers, and perhaps environmental scientists or hydrologists. The landscape architect is responsible for analyzing the site conditions, working with the clients to understand their needs for the space, designing the space, identifying the building processes and materials needed and preparing a plan. Senior landscape architects may hire general or landscape contractors to carry out the work and be responsible for monitoring the process and adjusting the design and plans if necessary. Beyond the urban environment, some landscape architects work on projects that protect, conserve and restore natural resources such as forest and wildness areas and coastal areas.

Education

• Landscape architects need either a bachelor's or a master's degree in landscape architecture. The Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board of the American Society of Landscape Architects has accredited landscape architecture programs in 67 colleges and universities. The two undergraduate degrees, the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and the Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture, each require four or five years of full-time study. The Masters degree usually takes two years for those who have a related undergraduate degree, and three years for students from other disciplines.

Licensing and Professional Organization

• Most states have licensing requirements for landscape architects, obtained through taking the Landscape Architect Registration Examination. In addition, landscape architects should have a degree from an accredited institution and one to four years of work experience under the supervision of a certified architect. It's possible for a landscape architect to obtain their license without having a degree by undertaking more supervised work experience. Some states require landscape architects to take continuing education courses to maintain their license. The American Society of Landscape Architects represents 17,000 landscape architects. The different chapters of the organization hold regular meetings and participate in the national landscape architecture month. The organization provides preparation education for those members taking the licensing examination as well as information about continuing education courses.

Employment and Job Prospects

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008 there were 26,700 employed landscape architects in the United States. Of these, about 51 percent worked in architectural and engineering companies. About 21 percent of the remaining architects were self-employed. The outlook for employment for these professionals is better than the average for all occupations. BLS expects employment in this field to increase, between 2008 - 2018, by 20 percent. In May 2008, the average salary for landscape architects was $58,960.