You must complete professional development hours to maintain your practice as a landscape architect. Learn more about these requirements and what to do if you are audited.
Professional development requirements
- To maintain your practice, you must complete 24 professional development hours (PDH) within your 2-year license period.
- If you earn more than 24 PDH in the second half of your 2-year license period, up to 12 extra hours can be carried over to the following 2-year license period.
- Example: If you earn 50 PDH in the second half of your 2-year license period, only 12 can be carried over to the following 2-year period.
Professional development resources
- Washington Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects
- Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System
What counts as professional development hours?
Because PDH activities are not pre-approved by the board, you're responsible for seeking out appropriate activities. At least 18 PDHs must address public health, safety & welfare. Below are examples of allowed activities and hours.
Activities and maximum PDH
| Activity (1 PDH is equal to no less than 50 minutes of activity) | Maximum PDH |
|---|---|
1 hour of preparation and subsequent presentation of a professional development program at:
|
10 per year |
| Publication of an authored technical paper or article. | 10 |
| Publication of an authored book. | 30 |
| Serving as an elected officer or appointed chair of a committee in a professional society or organization. PDH won't be earned until the completion of each year of service. | 4 per organization |
| Serving as an elected officer or appointed member of a board or commission related to the practice of landscape architecture. PDH won't be earned until the completion of each year of service. | 4 per organization |
| Serving as an exam grader or on a committee writing exam materials for a professional registration exam. | 8 per 2-year period (biennium) |
| Membership on the regulatory board for the practice of landscape architecture. | 8 per year |
| 1 hour of attendance at meetings or hearings of the board. This credit doesn't apply to existing board members or parties or witnesses in hearings before the board. | 6 per year |
| 1 hour of participation in other recognized professional activities, outside normal duties of employment. | 2 per year |
| 1 hour of self-study. | 5 per year |
| 1 hour of participating in sessions or courses sponsored by technical or professional societies, organizations, or the board. | No limit |
1 hour of participation in organized courses on:
|
No limit |
| 1 hour of attendance at professional or technical society meetings with an informational program. | 5 per year |
| Pro-bono service that has a clear purpose and objective, maintains, improves, or expands your professional knowledge or skill. (4 hours of service = 1 PDH) | 4 per year |
| 1 hour of participation in an activity involving substantial and organized peer interaction, excluding time spent during regular employment. | 5 per year |
Professional development audits
Each year, 5–15% of licensees are chosen at random to be audited by the board on their professional development hours earned.
Records to keep
You can use our Landscape Architect Professional Development Worksheet or a similar form to track your PDH activities and hours. We'll accept receipts, certificates, or rosters showing you completed a professional development activity.
Your records must include:
- The date of the activity
- The instructor's name
- A description of activity
- The location of the activity
- The number of PDH
How long to keep records
You must keep your records for a total of 5 years, including the cumulative time in your current renewal period plus the 3 years before your last renewal.
What to do if you are audited
Submit records of your PDH activities for the last license period by your license expiration date.
You will be asked to submit any of the following:
- Receipts and certificates provided by universities, professional organizations, or other course presenters.
- Examples include signed attendance receipts, payment receipts, and certificates of completion and/or continuing education credit reports.
- Copies of lecture materials, course outlines, agendas, handouts, book covers, articles, or content outlines.
- If necessary to prove your participation, include corresponding travel receipts or expense reports
- For multi-session events, highlight the sessions you attended on the agenda or schedule.
- If the content is not apparent by the course title, provide information demonstrating how the activity is related to health, safety, or welfare.
After the audit
Don't dispose of your records after you have been audited. You must still keep them for a total of 5 years.