If you aspire to design picturesque and practical outdoor landscape areas for houses, communities or business establishments, landscape design education and training is a must. Although your vision and experience alone may satisfy some clients, other customers and design firms will require you to obtain a certificate, accreditation or degree before hiring.

By finding information on landscape design education and training for beginners, you’ll be able to narrow the focus of your career and discover the learning opportunities required to become a professional in the field. Gather the knowledge you’ll need to visualize and create beautiful and functional outdoor spaces by seeking to:

1. Locate colleges and schools near you that offer landscape design education from two-year certification programs to four-year degrees and master’s programs.
2. Find landscape design training seminars to get an overview of the education for landscape design or focus your efforts on a particular job in the industry.
3. Discover landscape design courses that you can take online to receive an instructor-led or self-paced learning experience from the comfort of home.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Consider local schools that provide landscape architect education

If you're interested in working for a professional landscape design firm, a degree or certificate verifying that you've taken courses for landscape design will help you get your foot in the door. Consult with a career counselor before signing up for classes to ensure your education covers skills you'll need as a landscape professional.

I recommend: Find local colleges, technical schools and other institutions that offer landscape architect training and degrees through US College Search. You can also find local schools and colleges near you that teach skills including landscape design, maintenance and plant care through Education Portal.

Look into landscape architect training workshops to learn more about the career you've chosen

Seminars and workshops can provide focused training for landscape design, as well as a general overview of necessary skills to give you a feel of what's required in the industry. Consider networking during educational opportunities to discuss helpful training opportunities, as well as recent job openings.

I recommend: Discover classes for landscape design that cover topics from eco-friendly landscaping to coastal engineering and sustainable development through Training-classes.com. Discover more about the latest focus on sustainable landscape designs through seminars offered by the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council.

Get information at your own pace through online landscape design courses

Whether you're still contemplating a career in landscape design or you're branching into a new aspect of the field, online landscape design schools will allow you to pursue the educational opportunities without taking a break from your current job.

I recommend: Look into landscape design education online through the professional training opportunities described at WorldWideLearn. Online Education provides a listing of schools that offer online career training in architecture and landscape design.

Landscape design education and training is necessary if you want to take your landscape design from a hobby to a profession. Landscape designer education is ideal for people who don't want to work in an office environment.

With a couple of landscape design courses under your belt, you could be designing for your neighbors or even the city government. Landscape design can be a great career choice, but it's not for everyone.

Before you consider a landscape design education, think about the following:

1. While some people do work for landscape design companies, many designers choose to work on their own. Landscape architect training doesn't always include lessons in business management, so make sure you learn how to run your own business as well.

2. In many areas of the country, landscape design is seasonal work. In order to put your landscape design training to good use, you'll want to move to an area that has a moderate climate.

3. People who specialize in a particular area may have a great chance for success. Try to find an area that you're interested in so that you can become the local expert.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look for schools that offer landscape design education and training

If you simply plan to design your own backyard, then you can probably get away with self-taught techniques. However, in order to become a true professional, you should look for schools that offer courses in landscape design.

I recommend: Trade-Schools.net lists some schools where you can take online landscape design courses. This is convenient if you don't have the time or money to attend a traditional school, or if there are simply no landscaping programs in your area. To advance your career, the Harvard Graduate School of Design offers programs in Landscaping.

Seek out landscape design courses that focus on eco-friendly design

People are becoming more concerned about the environment and want things to be ecologically sound. Some landscape designers have considered this as they create their designs. Find courses that teach you how to do this in order to increase your customer base.

I recommend: The University of Vermont, for example, offers degrees in sustainable landscape horticulture. Living Routes offers a permaculture course in association with University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Take courses in landscape design that result in certification

There's no doubt that holding a certification in landscape design increases your credibility. If you're going to take landscape design classes, you should look to obtain professional certification.

I recommend: Graduate School, USDA offers evening and weekend classes to obtain a certification in landscape design. If you have four years of experience, you can apply for certification through the Association of Professional Landscape Designers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  While you may be able to learn some of the basics online or in a classroom, try to find courses for landscape design that include hands-on experience outdoors.

If you’re seeking a career in landscape design, you need a strong grounding in the terminology of the profession. Often, the term 'landscape design' is a catch-all, and training and educational programs may focus on anything from how to plant flowers in an attractive way to how to create sound infrastructure within a landscape project. However, if you understand the differences between 'design' and 'architecture' within the field, you’ll be able to find relevant training. Then, you can explore the best educational opportunities for your career.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Landscape designer vs. landscape architect

In most states, such as California, individuals can only use the term 'landscape architect' after completing professional qualifications in the field, including passing the L.A.R.E. In any state, those with no training can use the term 'landscape designers.' When you're seeking education and training in the field, seek out programs geared towards landscape architects to ensure that you're receiving the most professional training possible.

I recommend: Read about the difference between landscape architects and landscape designers from a consumer perspective at Luciole Design.

Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) and Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (BSLA)

If you want an undergraduate degree in landscape design, you can choose a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) or a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (BSLA). A BLA balances a liberal arts background with courses focused on landscape architecture, while a BSLA generally focuses more strongly on applied techniques in landscape architecture. Either can lead to a successful career as a landscape architect.

I recommend: Examine an overview of a typical BLA program at Texas A&M's Department of Landscape Architecture. Compare that to the BSLA program offered by the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts.

Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA)

Whether you already have an undergraduate degree in another subject or you want to continue your study of landscape architecture past your undergraduate years, you can apply for admittance to a Master of Landscape Architecture program. In addition to providing an intensive learning experience, most MLA programs will help you gain professional credentials upon graduation.

I recommend: Review the Harvard University Graduate School of Design MLA program, including admittance requirements for those without a degree in landscape architecture.

Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.)

The Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.) is a certification exam offered by the Council of Landscape Architectural Boards (CLARB), featuring both multiple choice and graphic sections. All but one state require this exam in order to receive licensure as a landscape architect.

I recommend: Read about the L.A.R.E. at the Test Prep Preview.

Apprentice or intern landscape architect

Most certified landscape architecture programs require that students spend time as an apprentice or intern landscape architect, which means that you are working directly under a certified landscape architect. This position usually involves carrying out some of the actual landscape architecture under close supervision. Apprentice and intern positions are available for those with an undergraduate degree in any subject, which can lead to eligibility to take the L.A.R.E.

I recommend: Browse a selection of internships at the Landscape Architecture Foundation website.

Continuing education in landscape architecture

Some states require that certified landscape architects continue to receive training and education in landscape architecture to keep their certification. You have to consult with your state's licensing board to ensure that the courses you choose meet its requirements.

I recommend: The CLARB website allows you to browse the continuing education requirements of member boards. You can view approved continuing education classes at the American Society of Landscape Architects.