Recently, questions have been raised regarding the effective date and requirements for Continuing Education in Pennsylvania.  Please note the following as it affects your license to practice as a Landscape Architect in Pennsylvania:

• When you renew your license in 2011, you will be required to have accumulated 10 CEUs.

• When you renew your license in 2013, you will be required to have accumulated 24 CEUs.

The new CEU requirements were made effective by the passage of HB703, which was signed into law by Governor Rendell as Act 24 in July, 2009.  The law requires all landscape architects to obtain 24 continuing education units during each 2-year cycle.

The rationale for this is twofold: 

1. Reciprocity with neighboring states.  Currently, 30 states require continuing education as a condition of licensure.  22 of those states require at least 12 CEUs per year.  New York, New Jersey and Ohio all require this level of continuing education.  Delaware requires 20 CEUs.  It was a major concern to the LA Board and ASLA that landscape architects who hold licenses in Pennsylvania would not be granted licenses in these states because they do not have similar requirements.  (New Jersey and Ohio licensing laws specifically state that reciprocity will not be granted without proof of similar CEU requirements in the applicant’s home state.)

2. Consistency with fellow professional requirements.  Recently, the architects and engineers approved similar requirements.  We Landscape Architects have, for years, been complaining that other professionals do not consider us equal.  It was felt by the LA Board and ASLA that, with the more stringent CEU requirements, this argument is invalid.

This notice is being provided to you as an ASLA member benefit by the PA/DE Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.