Landscape Designers Accepted into FNGA FNGA offers certification program Orlando, FL Two years ago, the state of Florida amended existing legislation that deregulates the practice of landscape design. As a result, the Florida Nursery & Growers Association has absorbed members of the Florida Landscape Designers Association into their organization. The FNGA is currently working through a committee to establish a certification exam for Landscape Designers. Two registered Landscape Architects, Alyn Kay, ASLA, and Jack Siebenthaler, are members of the committee that will work towards enhancing the design certification program. "Since the work of landscape designers is deregulated, the focus now is to lend credibility to their work through certification," Kay explained. "This ensures that the consumers are protected and that landscape designers have a certain level of understanding before they are certified through the FNGA." According to Siebenthaler, landscape designers in Florida are not designing hardscape and irrigation projects but there are some areas that crossover. The primary area of contention is the custom residential market that involves landscape design and the purchase of plant materials. "The Florida Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects does recognize the unregulated practice of landscape design," Chapter President David Drylie explained. "We further support high standards of practice for residential planting design." The chapter's education committee is now developing a residential design short course for the student, affiliate and associate members.