?EUR??,,????'??LAW?EUR??,,????'??? to Promote Practice Act in Washington State

SEATTLE?EUR??,,????'??+Members of the Washington chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects executive board endorsed a plan to upgrade the state licensure law to a practice act.

An organization called Landscape Architects of Washington (LAW) will be formed as a unique entity, separate from WASLA, to promote, lobby and implement a change to the current licensure law. The sole purpose of LAW is to develop, implement and enact a practice landscape architectural act in the state.

The goal of the group is to change, modify or rewrite the law to require registration for any person to practice, offer to practice landscape architecture or to use the title of landscape architect in the state. This will bring landscape architects to a similar recognition as other allied professionals. Other than Colorado, which has no landscape architecture law, Washington is the only state west of the Mississippi River without a practice act.

It is estimated that a change to the licensing law will require up to three years of coordinated and directed efforts of landscape architects throughout the state, and will include specific efforts in fundraising, law and language revisions, publicity, and other activities in support of the change.

LAW, while independent of WASLA to maintain a clear separation mission and dues collection, will be encouraged and financially supported by landscape architects and other organizations throughout the state, including WASLA.

For more information contact Robert Harding at bobh@dahogan.com.