How to Become a Landscape Designer

A career in Landscape Architecture is an exciting one. The profession is very young, and the field is growing constantly. Being a landscape architect takes a certain skill set and has specific requirements. Follow the steps below for becoming a landscape architect.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Understand the elements of design. This will probably come naturally to creative minds. It takes training and learning in a structured environment to cultivate these abilities.

2. Develop the technical ability to turn design concepts into actual designs. The design will grow from an idea, into a rough sketch, into a full color rendering, into the actual physical landscape.

3. Be able to analyze problems in terms of physical form. Being able to come up with a brilliant design and pretty picture is one thing, but overcoming obstacles and turning the design into practical terms is another.

4. Get a degree from an accredited program at a college or university. Currently, since the profession is so young, colleges offering the program are very limited. Get a Bachelor's degree or even a Master's degree.

5. Get the proper license, which is required in all but five states. This is done by taking the LARE, or Landscape Architect Registration Examination. Once the exam is passed, the architect becomes certified.

6. Work as an intern. Many that take this career path spend more than two years as an intern. Do this during summers in college, or immediately after graduation. This will demonstrate your commitment to the profession, give much needed experience and attain professional contacts that will be useful in the future.