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131st MAINE LEGISLATURE
SECOND REGULAR SESSION-2024
Legislative Document No. 2060H.P. 1322House of Representatives, December 13, 2023
An Act to Amend Licensing Requirements for Landscape Architects
(EMERGENCY)
Submitted by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation pursuant to Joint
Rule 203.
Received by the Clerk of the House on December 11, 2023. Referred to the Committee on
Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2
and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative ROBERTS of South Berwick. Page 1 - 131LR2698(01)1 acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
2 become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
3 current law does not allow applicants for licensure in this State as landscape
4 architects to sit for the required examination before completing all of the required education
5 and years of practical experience; and
6 current law creates a discrepancy, with no apparent reason or justification,
7 between the licensing requirements for landscape architects and the licensing requirements
8 for architects; and
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10 licensure as landscape architects to take the examination; and
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12 experience qualifications for examination candidates through 2024 and has asked that this
13 issue be addressed as soon as possible; and
14 in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
15 the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
16 immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
17 therefore,
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19 as repealed and replaced by PL 2009, c. 415,
20 Pt. A, ยง16, is amended by amending subparagraph (1) to read:
21 (1) To Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, to be qualified for admission
22 to the examination a license to practice landscape architecture in this State, an
23 applicant must submit evidence to the board that the applicant has passed an
24 examination administered by a national council of landscape architectural
25 registration boards or an equivalent examination specified by board rule and:
26 (a) The applicant has completed a course of study in a school or college of
27 landscape architecture approved by the board, with graduation evidenced by a
28 diploma setting forth a satisfactory degree, and 2 years of practical experience
29 in landscape architectural work of a grade and character satisfactory to as
30 prescribed by the board by rule; or
31 (b) The applicant has training or practical experience, or a combination of
32 both, that in the opinion of the board is fully equivalent to that required in
33 division (a).
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35 takes effect when approved.
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37 This bill aligns the licensure requirements for applicants for the landscape architect
38 license with those for architects and removes the requirement that an applicant must
39 complete both the education and experience requirements before being qualified to take the
40 required examination. The bill also authorizes the Maine State Board for Licensure of
41 Architects, Landscape Architects and Interior Designers to specify by rule the required
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42 amount of practical experience that an applicant for licensure as a landscape architect must
43 complete before obtaining a license.
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