SOC Code: 17 -1012
Pay Band(s): 4 (Salary Structure)
Standard Occupational Description: Plan and design land areas for such projects as parks and other recreational facilities, airports, highways, hospitals, schools, land subdivisions, and commercial, industrial, and residential sites.
Landscape Architect positions in the Commonwealth are assigned to the following Roles in the Building Trades Career Group:
While Landscape Architects within the Commonwealth are all located within the Building Trades Career Group, individuals may want to pursue other opportunities within the Commonwealth depending upon individual training, education, knowledge, skills, abilities, and interests.
Other Career Group(s) that may be of interest include:
Architecture and Engineering Services
(Technical and Functional Expertise)
Skills
Note: The technical and functional skills listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Landscape Architects commonly recognized by most employers. Typically, you will not be required to have all of the skills listed to be a successful performer. Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.
Knowledge
Note: The technical and functional knowledge statements listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Landscape Architects commonly recognized by most employers. Typically, you will not be required to have all of the knowledge listed to be a successful performer. Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.
The Knowledge of:
The structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Abilities
Note: The technical and functional abilities listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Landscape Architects commonly recognized by most employers. Typically, you will not be required to have all of the abilities listed to be a successful performer. Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.
The Ability to:
Tasks
Note: The following is a list of sample tasks typically performed by Landscape Architects. Employees in this occupation will not necessarily perform all of the tasks listed.
Like people, occupations have traits or characteristics. These characteristics give important clues about the nature of the work and work environment, and give you an opportunity to match your own personal interests to a specific occupation. When you choose a job in an occupation that matches your own interests you have taken an important step in planning a successful and rewarding career.
Landscape Architects perform work that is Realistic, Artistic, and Investigative.
Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Artistic — Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Investigative — Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and
require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Generally this is not required for Landscape Architects in state government. However, according to the Department of Labor (DOL) at least 46 states require landscape architects to be licensed or registered.
Licensing is based on the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.), sponsored by the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards and administered over a 3-day period. Admission to the exam usually requires a degree from an accredited school plus 1 to 4 years of work experience under the supervision of a registered landscape architect, although standards vary from State to State. Currently, 15 States require the passage of a State examination in addition to the L.A.R.E. to satisfy registration requirements. State examinations, which usually are 1 hour in length and completed at the end of the L.A.R.E., focus on laws, environmental regulations, plants, soils, climate, and any other characteristics unique to the State.
Because State requirements for licensure are not uniform, landscape architects may not find it easy to transfer their registration from one State to another. However, those who meet the national standards of graduating from an accredited program, serving 3 years of internship under the supervision of a registered landscape architect, and passing the L.A.R.E. can satisfy requirements in most States. Through this means, a landscape architect can obtain certification from the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards, and so gain reciprocity (the right to work) in other States.
General information on registration or licensing requirements is available from:
Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards, 144 Church Street NW., Suite 201, Vienna, VA 22180-4550. Internet: http://www.clarb.org
The Department of Labor (DOL) states that a bachelor’s or master’s degree in landscape architecture usually is necessary for entry into the profession. The bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture takes 4 or 5 years to complete. There also are two types of accredited master’s degree programs. The most common type of master’s degree is a 3-year first professional degree program designed for students with an undergraduate degree in another discipline. The second type of master’s degree is a 2-year second professional degree program for students who have a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture and who wish to teach or specialize in some aspect of landscape architecture, such as regional planning or golf course design.
College courses accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board of the American Society of Landscape Architects usually include technical subjects such as surveying, landscape design and construction, landscape ecology, site design, and urban and regional planning. Other courses include history of landscape architecture, plant and soil science, geology, professional practice, and general management. Many landscape architecture programs also are adding courses that address environmental issues, a growing concern of landscape architects. The design studio is another important aspect of many landscape architecture curriculums. Whenever possible, students are assigned real projects, providing them with valuable hands-on experience. While working on these projects, students become more proficient in the use of computer-aided design, geographic information systems, and video simulation.
The University of Virginia (http://www.virginia.edu) and VPI & State University (http://www.vt.edu) offer accredited degree programs in Landscape Architecture.
Additional information, including a list of colleges and universities offering accredited programs in landscape architecture, is available from the American Society of Landscape Architects, Career Information, 636 Eye St. NW., Washington, DC 20001-3736. Internet: http://www.asla.org
Competencies are a set of identified behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities that directly and positively impact the success of employees and the organization. Competencies can be observed and measured. When consistently demonstrated, competencies make employees particularly effective in their work. Competencies help lay out a road map to career success. You can use the Commonwealth Competencies to help improve your individual performance by adopting behaviors that make high performing employees successful in their jobs. In this way, you can use the Commonwealth Competencies for your further professional development.
The Commonwealth Competencies are:
The above competencies may be applied to employees throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. They can be rank-ordered by agencies and hiring managers to represent the needs of a specific job. The rank ordering will change depending upon the occupation, an organization's priorities, the actual job requirements, and the supervisor's preferences.
Career success is both about what you do (applying your technical knowledge, skills, and ability) and how you do it (the consistent behaviors you demonstrate and choose to use) while interacting and communicating with others. Hopefully, by studying the Commonwealth competencies, identifying your developmental opportunities, and working to refine your own competence, you can take charge of your career!
For additional information about the Commonwealth Competencies go to: http://jobs.state.va.us/cc_planningctr.htm. For the competencies, we first list the competencies and then define each. Finally, we list competency indicators; to describe what successful performance looks like.
Career opportunities in the Commonwealth are not limited to moving “up” to the next highest role and pay band, changing positions, or to becoming a supervisor. That’s because most roles describe a broad group of occupationally related positions that perform a range of work that requires increased knowledge and skills. For that reason, Commonwealth roles describe the career paths within the same or higher-level role for the same or different Career Group. The broad salary range and the Commonwealth’s pay practices provide flexibility in recognizing career development and advancement. (Salary Structure)
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Trades Tech IV
The Trades Technician IV role provides career tracks for the trades technicians whose responsibilities range from the expert technicians to first line supervisors of trades technicians in one or more specialty areas. The expert trades technician provides guidance to other technicians or works on a "multi-trade" team requiring specialized skills and knowledge in several trades areas.
Trades Manager I
The Trades Manager I role provides career tracks for managers who responsibilities range from assisting in the planning and direction of a buildings and grounds program to managing a comprehensive building and grounds program for facilities such as a training center, rehabilitation center, or hospital. Areas managed may include a power plant, buildings and mechanical maintenance, ground maintenance, housekeeping and related services.
Trades Manager II
The Trades Manager II role provides career tracks for managers who plan and direct a buildings and grounds program at a state agency or institution having multiple facilities characterized by a large total resident and staff population engaged in highly diversified and decentralized activities.
O*NET (Occupational Information Network)
Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards
Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards
Virginia Employment Commission
http://www.alex.vec.state.va.us/
Career One Stop
Virginia Career Resource Network