My name is Kerri Blackman and I am an aspiring landscape architect working under a licensed landscape architect at a civil engineering firm in Reston, VA.  I am writing in strong support of continued licensure of landscape architects in the state of Virginia. The importance of keeping landscape architecture licensure is clear in my day-to-day work as I learn from my supervisor who is licensed. 

Landscape architects directly impact health, safety and welfare.  Projects are often complex and require highly technical skills which I have only seen demonstrated by licensed landscape architects. Without licensure, there would be no way to prevent untrained individuals from engaging in professional practice.  The requirements to become a licensed landscape architect help prepare individuals, like myself, to protect the public from both physical and monetary harm.  I am seeing this as I receive training from my supervisor and as I study for my licensure exams.  This road to licensure is irreplaceable and without the the requirement to be licensed, there would be individuals in the profession who opt out of this process. Those individuals, lacking the proper training would pose a threat to the public through their unregulated design services. 

In addition to public health, safety and welfare, there would be a substantial economic impact and loss of fair competition if licensure was taken away. There would be lost job opportunities for professionals in Virginia since many federal, state and local contracts require the work to be completed by licensed individuals.  These contracts would likely be given to licensed landscape architects in other nearby states. As a young professional, I would likely seek employment in these other states that support and respect the importance of the landscape architecture profession. Keeping landscape architecture as a licensed profession in Virginia will benefit the local economy and help to keep/attract young professionals who contribute to the profession and to society. 

Thank you for your time and for your continued support of Landscape Architecture licensure.

Sincerely,

Kerri Blackman