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More than a year and a half ago, a committee was formed to assess and improve upon the Continuing Professional Competency Requirements for Landscape Architects in the State of Maryland with the goal of providing additional clarity and flexibility in approved continuing education activities. The committee worked diligently to develop revised language for Maryland’s Title 09, Subtitle 28, which has now been posted for public review and comment (see information below).
Perhaps the most significant change is the explicit inclusion of both “standard CPC activities” (traditional continuing education coursework, including LACES) as well as “alternative CPC activities” (authorship of books, articles, papers, or documents; completion of a for-credit university course; professional development work or professional or technical presentations; and other activities that can be reviewed and approved by the Board). Of the 24 credits required over a two-year span, a minimum of 16 credits must be from standard activities (with 8 of those related to Health/Safety/Welfare) and a maximum of 8 credits may be from alternative activities.
The new language also clarifies that the Board of Examiners for Landscape Architects has discretion to review and approve traditional continuing education coursework so long as it meets the requirements set forth in the regulations – in other words, coursework does not necessarily have to be LACES-approved for CPC credit. Following adoption of the regulation changes, the Board intends to maintain (and publish on the web site) a list of acceptable credit providers (such as AIA, AICP, NRPA, etc.) with the caveat that the credits meet the intent of the regulation noted under Section .04 Qualifying Activities.
The revised language has been posted for public review and comment at the following link: https://dsd.maryland.gov/MDRIssues/5009/Assembled.aspx#_Toc133920436
Comments may be sent to Zevi Thomas, Executive Director, Professional Design Boards, Maryland Department of Labor, 1100 N. Eutaw Street, 5th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201, or call 410-230-6262, or email to DLOPLBoardofExaminersofLandscapeArchitects-LABOR@maryland.gov. Comments will be accepted through June 5, 2023. A public hearing has not been scheduled.
Final action on the proposal will be considered by Maryland Board of Examiners of Landscape Architects during a public meeting to be held on June 12, 2023, at 1 p.m., at 1100 N. Eutaw Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201; or virtually at https://meet.google.com/mth-byen-wdx; or by phone at 1 470-745-0574, PIN: 254 911 810 #.
Committee Members:
Chair: Grace Fielder, PLA, FAICP, CPSI, ASLA – Maryland Board of Examiners of Landscape Architects
Chris Schein, PLA, ASLA – Chair, Maryland Board of Examiners of Landscape Architects
Christopher Ellis, PhD, PLA, ASLA, FCELA – Professor and Director of Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland
Sarah Trautvetter, PLA, ASLA – Professor of Landscape Architecture, Morgan State University
Elisabeth Lardner, PLA, ASLA – Representative from the Potomac Chapter of ASLA
Patrick Whealton, PLA, ASLA – Representative from the Maryland Chapter of ASLA