LARE Section 1
Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.)
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.) is the exam administered by the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) as part of the path to professional licensure as a landscape architect. CLARB describes its role as designing and promoting standards that ensure people, places and the environment are protected by landscape architecture, and frames the L.A.R.E. within a broader licensure journey that runs from exam preparation to professional practice. The exam is intended for candidates working toward licensure, typically graduates of landscape architecture programs and interns accumulating the education and experience their jurisdiction requires. Because licensure requirements - including education and experience - are set by individual jurisdictions, candidates should confirm their own member board's requirements rather than assume a single national standard. CLARB publishes the examination process, a how-to-prepare section, official L.A.R.E. practice exams, registration steps, and a calendar of exam windows and registration deadlines. It also offers an interactive map for exploring jurisdiction requirements, a CLARB Record that verifies education, experience, exam results and licensure status, and periodic exam basics and Q&A sessions. Preparation should combine the official examination process and practice materials with a realistic study plan built around your jurisdiction's requirements and the registration deadlines published in CLARB's event calendar. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by CLARB.
What you'll study
About LARE Section 1 preparation
Who administers the L.A.R.E. and where do I register?
The L.A.R.E. is administered by CLARB. Registration is handled through CLARB's exam registration page, and CLARB's event calendar lists exam happenings including registration deadlines and exam windows. Always confirm dates on CLARB's own site before planning, since windows and deadlines change.
What does the exam cover?
CLARB publishes the examination process and preparation guidance on its exam pages. Use those official materials, rather than third-party summaries, to confirm the current content areas and expectations. Content outlines are revised over time, so check the current published information before you build a study plan.
How do I know if I am eligible to sit for the exam?
Eligibility is set by your jurisdiction, not by a single national rule. CLARB provides an interactive map for exploring each jurisdiction's licensure requirements for education, experience and more. Check your member board's requirements first, then confirm the registration steps on CLARB's site.
What is the CLARB Record and do I need one?
CLARB describes the CLARB Record as a secure, verified history of your education, experience, exam results and licensure status. CLARB also offers a CLARB Certification intended to save time and simplify the licensure process. Review the CLARB Record and certification pages to decide what fits your jurisdiction's process.
How should I prepare for the exam?
Start with CLARB's how-to-prepare page and the official L.A.R.E. practice exams, which are the best indicator of the exam's style and expectations. Then build a schedule around your jurisdiction's requirements and the published registration and exam dates, leaving buffer time before deadlines.
Are there official practice exams?
Yes. CLARB lists L.A.R.E. Practice Exams among its exam resources. Treat them as the primary way to familiarize yourself with question style and pacing, and use your results to decide which content areas need the most review rather than only repeating questions you already know.
What are common reasons candidates struggle?
Common problems include studying without checking jurisdiction-specific requirements, ignoring official practice materials, and misjudging registration deadlines. Because CLARB publishes exam happenings and a calendar, missing a registration window is avoidable. Build your plan backward from the published dates and verify details on CLARB's site.
Is there financial support for exam costs?
CLARB's exam menu includes a financial support page, listed under removing barriers to licensure and support partnerships. If cost is a concern, review that page for current options. Fee amounts and eligibility details are not stated here; confirm them directly with CLARB.
Where can I get updates and ask questions?
CLARB offers an email newsletter, an event calendar, and recorded sessions such as exam basics and Q&A. These are useful for deadline reminders and process changes. CLARB's contact details are published on its site, and this page is independent and not affiliated with CLARB.