LARE Section 4 study guide
LARE Section 4 · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.) is the exam administered by CLARB, the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards, as part of the path to professional licensure in landscape architecture. CLARB describes its role as designing and promoting standards to ensure that people, places and the environment are protected by landscape architecture, and positions its exam and record services as support for candidates moving from exam preparation into professional practice. The exam is intended for candidates pursuing licensure through a member board; requirements for education and experience vary by jurisdiction, so candidates should check their own board's licensure requirements before registering. CLARB publishes a dedicated exam section on its site, including an examination process page, a how-to-prepare page, L.A.R.E. The LARE Section 4 study guide has 4 sections and about 1,304 words.
01Section 1 - Project and Construction Management
Section 1 tests how a landscape architect administers a project from contract execution through final acceptance: delivery method, procurement, cost and schedule control, and construction-phase documentation. Design–bid–build: the owner holds separate contracts with the designer and the contractor.
359 words, about 2 min02Section 2 - Inventory and Analysis
Section 2 tests how you gather, verify, and interpret site data into a defensible analysis - physical, biological, cultural, and regulatory - that drives design decisions. USGS topographic quadrangle: contour interval, datum, scale, and photo date.
331 words, about 2 min03Section 3 - Design
Section 3 tests synthesis: turning program, code, and site analysis into a coherent schematic design that survives into construction documents. Program: users, activities, capacity, timing, budget.
297 words, about 1 min04Section 4 - Grading, Drainage, and Stormwater Management
Section 4 is the most quantitative section: spot elevations, contours, cut and fill, accessible grading, and stormwater sizing. Slope % = (rise ÷ run) × 100; the ratio 1:12 equals 8.33%.
317 words, about 2 min