REGISTRATION
Questions and Answers
if the question and answer is not here
please email the query to the national office - and in most cases we will then list it here
1. What Acronym is used by a Registered Landscape Architect?
see link here
only full AILA Registered Members can use this acronym.
2. Use of the term 'landscape architect' and/or 'Registered Landscape Architect'
The title Registered Landscape Architect can only be used by those Australian professionals who are professionally recognised through the AILA.
Until they successfully apply and are accepted, graduates from accredited programs will not be able to call themselves Registered Landscape Architects - ie professionally recognised landscape architects.
The AILA continues to advocate that agencies should employ those landscape architects that are Registered Landscape Architects and that agencies need to be aware that using the title 'landscape architect' does not alone denote a recognised professional status.
3. Can a business/group join AILA?
A business can join the Institute as a Partner - however this membership should not be be confused with Registration.
Registration with the AILA is on an individual basis. While the business that employs a Registered Landscape Architect can receive some benefits (such as including their business details in the AILA directory pages or posting jop advertisments on the AILA jobs page) when a Registered Landscape Architect joins, the membership relates to the individual not the business.
So it is the individual that has the registered membership status - not the company.
If the Registered member leaves the business, any AILA benefits the company received departs with that person (unless there are other Registered members employed by that business).
4. Is the AILA registered with government in any way?
The use of term 'landscape architect' is not regulated throughout Australia, except for South Australia. In South Australia the title can be used only by those who are AILA registered members.
The use of the title of 'architect' is covered by state legislation (under the architects act). However allowances have been made for the use of the term 'landscape architect'.
Because of the state systems of government within Australia, there are in fact a variety of legislations and operational practices in place by the vast number of agencies involved with landscape architects throughout the seven states and territories and the 650 or more local governments.
The AILA does not keep up with the continual changes within these hundreds of agencies. But does attempt to have information available that allows them to make informed decisions and on consultant selection.
So to answer the question, the AILA is not 'registered' with any government in Australia.
5a. Can a graduate from an accredited program call themselves a Landscape Architect?
The AILA recommends that graduates ensure that any clients understand their current status as a landscape architect - that in fact they are yet to be registered and that they are still to be regarded as Graduate Landscape Architects.
Of course if a landscape architect chooses to operate without being professionally recognised, then this may or may not lead to occasional legal challenges and possible interesting insurance issues; but the AILA will not be involved in such issues.
We will however continue to alert agencies to improper use of any term that hints at any practitioner directly or indirectly portraying themselves as a fully recognised or registered landscape architect.
5b. Can a person with a degree in Landscape Architecture and not a registered member call themselves a 'Landscape Architect' with any justification ?
There is no clear answer to this as the legislation across Australia States and Territories is generally still not clear or consistent on whether someone with a landscape architecture degree can call call themselves a Landscape Architect. Sadly until there is a Commonwealth - State Government agreement, it remains a grey area. The AILA's only advice to clients is 'buyer beware'. The best advice is to play it safe: consider a registered landscape architect.
6. Does state or national government recognise landscape architecture as a
profession?
It is on the advocacy agenda of several professional institutes that the Commonwealth and State Governments should introduce and oversee a national professional registration scheme for all the design professions involved with the built environment. Talk to your local member about this if you get the opportunity.
The profession of landscape architecture is fully recognised officially throughout Australia.
In most cases government agencies understand the profession and the services provided by landscape architects.
BUT, there are still individuals within an agency or two that are yet to update their own information on contemporary practice within the built environment design professions and to understand what scope of work different professionals undertake.
7. Do registered landscape architects have to be registered by government?
At present none of the state or local governments (except SA) in Australia have in place a legislated registration process for landscape architects.
The AILA operates the self-regulatory national scheme for the Registration of Landscape Architects.
If a practitioner chooses to operate without being professionally recognised by the AILA, then this may or may not lead to legal challenges or insurance issues. The AILA will not be involved in such issues.
In some states - a landscape architect may have to be separately 'licensed' for construction work - but that is a different issue to being registered as a landscape architect.
8. Should government agencies insist that their landscape architects be Registered?
Most informed government agencies look to employ professionals and to make sure they spend their public funds effectively.
They therefore look to the AILA to provide the professional status that allows them to make informed decisions and professional consultant selections.
The AILA advises local government and state agencies to employ Registered Landscape Architects in order to provide the public and other agencies with the security that the agency (state or local) is providing profession services through the employment of professionally recognised landscape architects in policy, procurement and service delivery sections.
9. Is there a relationship between the Various State Licensing Boards, Building Licences, The Building Commissions and AILA Registration?
Currently no such relationship exists, however it is hoped that the AILA can in the future develop a national position on this issue - and resolve what (if relevant) needs to be done nationally and within each state to increase the recognition of Registered Landscape Architects in the context of various construction and building requirements.
White this task remains on the AILA's 'to do' list - resources to undertake this research have yet to be identified.
In 2007 the AILA altered the Registration System:
10. Why 'Registered"?
The changes to the registration processes removed the former nomenclature of ‘Associate’ and the acronym AAILA and replaced it with the more universal and easily understood professional status of being a Registered Landscape Architect.
Using the term ‘Registered’ aligns the profession easily with other professions and reduces the chances of confusion by agencies seeking to employ ‘registered’ professionals and consultants.
11. What were the reasons for the change?
Agencies are looking to the profession to provide an easily understood status of professional recognition that they can use alongside that being provided by other professional groups.
The term 'Registered' remains the most accepted in Australia. For instance, agencies establishing competitions had struggled to understand the relationship between the Associate and the Registered Landscape Architect. Most now use the term "registered with the relevant association/institute" as their terminology for identifying professionals.
The reality is that clients and those running competitions, despite many marketing attempts, did not understood why the AILA has two layers of membership (ie Associates and Registered Landscape Architects).
However, the former registration scheme had identified that the AILA needs to ensure that there are processes for providing the professional recognition and that agencies need to have confidence in those recognition processes.
By moving to this one nomenclature for all fully recognised members, agencies now has a much easier means of recognising, and therefore employing or choosing for competitions, AILA landscape architects as their preferred consultants.
12. What is the new emphasis on CPD?
All full members are now to be regarded as registered members and are required to supply basic information on their on-going CPD.
Registered members are encouraged to use the online process to complete CPD requirements and pay annual fees. (hard copy to be also available)
This process was designed to be accessible and not onerous – as Council recognised that its members undertake professional development and the system should be a tool to provide recognition for the members’ on-going commitment to their own professional practice.
The other factor to be recognised is that many professionals are mentors to others and/or continue to have life-long mentor relationships with their colleagues.
13. If I am not practicing as a Landscape Architect - am I eligible for Leave Status.
A Registered member may be granted leave (half-rate membership) only when they are not undertaking paid work - be this for home duties, maternity leave, study leave or similar circumstances.
If a Registered Member is working in an un-related field to landscape architecture the full membership fee still applies.
Other special cases may be granted from time to time.
On Leave Status means that the member retains all entitlements but at a reduced rate of membership. This is usually half the fee paid by a full member, but may differ depending on the time in which the leave status applies or other special circumstances.
If a Registered member does not apply for this concession full fees will apply and leave will not be backdated.
14. If I am travelling overseas - on holidays - can I 'suspend' my registration.
There is no capacity within AILA's Registration to allow for 'suspension' of registration or membership.
However if a Registered member is travelling and will not be working professionally - then this can be equivalent to being on the concession rate.
Please submit the form for this concession in advance of leaving the country - the sooner the better of course.
The application will be considered and if the request is granted - the fees will be halved for that period. Be aware that the answer is not automatic - it may not be granted - so please explain briefly and clearly in the form the reason for the application for concessional fees.
If a Registered member does not apply for this concession and does not pay their fees during the period of travel - it is likely that when they reapply to be registered that back fees may apply.
If a registered member is planning on professional employment overseas while travelling - they are most likely not eligible for the concession rate.
If the AILA is approached by an overseas agency to verify the registration of a former member who has not maintained their registration (concession or otherwise) - the AILA does not provide any references or answers to queries about previous status except to state that the person is not a registered member.
15. UK Chartered Landscape Architects
Is there any mutual recognition between the UK and Australia?
No. BUT - under most circumstances, a Chartered Landscape Architect from the UK would be given advanced recognition as part of their senior entry process. They are required to be already working in Australia and need to be assessed on a case by case basis. The success and speed of the application is very much based on the material supplied as part of the application - as well as the timing and what the work load is within the National Office.
To have the application considered, UK Chartered Landscape Architects must be living and working in Australia and have all the normal endorsements from Australia Registered Landscape Architects as required on the application form.
16. Application for Registration from Australian Landscape Architects working overseas.
Applications for Registration from outside Australia are not accepted.
Even if the applicant has Australian recognised qualifications, they are required to be living and working in Australia, and in most cases have Australian experience as a landscape architect, at the time of the application and have all the normal endorsements from Australian Registered Landscape Architects as required on the application form.
Therefore if a graduate landscape architect, or a more senior but non registered landscape architect, is employed overseas, they will have to return to Australia and be working here to apply for AILA Registration. They could of course apply to join the local institute in the country of residence.