61G10-18.001. Continuing Education Credit Requirements

Every person licensed pursuant to Chapter 481, Part II, F.S., must obtain at least sixteen (16) continuing education credits per biennium. There shall be no carryover of hours permitted from one licensure renewal biennium to the next.

(1) Upon renewal the licensee shall take the following continuing education courses per biennium:

(a) A minimum of one (1) of the sixteen (16) required credits must be obtained by completing an approved provider’s advanced or specialized course on the Uniform Building Code; and

(b) A minimum of one (1) of the required sixteen (16) credits must be obtained by completing an approved provider’s course on Florida’s laws and rules affecting the practice of landscape architecture according to Chapter 481, F.S., or by attending a board meeting in accordance with subsection (4) of this rule; and

(c) A minimum of fourteen (14) of the sixteen (16) required hours of continuing education credits are considered general credits must be obtained from any of the following:

1. The completion of courses in landscape architecture subjects at universities and colleges shall be accredited by an accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States Office or Department of Education, including accredited junior and community college programs. Each transcript documented semester university or college hour credit is the equivalent of two continuing education credits. A “course in a landscape architecture subject” is a course that is defined in subsection 61G10-18.006(5), F.A.C.;

a. Any continuing education credit from an academic institution must be submitted to the Department ninety (90) days prior to the licensees’ renewal on November 30th of odd-numbered years.

b. A certified copy of the transcript from the registrar of the academic institution shall be evidence of the continuing education credit for the academic institution.

2. The completion of courses approved by the Board and offered by continuing education providers approved by the Board for the provision of continuing education credit hours. The number of hours of credit shall be consistent with Rule 61G10-18.003, F.A.C.; and

3. Additional hours over the minimum required for Florida building code and Florida Laws and Rules would apply to the remaining fourteen (14) hour general credit requirement.

4. Continuing education course credit will be calculated as one credit per fifty minutes of course attendance.

(2) A first time Florida license, licensed 12 to 24 months prior to the end of a biennial period, shall complete the following eight (8) hours of continuing education as a condition of renewal.

(a) A minimum of one (1) of the required eight (8) credits must be obtained by completing a course on Florida’s laws and rules affecting the practice of landscape architecture according to Chapter 481, F.S., or by complying with subsection (5).

(b) Hours spent taking the core curriculum Building Code Training Program shall count toward hours of continuing education for license renewal.

(c) The remaining hours of continuing education credits must be obtained from the following:

1. The completion of courses in landscape architecture subjects at universities and colleges shall be accredited by an accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States Office or Department of Education, including accredited junior and community college programs. Each transcript documented semester university or college hour credit is the equivalent of two continuing education credits. A “course in a landscape architecture subject” is a course that is defined in subsection 61G10-18.006(5), F.A.C.;

a. Any continuing education credit from an academic institution must be submitted to the Department ninety (90) days prior to the licensees’ renewal on November 30th of odd-numbered years.

b. A certified copy of the transcript from the registrar of the academic institution shall be evidence of the continuing education credit for the academic institution.

2. The completion of courses approved by the Board and offered by continuing education providers approved by the Board for the provision of continuing education credit hours. The number of hours of credit shall be consistent with Rule 61G10-18.003, F.A.C.

3. Continuing education course credit will be calculated as one credit per fifty minutes of course attendance.

(3) A person initially licensed for less than twelve (12) months prior to the end of a biennial period need not complete any continuing education as a condition of renewal.

(4) Continuing Education ‒ Attendance at Board meetings. Two continuing education credits, one (1) credit in laws and rules of the Board and one (1) general credit, may be obtained each calendar year by attending one board meeting or four hours of a Board meeting conducted by the Board of Landscape Architects and complying with the following:

(a) The licensee must sign in with staff of the Board before the meeting day begins.

(b) The licensee must remain in continuous attendance.

(c) The licensee must sign out with staff of the Board at the end of the meeting day or at such earlier time as affirmatively authorized by the Board. A licensee may receive continuing education credit in laws and rules for attending the Board meeting only if he or she is attending on that date solely for that purpose; he or she may not receive such credit if appearing at the Board meeting for another purpose.

(d) Board members shall receive 4 hours of laws and rules continuing education credit per biennium for participation at two or more Board meeting(s).

(5) Instructors, teachers, lecturers, panelists and discussion leaders for continuing education courses shall be credited for continuing educational purposes at twice the credit granted participants for the first presentation of a specific course or program, the same as the credit granted a participant for the second presentation and none thereafter.

(6) Licensees who participate in the development of Florida exam questions may be awarded up to six (6) hours of continuing education credit, comprised of two (2) hours of laws and rules and 4 hours of general credit, upon request to the Board.

(7) The Board may, upon request of a licensee suffering a hardship, temporarily waive the continuing education requirement for one year. The licensee must make the request, in writing to the Board of Landscape Architecture, 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0751, or by way of http://myflorida.com/dbpr/, detailing the hardship at least 60 days prior to the renewal.

Rulemaking Authority 481.306, 481.313 FS. Law Implemented 455.2124, 481.313 FS. History–New 9-19-01, Amended 7-3-03, 3-1-05, 11-12-07, 9-6-09, 12-28-09, 11-29-10, 11-25-19, 12-1-21.