Landscape architects
Career Overview
Landscape architects create landscape designs and oversee their construction. They work on jobs ranging in size from individual private gardens to large-scale regional projects. These can include commercial and residential developments, office complexes, parks, campuses, heritage sites and golf courses.
Job Titles
Duties
Landscape architects:
- Consult with clients to determine their needs
- Survey and assess sites, considering features of the land, conditions of the soil and water, on-site buildings, climate, natural conservation requirements and future uses
- Create or oversee the creation of landscape plans that include:
- Elements such as lighting, walkways, patios, benches, fences, retaining walls, playgrounds, fountains and public art
- Grading, drainage and “green infrastructure” to manage stormwater
- Plantings
- Irrigation systems
- Wetland and habitat restoration
- Carry out environmental design and heritage preservation studies
- Prepare cost estimates, specifications and contracts
- Lead public engagement sessions and present projects to municipal councils and advisory boards
- Gain necessary approvals from regulatory agencies
- Provide input into the design of roads, bridges, stormwater management systems and structures
- Manage projects during construction and review the completed work
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
310% Employed Full Time
71%Many landscape architects are self-employed. Others work for landscape consulting companies, architectural or engineering firms, or government, environmental or development agencies.
Landscape architects typically work standard business hours. Most work in offices. Some work from home. They visit outdoor project sites, and they attend project planning and review meetings in person and by conference call.
Career Pathways
Most landscape architects begin their careers as interns – as they work toward certification – or in junior landscape architect positions.
With experience, they may move into more senior roles. Some may advance into principal landscape architect positions. Others may take on senior management jobs in park development, green infrastructure or operations.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Landscape architects must have a degree from an accredited landscape architecture program, or a related degree plus work experience.
Some jobs also require:
- A master’s degree in landscape architecture
- Arborist certification
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification
- Sustainable SITES certification
Workers in B.C. must be registered with the B.C. Society of Landscape Architects to use the title “Landscape Architect.” Registration requires a two-year internship under the supervision of a registered landscape architect, as well as an exam, a presentation and an interview.
Workers coming to B.C.
Landscape architects who are certified by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information, such as a letter of good standing, references or a criminal record check.
Workers who trained outside of Canada
Landscape architects who trained outside of Canada and have never received certification from a Canadian jurisdiction will likely need a full assessment. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants. Contact the B.C. Society of Landscape Architects for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.
For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.
View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
310Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 0 | 0.0% |
| Kootenay | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 240 | 76.2% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 0 | 0.0% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 35 | 11.1% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 30 | 9.5% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
140Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | Not available | Not available |
| Kootenay | Not available | Not available |
| Mainland/Southwest | 100 | 2.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 30 | 3.2% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 20 | 1.7% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 130 |
| Public Administration | 10 |
Insights from Industry
Technology plays an important role in this work. Landscape architects use computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting software, 3D modelling programs and specialized software for mapping and graphics.
Resources
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Architectural Institute of British Columbia – Careers and Classifiedsaibc.ca/programs-services/careers-classified
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British Columbia Society of Landscape Architects (BCSLA)www.bcsla.org
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Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA)www.csla-aapc.ca/csla-aapc
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Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB)www.clarb.org
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Landscape Architecture Accreditation Council (LAAC)www.csla-aapc.ca/about-csla/accreditation-council
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University of British Columbia School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA)sala.ubc.ca
Career Videos
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a landscape architect is like.
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a landscape architect is like.
