Certification distinguishes professionals

HARRISBURG, Pa. – In today’s belt-tightening economy, homeowners want the best bang for their buck and a certified landscape designer can bring that to the table. Hiring a certified professional landscape designer offers homeowners peace-of-mind knowing they are investing in their home with the help of a certified leader in the design field. 

According to the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD), certified landscape designers have a competitive edge because they give clients confidence that their landscape design has been prepared by a professional with the skill, knowledge and education to execute a landscape plan properly from start to finish.  Credentials from the internationally recognized organization enable designers to stand out among their peers.

Bobbie Schwartz, president of APLD, says certification leads to more landscape design contracts and business.  “Certification helps designers distinguish themselves from the competition; it shows that they are a cut above those who are not certified, only know plants or just put a sign on their truck,” she says.

Certification benefits landscape designers because they are credentialed by a leader in the landscape design community. “Certification is something that clients understand, like a certified public accountant,” says APLD Certification Committee Chair Marti Neely. “Clients are looking for experts they can trust. They understand that a certified landscape designer is a professional who will deliver the highest standard of design possible.” The APLD certification program sets the standard for the landscape design profession and recognizes designers for their superior skills, education and design work. 

According to APLD, a certified landscape designer is committed to keeping up with current landscape design best practices, is knowledgeable about landscape design trends and can use the credentials to garner increased media exposure, which helps generate new business leads. 

Suzanne Arca, 2011 Landscape Designer of the Year, has seen the benefits first hand. “Submitting my work to APLD for certification review was one of the best decisions I have made to grow professionally,” she says. "All my professional affiliations and state license are my commitment to a professional standard, and I want to encourage all APLD members to have a goal of certification. It just makes us stronger as an organization and it can be a personal commitment to being the best you can be as a landscape professional."

How does it work?

The APLD Certification Review Panel reviews applications quarterly for certification. The panel assigns a point value for design competence, environmental awareness, design intent, plant knowledge, composition, graphics and overall presentation of work.  

Only members who score in the top percentage of a rigorous point scale are granted acceptance. Only those accepted may use the title of APLD after their name. These exclusive credentials show clients and peers a commitment to the highest level of professionalism.

The application process considers the full skill set of a designer.

Applicants for Certified Membership submit the following materials:

• Application form
• Educational records
• Documentation of 3 installed projects
• A planting plan drawn to scale for each project, along with site, concept, hardscape and lighting plans and construction drawings where needed to describe the project
• A complete plant list for each project
• Before and after photos of each project
• Bids for installation
• Business statement

“The APLD certification program raises the bar of professionalism in landscape design,” says Denise Calabrese, executive director of APLD. “A designer who passes the certification process has demonstrated a depth of knowledge and experience that has been measured and meets the highest standard. “

Certification is available to those professionals who have been practicing landscape design for a minimum of two years. The APLD Certification Review Panel meets four times a year to review applications. Application materials and information are available at www.apld.org.