Section 1275.85  Continuing Education

a)         Continuing Education

1)         Beginning with the 2027 renewal (for the period from September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2027) and every renewal thereafter, in addition to other requirements, every applicant for renewal of landscape architect registration shall complete 24 credit hours of continuing education ("CE") relevant to landscape architecture, or be exempt from the continuing education requirements, as provided in subsection (f).  Failure to comply with these requirements may result in non-renewal of the landscape architect's registration, other disciplinary action, or both.

A)        A minimum of 16 core hours are required, which must be relevant to safeguarding public health, safety, and welfare ("HSW"), and acquired in structured educational activities defined in subsection (b)(1) of this Section.  The 16 hours shall include the following two courses:

i)          A minimum of one-hour of sexual harassment prevention training that shall meet the requirements of 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1130.400.  A registrant completing a course on sexual harassment prevention developed or offered by the Illinois Human Rights Act [775 ILCS 5], the registrant's employer, or an acceptable provider listed within this Section, may count that course toward the one-hour requirement under this Section (See Section 2105-15.5 of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois [20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.5]).

ii)         A minimum of one-hour programs, courses, or activities in the area of professional conduct and/or ethics.

B)        The remaining eight CE hours are elective, and may be acquired either in structured educational activities defined in subsection (b)(1) or unstructured educational activities defined in subsection (b)(2).

2)         A pre-renewal period is the 24 months preceding September 1 of each odd-numbered year.

3)         A CE hour means a minimum of 50 minutes of instruction or participation.  A CE program shall not be presented during a dinner or social function.  The dinner or social function must be concluded before the CE program commences or be held after the CE program is completed.  If the program involves one or more hours of education, credit may be issued in one-half hour increments.

4)         The Division may conduct random audits to verify compliance with this Section.

5)         There is no restriction on the number of CE hours that can be completed through online or self-administered courses, provided that the courses meet the requirements of this Section.

6)         Landscape architects registered in Illinois but residing and practicing in other states must comply with the CE requirements set forth in this Section.  The CE hours used to satisfy the CE requirements for renewal of a landscape architect registration held in another jurisdiction may be applied to satisfy the CE requirements for renewal of the Illinois landscape architect registration, if the CE hours meet Illinois requirements.

7)         All CE credit hours must be in subjects directly related to the profession of landscape architecture and must be performed outside the normal practice of one's occupation.

b)         Activities for Which CE Credit May Be Earned

1)         Structured Educational Activities (minimum of 16 hours)

A)        Endorsed seminars from CLARB, American Society of Landscape Architects ("ASLA"), Illinois Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects ("ILASLA"), and Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System ("LA CES").

B)        Seminars presented by non-landscape architecture professional organizations, related to the landscape architecture profession, and approved by LA CES.

C)        Courses offered by a college or university related to landscape architecture.

i)          Per credit hour (quarter system):  10 CEs;

ii)         Per credit hour (semester system):  15 CEs.

D)        Self-study courses presented by correspondence, internet, television, video or audio, ending with an examination or other verification process.  The CE credit acquired for this activity shall be as recommended by the program sponsor.

2)         Unstructured Educational Activities (maximum of 8 hours)

A)        Teaching or instructing a course or seminar related to landscape architecture for the first time only.  Two hours of CE will be earned for every hour of teaching or instructing.  This does not apply to faculty in the performance of their regularly assigned duties.

B)        Authoring papers or articles related to landscape architecture that appear in nationally circulated publications, journals or trade magazines or presented to a university, professional society, or organization.  Two hours of CE will be earned per paper or presentation, but not both, and a maximum of four CE hours may be awarded per pre-renewal period.

C)        Active participation on a committee or holding an office in a professional or technical society related to landscape architecture.  Two hours of CE will be awarded per committee membership or office held each renewal cycle.

c)         The Division shall not pre-approve individual courses or programs.

d)         It shall be the responsibility of a registrant to maintain a record of CE for six years that includes, but is not limited, to the following:

1)         The name and address of the sponsor or provider, the number of hours attended in each program, the date and place of the program, and a certificate of attendance; or

2)         A log of activities that includes the date and number of hours claimed as CE, a brief statement of the subject matter, printed program schedules, registration receipts, or other proof of participation.

e)         Certification of Compliance with CE Requirements

1)         Each renewal applicant shall certify, on the renewal application, full compliance with the CE requirements set forth in subsection (a).

2)         The Division may require additional evidence demonstrating compliance with the CE requirements.  It is the responsibility of each renewal applicant to retain or otherwise produce evidence of compliance.  The additional evidence will be required in the context of the Division's random audit.

3)         When there appears to be a lack of compliance with CE requirements, an applicant will be notified and may be required to interview with the Board, at which time the Board may recommend that steps be taken to begin formal disciplinary proceedings as required by Section 85 of the Act.

f)         Exemptions:

A registrant may be exempt from the CE requirements of this Section if one of the situations described in this subsection (f) occurs. A renewal applicant that meets one of the criteria for exemption described in this subsection (f) must submit to the Division the renewal fee and documentation supporting the qualification for exemption.

1)         A registrant shall not be required to report CE hours during the first biennial renewal period in which the registrant obtained initial registration in Illinois, but shall be subject to the CE requirements for all subsequent biennial renewal periods.

2)         A registrant who is on full-time active duty in the military service of the United States or is a registrant who is called to temporary active duty in the military service or Armed Forces of the United States for a period of time exceeding 120 consecutive days during the renewal period, when that activity or location restricts the participation in a CE program or where no internet access is available, such as a forward operating base, etc.

3)         A registrant who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Division that meeting these requirements would be an undue hardship by reason of disability, illness, or other clearly mitigating circumstances shall submit supporting documentation.

A)        The documentation shall be in the form of a sworn statement by the registrant, statement from a healthcare provider, or medical record showing the disability, illness, or circumstance preventing the registrant's participation in the continuing education program during a substantial part of the renewal period.

B)        If the Division finds from the evidence that good cause has been shown for non-compliance, the Division will waive enforcement, extend the time within which the applicant shall comply, or establish a particular program or schedule of continuing education for the renewal period in which the undue hardship existed.

C)        Consecutive waiver requests made for reasons of disability, illness, or other circumstances may be prima facie evidence for non-renewal of applicant's registration based on an inability to actively engage in registered landscape architecture practice.

4)         Any renewal applicant who, prior to the expiration date of the registration, submits a request for a waiver, in whole or in part, pursuant to the provisions of this subsection (f) shall be deemed to be in good standing until the final decision on the application is made by the Division.

5)         Any renewal applicant who submits a request for a waiver that is denied may then request the registration be placed on inactive status.  The applicant shall comply with the CE requirements prior to restoration of the registration from inactive status, in accordance with Section 1275.80.

(Source:  Added at 49 Ill. Reg. 8323, effective June 5, 2025)