Council Of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards

What Council Of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards does

The Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) is a nonprofit regulatory body founded in 1970 and headquartered in Reston, Virginia, that coordinates landscape architecture licensure across the United States, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, and Canada. Its core function is to protect public welfare by establishing and administering standardized competency requirements for the profession. CLARB develops and administers the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.), delivered through PSI Services testing centers and online proctoring, and maintains the CLARB Record — a verified digital repository documenting a professional's education, experience, exam results, and licensure status across jurisdictions. CLARB also publishes the CLARB Uniform Standard (adopted by member boards in April 2022) and the CLARB Model Law and Model Regulations, providing frameworks for consistent licensure requirements.

The organization serves two primary customer segments: state and provincial licensure boards (members) that coordinate regulatory policy through CLARB, and individual landscape architects (licensed and aspirational) who use CLARB's exam, Record, and certification services to obtain and maintain portable credentials. Revenue is generated through four streams: membership dues from 54+ member boards, L.A.R.E. examination fees, CLARB Record annual renewals, and event registrations/sponsorships (including the annual CLARB meeting). As of the data, only 9 of 54+ member boards have implemented the Uniform Standard, suggesting significant remaining headroom for regulatory adoption. CLARB operates with 11-50 employees under CEO Matt Miller, with recent staff restructuring in 2026 creating new Director-level positions to support program growth and digital transformation. The organization is governed by its Board of Directors, is not publicly traded, and discloses no financial information.

Name

Council Of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards

Legal name

Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards

Website

https://clarb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) is a nonprofit regulatory body that develops the L.A.R.E. licensure exam, maintains the CLARB Record credential system, and coordinates landscape architecture licensure standards across 54+ U.S. and Canadian member boards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Licensing and Credential Verification Services

akta.pro primary industry

National/State Examination Boards & Testing Agencies (EDADAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Architecture, Planning & Surveying (AIA, Planning, Land Surveyor CE) (EDAAALAG), Professional Licensure & Certification Exam Prep (Bar/CPA/NCLEX/PMP, etc.) (EDAGADAD), Architecture, Construction & Building Codes Reference (Design, BIM, Safety Codes) (EDAGAGAH)

Keywords

• Professional licensure
• Regulatory standards
• Credential verification
• Licensure examination
• Landscape architecture regulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Herndon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. L.A.R.E. Examination Fees: Candidates pay examination registration fees to take the Landscape Architect Registration Examination, administered through PSI testing centers and online proctoring.
2. CLARB Record Annual Renewal: CLARB Record holders pay annual renewal fees to maintain their verified professional credential. Payment is processed during the first business week of the month following expiration.
3. Event Registration and Sponsorship: Revenue from annual meetings, CE programs, and professional development events, with sponsorship opportunities for supporting partners.
4. Membership Dues: State and provincial licensure boards pay membership dues to be part of CLARB's regulatory coordination network.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CLARB develops and administers the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.), the only standardized licensure examination recognized across U.S. states, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Canadian provinces. It maintains the CLARB Record — a secure, verified digital record documenting a candidate's education, experience, exam results, and licensure status — and offers CLARB Certification to streamline multi-jurisdictional licensure for landscape architects. Supporting offerings include the ProSeries continuing education courses, model regulatory frameworks (Uniform Standard and Model Law/Model Regulations), and the annual meeting for governance and professional development.

Product overview

CLARB offers a unified platform of licensure and professional development services for landscape architects. The core offerings include the CLARB Record (a verified digital credential repository), the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.) administered through PSI Services, and CLARB Certification. These are supported by the CLARB Uniform Standard and Model Law, which establish consistent licensure requirements across jurisdictions. Additional offerings include ProSeries continuing education courses, L.A.R.E. practice exams, the Leadership Development Program, and the annual CLARB Annual Meeting. The portfolio enables landscape architects to document credentials, pass licensure examinations, maintain certifications, and achieve professional mobility across U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CLARB Record A secure, verified digital record that documents a landscape architect's education, experience, exam results, and licensure status, maintained through annual renewals. It facilitates license mobility between jurisdictions and serves as the central repository for professional credentials, available via the my.clarb.org member portal.
• Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.) The standardized licensure examination developed and administered by CLARB to assess competency for landscape architects seeking licensure. Delivered through PSI Services at testing centers and via online proctoring, recognized across U.S. states, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Canadian provinces.
• CLARB Certification A formal verification credential confirming that a landscape architect's education, experience, and examination meet or exceed CLARB's standards, simplifying the licensure application process across member jurisdictions.
• ProSeries: Courses by CLARB CLARB's continuing education series providing professional development courses in health, safety, and welfare (HSW) topics, through which active CLARB Record Holders can earn professional development hours (PDH). Includes the CE Trio continuing education event and free ProSeries courses for active Record Holders.
• CLARB Uniform Standard Model licensure requirements establishing consistent education, experience, and examination standards across U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions to support professional mobility. Adopted by CLARB member boards on April 20, 2022.
• CLARB Model Law and Model Regulations Comprehensive resource for legislatures and licensure boards providing model regulatory standards for the practice of landscape architecture, including title definitions, board structure, licensing standards, and disciplinary procedures.
• L.A.R.E. Practice Exams Practice and preparation materials for the Landscape Architect Registration Examination, including recommended reading lists and resources developed by the Exam Committee to help candidates prepare.
• Leadership Development Program A no-cost program designed to develop volunteer leadership skills in preparation for CLARB leadership roles and beyond, including webinars and educational resources.
• ASLA + CLARB Landscape Architecture Licensure Summit Virtual and in-person sessions providing updates on legislative developments, regulatory reviews, and licensing reform efforts, as well as progress toward Uniform Standard adoption, delivered in partnership with ASLA.
• ICOR Practice Overlap Guidance Research and guidance defining professional competencies based on licensure standards across design professions, developed through the Interorganizational Council on Regulation (ICOR) in collaboration with CIDQ and other design profession regulators.
• CLARB Annual Meeting Annual conference bringing together member boards, CLARB Record Holders, and landscape architecture professionals for professional development, networking, and governance meetings. The 2025 meeting was held in Lexington, Kentucky (150+ attendees) and the 2026 meeting is scheduled for Calgary, Alberta.

Quantifiable outcome

• Professional licensure mobility across 54+ jurisdictions through standardized credentials
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PSI ServicescoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026PSI Services delivers the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.) across the United States, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, and Canada. PSI provides both physical testing centers and online proctoring infrastructure for secure, consistent exam administration.
• American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASLA partners with CLARB on joint licensure summits to provide updates on legislative developments, regulatory reviews, and Uniform Standard implementation. ASLA is a Landscape Architecture Partner and STEM Partner sponsor.
• Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCELA partners with CLARB on the Faculty Licensure Advancement Program to support full-time faculty in obtaining CLARB Certification and licensure. Joint webinar programming for professional development.
• Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLARB and CIDQ collaborate through ICOR (Interorganizational Council on Regulation) to harmonize policies, streamline licensure processes, and support shared member boards across design professions.
• Pland CollaborativeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFull-service landscape architecture firm based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 2025 CLARB Annual Meeting Sponsor and CLARB Supporting Partner.
• Studio Kipuka by Ki ConceptsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward-winning Hawaii-based landscape architecture and urban design studio. 2025 and 2026 CLARB Annual Meeting Sponsor.
• CARMANminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLandscape architecture firm focused on sustainable, functional design. 2025 CLARB Annual Meeting Sponsor.
• Crystal FountainsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerToronto-based global leader in commercial water feature design. 2025 and 2026 CLARB Annual Meeting Sponsor and CLARB Supporting Partner. Offices in Chicago, Dubai, Münster, and Singapore.
• Maglin Site FurnitureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSite furniture designer supporting placemaking. 2025 and 2026 CLARB Annual Meeting Sponsor. Based in Denver, CO.
• Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE)minorOthersMatt Miller, CLARB CEO, serves as chair on CESSE's Board of Directors, representing CLARB in the engineering and scientific society executive community.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB): The closest structural analogue to CLARB for the architecture profession. NCARB administers the ARE (architect licensure exam), maintains the NCARB Record for credential mobility, and coordinates U.S. state boards — making it the most directly comparable peer in scale, business model, and regulatory role.
• Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ): Administers the NCIDQ exam for interior design licensure and coordinates with state regulatory bodies. CIDQ is an explicit CLARB partner via ICOR, and CLARB's former executive Rebecca Moden became CIDQ's CEO in 2026 — making it a highly comparable peer in mission, scale, and structure.
• National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE): Develops and administers standardized licensure examinations for chiropractors across U.S. state boards. NBCE operates the same member-board/exam-administration/nonprofit credentialing model as CLARB, making it a useful functional peer for benchmarking exam-delivery economics.
• National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES): Develops and administers the FE and PE engineering exams and the FS/PS surveying exams for U.S. state boards. Operates the same member-board/exam-administration model as CLARB and NCARB, just at significantly larger scale across engineering and surveying professions.

Others

• Interorganizational Council on Regulation (ICOR): The cross-profession regulatory council that CLARB co-leads with CIDQ and others to harmonize licensure policy across design professions. ICOR is the vehicle through which CLARB could expand its regulatory scope beyond landscape architecture.
• Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE): Professional association for executives of engineering and scientific societies. CLARB CEO Matt Miller chairs CESSE's board, positioning it as a peer organization for executive-level benchmarking among nonprofit scientific/technical societies of similar scale.
• Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR): An international association of professional and occupational regulators. CLEAR is not a direct competitor but is the broader umbrella community for licensure bodies like CLARB, providing best-practice benchmarks and networking across the regulatory profession.

Broad incumbents

• American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA): The primary professional membership society for landscape architects in the U.S. While ASLA focuses on advocacy, education, and member services rather than licensure, it is CLARB's most important strategic partner (joint licensure summits) and represents the broader professional ecosystem CLARB serves.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) / American Planning Association: APA administers AICP certification for urban and city planners — a credentialing model structurally similar to CLARB's L.A.R.E. and CLARB Certification. APA serves an adjacent built-environment profession with comparable membership, exam, and CE dynamics.

Emerging players

• Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA): The academic counterpart to CLARB representing landscape architecture educators. CELA partners with CLARB on the Faculty Licensure Advancement Program, making it a directly adjacent peer serving the same profession from the education and accreditation side.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFcyH2WNZZnB-0xvuYVQyxg
• Facebookfacebook.com/CLARBHQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clarbhq
• Instagraminstagram.com/clarbhq
• Xx.com/CLARBHQ

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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