Certified Landscape Designer

The Landscape Design Group, newly formed under the administration of Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association, founded the Certified Landscape Designer designation as a way to establish a high standard of excellence for the landscape design profession. This provides landscape designers with a valid way to communicate their professional status to their clients.

In 2004, the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) agreed to administer and market this certification designation nationally, continuing the standards set by the Landscape Ontario Design Commodity Group.

CLD is for you!
A Certified Landscape Designer (CLD) designation will provide you with a means of proving to your clients that you not only have the necessary education and industry experience, but also that you have written and passed an industry test proving a high degree of proficiency as a landscape designer.

Why certification and why now?
While the current popularity of gardening has been a boon to all segments of the industry, landscape designers find it increasingly difficult in today's market- place to position themselves as professionals with a high degree of competence and knowledge. A certification procedure to verify the skill of qualified individuals will elevate the value of the landscape design process and the professional stature of landscape designers.

How do I qualify?
Certified Landscape Designer designation is available only to those individuals who have achieved a minimum standard of education and industry experience, at which time they will be eligible to present a portfolio to a panel of industry judges and write an industry exam to test their knowledge in the areas of grading, horticulture, plant identification, construction details and design skill.

Steps to certification:

To qualify to write the CLD test, the candidate must first have seven years of combined academic and industry experience. For example:

Graduate of a two to four year recognized post secondary horticultural program, plus an additional three to five years of practical experience, or:
seven years of practical experience.

Successful completion of a written exam to test the candidate's knowledge of grading, drainage, layout, plant material use, professional practices, regulations, structural/construction/paving details and quantity take-offs. A passing grade of 70 per cent is required.
The final step to certification is the submission of a portfolio containing samples of work and at least three references. The portfolio will be judged by a three- to five-person jury, consisting of academic, design/build members of CNLA or CSLA and a representative of the regional CLD group.

An opportunity for your future!
The day you become a Certified Landscape Designer is the day you enjoy even greater pride, recognition and success in your chosen field.

CLD exam dates in 2010:
Held at Landscape Ontario, 7856 Fifth Line S., Milton, Ontario
April 9, 2010, 1-5p.m.
July 8, 2010, 1-5p.m.
September 30, 2010, 1-5p.m.
December 3, 2010, 1-5pm

Additional exams dates to be held off-site.
January 14, 2010, 2-7p.m. - Congress (Toronto)
February 17, 2010, 3:30-8p.m. - Green Trade (Ottawa)
March 18, 2010, 1-5p.m. - Canada Blooms (Toronto)
September 16, 2010, 1-5p.m. - Kemptville Collge (Ottawa)

Click here to download:
CLD Application Form
CLD Brochure 2009