The APLD^® Certification Program provides professional recognition to landscape designers, based on established standards of excellence.

The certification process encourages self-assessment and professional growth by offering guidelines for achievement.

Associate APLD members in good standing, with a minimum of four years of professional landscape design experience, may apply for certification. Currently 20% of our members are certified.

To read more about the expectations for APLD Certification, click here.

About APLD Certification

Ours is the only national certification program for landscape designers. It is not an educational curriculum, but rather evaluates candidates’ professional work. Candidates are required to submit documentation for three installed projects, consisting of design intent statements, drawings, plant lists, and before and after photographs. Submissions are judged according to published standards by Review Panels with regional representatives.

The APLD Certification Review Panels convene four times each year to review these applications for Certified Professional Membership. The current review schedule is January, March, August and November. Applications are due by the first of the month. Strict confidentiality is maintained.

To encourage our Certified members to continue their professional development, the review process also includes a recertification component. We require recertification every three years, with 30 contact hours of continuing education credit (CEUs). The Review Panel determines the appropriateness and CEU values for various programs in which our Certified members participate.