ARTICLE 4. Issuance of Certificates [5650. - 5659.]

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC 4.
in effect

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5650. Section 5650.

Subject to the rules and regulations governing examinations, any person, over the age of 18 years, who has had six years of training and educational experience in actual practice of landscape architectural work shall be entitled to an examination for a license to practice landscape architecture. A degree from a school of landscape architecture approved by the board shall be deemed equivalent to four years of training and educational experience in the actual practice of landscape architecture. Before taking the examination, a person shall file an application therefor with the executive officer and pay the application fee fixed by this chapter.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5650.5. Section 5650.5.

(a) Pursuant to Section 144, the board has the authority to obtain and review criminal offender record information. The information obtained as a result of the fingerprinting shall be used in accordance with Section 11105 of the Penal Code to determine whether the applicant is subject to denial, suspension, or revocation of a license pursuant to Division 1.5 (commencing with Section 475) or Section 5660, 5675, or 5676. (b) As a condition of application for a license, each applicant shall provide to the Department of Justice a full set of fingerprints for the purpose of conducting a criminal history record check and to undergo a state- and federal- level criminal offender record information search conducted through the Department of Justice, as follows: (1) The Department of Consumer Affairs, California Architects Board shall electronically submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice of all landscape architect license applicants pursuant to subdivision (u) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code, as defined by Section 5615, for the purpose of obtaining information as to the existence and content of a record of state or federal arrests and state or federal convictions and also information as to the existence and content of a record of state or federal arrests for which the Department of Justice establishes that the person is free on bail or on their recognizance pending trial or appeal. (2) When received, the Department of Justice shall transmit fingerprint images and related information received pursuant to this section, to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of obtaining a federal criminal history records check. The Department of Justice shall review the information returned from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and compile and disseminate a response to the California Architects Board. (3) The Department of Justice shall provide a state or federal response to the California Architects Board pursuant to subdivision (p) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code. (4) The California Architects Board shall request from the Department of Justice subsequent notification service, as provided pursuant to Section 11105.2 of the Penal Code, for persons described in paragraph (1). (5) The Department of Justice shall charge the applicant a fee sufficient to cover the cost of processing the request described in this subdivision. (c) The applicant shall certify, under penalty of perjury, when applying for a license whether the applicant’s fingerprints have been furnished to the Department of Justice in compliance with this section. (d) Failure to comply with the requirements of this section renders the application for a license incomplete, and the application shall not be considered until the applicant demonstrates compliance with all requirements of this section. (e) Notwithstanding any other law, the results of any criminal offender record information request by either state or federal law enforcement authorities shall not be released by the board except in accordance with state and federal requirements. (f) As used in this section, the term “applicant” shall be limited to an initial applicant who has never been registered or licensed by the board or to an applicant for a new licensure or registration category. (g) As a condition of petitioning the board for reinstatement of a revoked or surrendered license, an applicant shall comply with subdivision (a).

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5651. Section 5651.

(a) The board shall by means of examination, ascertain the professional qualifications of all applicants for licenses to practice landscape architecture in this state and shall issue a license to every person whom it finds to be qualified on payment of the initial license fee prescribed by this chapter. (b) The examination shall consist of a written examination. The written examination may be waived by the board if the applicant meets both of the following requirements: (1) Is currently licensed by a United States jurisdiction, Canadian province, or Puerto Rico, has passed a written examination equivalent to that which is required in California at the time of application, and has submitted proof of job experience equivalent to that required of California applicants at the time of application. (2) Has passed the California supplemental examination if, at the time of application, it is required of all California applicants.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5651.1. Section 5651.1.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 111, the board may adopt guidelines for the delegation of its authority to grade the examinations of applicants for licensure to any vendor under contract to the board for provision of a landscape architect’s license examination. The guidelines shall be within the board’s legal authority to establish the standards for licensure in this state, and shall include, but not be limited to: (1) Goals for the appropriate content, development, grading, and administration of an examination, against which the vendor’s rules and procedures can be judged. (2) Procedures through which the board can reasonably assure itself that the vendor adequately meets the goals established by the board. (b) The board shall not delegate its authority to grade the examination of candidates for licensure in this state to any vendor or any party not in compliance with Section 111 or with the guidelines established in subdivision (a).

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5652. Section 5652.

If the applicant’s examination is satisfactory, and upon the payment of the license fee fixed by this chapter, the executive officer shall issue a license to the applicant showing that the person named therein is entitled to practice landscape architecture in this state, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5653. Section 5653.

The board may deny or refuse to issue a license to an applicant upon proof of the commission by the applicant of any act or omission which would constitute grounds for disciplinary action under this chapter if committed by a licensee.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5654. Section 5654.

The board shall keep a record of the names and addresses of all licenseholders and such additional personal data as the board may require. A proper index and record of each license issued shall be kept by the board.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5656. Section 5656.

A duplicate license to practice landscape architecture in place of one which has been lost, destroyed, or mutilated shall be issued upon proper application, subject to the rules and regulations of the board. A duplicate license fee fixed by this chapter shall be charged for the issuance of the duplicate license.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5657. Section 5657.

Each licensee shall file their current mailing address with the board at its office in Sacramento, California, and shall notify the board of any and all changes of mailing address, providing both their old and new address within 30 days after a change. A penalty as provided in this chapter shall be paid by a licensee who fails to notify the board within 30 days after a change of address.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5658. Section 5658.

(a) Each applicant for examination or licensure who has a valid email address shall report to the board that email address at the time of application. (b) Each licensee who has a valid email address shall report to the board or verify that email address at the time of renewal. (c) Each applicant or licensee shall notify the board within 30 days of any change to their email address on file with the board. (d) To protect the privacy of applicants and licensees, the email addresses provided to the board pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) shall not be considered a public record and shall not be disclosed pursuant to Section 27 or pursuant to a request under the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code), unless required by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction. (e) Information sent from an email account of the board to a valid email address provided by an applicant or licensee is presumed to have been delivered to the email address provided. (f) For the purposes of this section, “valid email address” means an email address at which the applicant or licensee is currently receiving email at the time the application or license renewal is submitted to the board.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5659. Section 5659.

Each person licensed under this chapter shall sign, date, and seal or stamp using a seal or stamp described in this section, all plans, specifications, and other instruments of service therefor, prepared for others as evidence of the person’s responsibility for those documents. Failure to comply with this section constitutes a ground for disciplinary action. Each person licensed under this chapter shall use a seal or stamp of the design authorized by the board, bearing the person’s name, license number, the legend “licensed landscape architect,” the legend “State of California” and a means of providing a signature, the renewal date of the license, and date of signing and sealing or stamping.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

Starting a business in California? California LLC guide: costs and requirements