FNGLA Certified Landscape Designer (FCLD)

What is it?

FNGLA’s Certified Landscape Designer (FCLD) program offers a professional designation for practicing Landscape Designers and provides consumers a way to choose qualified design professionals.

FNGLA’s FCLD program is designed for landscape design professionals in landscape design firms as well as landscape designers in government agencies.

Those qualified to sit for the FCLD exam must have a minimum of two years’ professional landscape design experience.
The applicant must also submit a completed landscape plan with photos and letters of reference with their application in order to sit for the exam.

Plan Submittal Guidelines PDF

FNGLA’s landscape certifications are designed to measure an individual’s skills and knowledge and therefore draw from the professional’s experience.  Training classes are available to assist the test applicant in preparing for the exam.

Click Here  for Schedule of training and other horticulture education opportunities.

The FNGLA Landscape Certification Manual is a set of three books:

1. The FCHP Manual provides information on such things as plant identification, plant use, water conservation, pest identification, turf care and fertilization.  This manual applies to all of FNGLA’s certification exams.
   
2. The Landscape Manual covers the landscape process from landscape laws to landscape installation and job completion.  In addition to the FCHP manual above, this manual applies to all of FNGLA’s landscape certification exams.
   
3. The “Landscape Estimating and Contract Administration” textbook provides an in-depth look at contracts, bidding, accounting and liens.  In addition to the two manuals listed above, this manual applies to FNGLA’s Landscape Contractor (FCLC) and Designer (FCLD) exams.

Order the FNGLA Landscape Certification Manual Set.

Click to:
Order Manual Online

Or download and print:
Order Form (PDF)

FCLD testing is offered three to four times a year, once each in North Florida, Central Florida, Southwest Florida and Southeast Florida.

Candidates must pass a comprehensive 6-part field exam and 5-part written exam, in addition to the FCHP Core Exam and plan submittal, to demonstrate knowledge in horticultural skills and landscape design practices.

Current test sites are:

• Washington Holmes Technical Center in Chipley  (North FL)
  December 7-8, 2007


• Pinellas Technical Education Center in St. Petersburg (SW FL)
  June 2008


• Edgewood Children’s Ranch in Orlando (Central FL)
  November 9-10, 2007


• Miami Dade College in Kendall (South FL)
  May 2008

Register On-line at
http://www.fngla.org/onlinetest/fngla/fnglaregistration.aspx

Or By mail through the FNGLA office.
Download the FCLC/FCLD Exam Application Form
PDF

Exam Sections
The FCLD exam is a 2-day exam encompassing field and written exams. Those taking written exams online must only attend the field exam day of the exam. Each FCHP written exam section must be passed with a minimum 70%, and each FCLD written and field sections must be passed with a minimum 75% in order to earn the FCLD certification.

Field Exams include:

• Plant ID
• Plan Layout
• Tree Installation
• Job Evaluation
• Design Applications
• Planting Details

Written Exams include:

• Landscape Plan Submittal (with application)
• FCHP Core Written Exams
• Landscape Laws
• History of Garden Design
• Site Design
• Construction Documents
• Design Principles

Bring to Exam

For written exams, be sure to bring pencil, pen, eraser, silent calculator, engineer and architect scale rulers, circle template and highlighters or colored pencils, photo identification and FCHP Manual.
Notes are not allowed to be used during the written exams, except for the FCHP Open Book exam.

For field exams, be sure to bring Field Exam Problems with your notes, calculator, 16’ tape measure, engineer and architect scale rulers, pencil, pen, safety goggles, work gloves, work shoes (tennis shoes or sandals are NOT permitted) and rain gear. You are permitted to bring any additional equipment you like with advance notification to FNGLA.

Exam Fees

2007 exam fees are $20 per section for FNGLA members and $35 per section for non-members. Therefore, the 15-part FCLD exam would be $300 for FNGLA members and $525 for non-members. Those who hold a valid FCHP certification are exempted from the 4-part FCHP horticultural written exam. Any exam section that is not completed successfully may be retaken, once the applicant applies for a retest and pays a retest fee. The cost per section for a retest is the same as for the first attempt.

Exam fees cover both written and field exams, including all plant material, supplies and equipment required. Lunch, snacks and refreshments are also provided. You must bring your own safety equipment, calculators, rulers, templates and writing utensils.

Manuals and training sessions require an additional fee.

For complete information on FNGLA’s certification exam fees, see
Exam Structures & Fees

FNGLA’s FCLD certification is valid for a three-year period. During that time, FCLDs are required to earn 30 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in order to renew.

If you hold more than one certification, these CEUs will apply to all certifications you hold. In the absence of the required number of CEUs, the certified professional will be required to retake the exam.
Renewal is $50 for FNGLA members and $75 for non-members for the three-year certification period.

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