What is Accreditation?
Accreditation is a voluntary, non-governmental system of self-regulation. At its core is the concept of on-going self assessment and improvement. The Landscape Architectural Accreditation Council (LAAC) typically conducts evaluations of university programs on a six-year cycle to determine compliance with its published minimum standards and the programs own stated objectives. Any program leading to a first professional degree at the bachelor’s or master’s level in Canada is eligible to apply for accreditation from LAAC.
Prior to their scheduled re-accreditation reviews, programs are required to conduct self-evaluation studies to assess how well they are meeting their stated educational goals and LAAC standards. LAAC then assigns a Visiting Evaluation Team to undertake an independent assessment and make a recommendation to the Council. The LAAC reviews the Visiting Team Report and issues a final accreditation decision. Programs are also required to submit annual reports noting all significant changes and developments for LAAC review.
- CLICK HERE to view the list of accredited programs in Canada
- CLICK HERE to view the establishment Dates of Canada's Landscape Architecture Programs
Submit your Name to the LAAC’s Roster of Visiting Evaluators
The Roster of Visiting Evaluators (ROVE) is the pool of candidates from which visiting team members are selected to review landscape architecture programs whose accreditation is due for renewal. Learn more
About the CSLA's Landscape Architecture Accreditation Council (LAAC)
The LAAC is the body of the Society responsible for accrediting professional university undergraduate and graduate degree programs in landscape architecture in Canada. It is responsible for: appointing teams to undertake accreditation; recruiting and training accreditation team members; reviewing and approving accreditation reports; reviewing and approving annual reports from universities; advising the Board of its decisions; periodically reviewing applicable accreditation standards and procedures, and maintaining contact with the American Society of Landscape Architects’ Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board and other accrediting bodies to ensure consistency of standards.
Fees (2024)
- Annual Sustaining Fee for each Accredited Program: $2 381
- New Program Initial Visit Fee: $6 798
- Candidacy Status Application and Initial Visit Fee: $687
- Candidacy Status Annual Sustaining Fee: $1501
- Interim or Early Visit Fee: $2 205
- Delay of Visit Fee: $2 205
LAAC Members
Chair: Cynthia Girling, BCSLA, FCSLA, FASLA, FCELA
laac-caap@csla-aapc.ca
Members:
Nicole Valois, AAPQ, CSLA
Trevor McIntyre, OALA, FCSLA
Jean Trottier, MALA, CSLA
Margot Long, BCSLA, FCSLA
Anne-Marie Whittaker (external member)
Accreditation Manuals and Forms
- Manual of Accreditation Procedures
- Manual of Accreditation Standards
- Annual Program Report Template (in Word format)
- Self-Evaluation Report Template (in Word format)
- Curriculum Map (in Excel format)
- Visiting Team Evaluator Conflict of Interest Policy and Declaration
- Electronic Presentation of Student Work Guidelines
- Visiting Team Report Guidelines
- Visiting Team Report Template