Membership in APLD
APLD members come from varied backgrounds with differing levels of experience, each with their own design aesthetic. APLD members strive for professional excellence and believe in a commitment towards furthering our careers through education and networking. APLD requires 10 hours of continuing education credits a year to remain a member in good standing.
APLD members are represented locally in ten 10 state chapters. APLD offers a virtual online chapter for those states that are currently not represented within their state.
There are 6 levels of membership within APLD, each with a corresponding membership fee. Upon joining nationally, you will also be requested to join a chapter.
Membership levels are:
- Emerging Professional: A designer who has less than 3 years of professional landscape design experience. Documentation of education and experience is not required.
- Professional: A designer who has more than 3 years of professional landscape design experience. Documentation of education and experience is not required.
- Qualified Professional: A designer who has 3 or more years of professional landscape design experience. Documentation of education and experience is required. Associates Degree (or higher) in landscape design-based education from an accredited institution or attendance in landscape design classes or seminars. Qualified Professionals can take an extra step and become certified. This step involves creating a 3 project portfolio. Each project must include a design intent statement, before and after photos, a hardscape plan, and a planting plan. This portfolio is submitted to an APLD review committee for peer review. If the portfolio is accepted, the member is now considered a Certified Qualified Professional.
- Student: Student members must be actively enrolled in a landscape design, landscape architecture, or horticulture program. A student member may not practice landscape design unless it is part of a student internship related to their design program.
- Allied: Those individuals practicing in related and associated fields: ornamental horticulture, public and private garden/estate management, garden writing/publishing/photography, architecture, interior design, lighting design, and green industry suppliers such as growers, nurseries, stone yards, landscape contractors, etc.
- Educator: A professional landscape design educator/teacher who is not practicing as a landscape designer.
APLDCT Member Benefits
APLDCT Certification Program
APLD Certification is your advantage in the marketplace. As a landscape designer you can set yourself apart from the competition. This program is open to all eligible landscape design professionals.
Membership FAQ
Yes, there are 6 different levels of membership; Allied, Educator, Student, Emerging Professional, Professional, and Qualified Professional.
Yes, APLD hosts, and partners with other green industry associations to provide educational opportunities, such as conferences and seminars with available CEUs.
Yes, APLD provides many benefits to its members, such as discounts to conferences and seminars, national and local networking opportunities, and state advocacy tracking, to name just a few.
Yes, there are state chapters and when you join APLD, you will be required to join the chapter in yourstate.
- There are no upcoming events.
- There are no upcoming events.
Latest Past Events
APLDCT Holiday Party & Annual Meeting
Save the date! Location and time details to come...
Garden Conservancy Tour & Luncheon
Please join us as we tour the beautiful gardens at Insitu in Redding, Connecticut! We’ll meet at the garden on the morning of August 27, then after touring we’ll make […]
2022 APLDCT International Landscape Design Conference
This year’s conference is back in person, and in Chicago! Attendees will hear great speakers and tour beautiful gardens. Check the link below for more info and to register today!