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.
- CLICK HERE to view the list of accredited programs in Canada
- CLICK HERE to view the establishment dates of Canada's landscape architecture programs
(Image: The John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design – University of Toronto, Winner of the 2019 National Award of Excellence)
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.
LAAC Members
Chair: Cynthia Girling, BCSLA, FCSLA, FASLA, FCELA
Members:
Nicole Valois, AAPQ, CSLA
Trevor McIntyre, OALA, FCSLA
Margot Long, BCSLA, FCSLA
Beverly Sandalack, AALA, FCSLA
Anne-Marie Whittaker (external member)
Fees (2026)
- Annual Sustaining Fee for each Accredited Program: $2 550
- New Program Initial Visit Fee: $7 295
- Candidacy Status Application and Initial Visit Fee: $740
- Candidacy Status Annual Sustaining Fee: $1 610
- Interim or Early Visit Fee: $2 350
- Delay of Visit Fee: $2 350
Accreditation Manuals and Forms
LAAC Accreditation Standards and Procedures
Manual of Accreditation Standards and Manual of Accreditation Procedures
Accredited Programs: Annual Report Template
Annual Program Report Template (in Word format)
Programs Undergoing an Accreditation: Visit Preparation Documents and Guidelines
- Self-Evaluation Report Template (in Word format)
- Curriculum Map (in Excel format)
- Electronic Presentation of Student Work Guidelines
LAAC-Appointed Visiting Evaluator Team: Documents and Guidelines