Free Practice Questions for LARE

CLARB publishes section-level pass rates for each administration through its exam results pages, and rates differ by section and by administration window rather than following a single fixed figure. Because each of the four sections is scored independently against a fixed standard, a candidate's result on one section does not affect the others. Check the current CLARB pass rate page for the most recent published figures rather than relying on third-party summaries.

The L.A.R.E. is a licensure examination built from a job task analysis of practicing landscape architects, so it tests applied judgment rather than recall. Section 1 covers inventory, analysis and project management; Section 2 covers planning and design; Section 3 covers construction documentation and administration; and Section 4 covers grading, drainage and stormwater management. Section 4 is the most calculation-intensive, requiring contour interpolation, slope and earthwork computation, runoff estimation, and drainage system sizing. CLARB does not publish a recommended number of study hours, so plan preparation by section using the exam blueprint.

Eligibility to sit for the L.A.R.E. is determined by the licensing board in the jurisdiction where you intend to become licensed, not by CLARB. Most jurisdictions require a professional degree in landscape architecture from a program accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board, or equivalent education, plus a specified amount of qualifying professional experience. All candidates must establish and maintain a CLARB Record to register for the exam, and some jurisdictions require CLARB to transmit your Record to the board for approval before you may register.

CLARB allows the four sections to be taken in any order, and you may attempt more than one section during a single two-week administration window. Many candidates begin with the section closest to their current daily practice, since applied experience is the strongest preparation. Because Section 4 (Grading, Drainage and Stormwater Management) is the most calculation-intensive, candidates who do not perform technical grading and drainage work regularly often allow additional preparation time for it regardless of where they place it in the sequence.

CLARB does not impose a single universal time limit for completing all four sections. Retake limits and the length of time a passed section remains valid are set by the licensing jurisdiction, so you should confirm the rule with the board where you intend to become licensed. Separately, CLARB periodically updates the exam blueprint following a job task analysis; candidates who have not completed all sections before a blueprint transition may be required to take additional sections or repeat content under the updated structure.

Section 1, Inventory, Analysis and Project Management, carries 90 scored items covering project management, inventory and data collection, stakeholder engagement, physical analysis and contextual analysis. Section 2, Planning and Design, carries 85 scored items covering stewardship and design principles, master planning, schematic design and design development. Section 3, Construction Documentation and Administration, carries 90 scored items covering construction plans and details, specifications and bidding, and construction administration. Section 4, Grading, Drainage and Stormwater Management, carries 70 scored items covering stormwater management, grading and earthwork, and drainage systems. Each section adds 10 unscored pretest items and allows 3.5 hours of seat time.

Each L.A.R.E. section costs $535, so all four sections total $2,140. Candidates must also establish and maintain a CLARB Record, which costs $175 for the initial candidate Record and $165 for annual candidate maintenance. Retaking a failed section costs the full $535 section fee again. CLARB also offers an optional practice exam for each section at $25. Cancelling by an administration's cancellation deadline refunds the section fee minus the cancellation fee in CLARB's published fee schedule; requests after that deadline are not refunded, and registrations cannot be transferred or rescheduled to a later administration. Jurisdiction application and licensing fees are separate and vary by board.

Start with CLARB's own free resources: the exam blueprint, which lists every content area and task tested in each section, and the L.A.R.E. Orientation Guide, which explains the item types (multiple choice, multiple response, hot spot, and drag and place), testing protocols, and the reference information supplied during the exam. CLARB also sells a practice exam for each section at $25. Commonly used reference texts include Site Engineering for Landscape Architects, Landscape Architectural Graphic Standards, and Time-Saver Standards for Landscape Architecture. Focus on applying concepts to site scenarios rather than memorizing definitions.