Our Preparatory Courses for the Landscape Architect Registration Examination were developed over 20 years by Ray Freeman, ASLA. At his retirement, we worked with Ray to adapt his materials into online webinars.
We meet in real time, from 8:30 am (Pacific Standard Time) until around 4:30 pm PST, with a break for lunch. Our password-protected Zoom classroom allows us to learn from the group’s diverse practice experiences, mark up design problems on a shared screen and discuss exam issues. In 2022 we began recording these sessions for webinar participants to use after the weekend is over. If you are not available on webinar day, or prefer to participate anonymously, we can now accommodate your specific needs. Contact us if you have questions.
It’s very rewarding to take this virtual sabbatical with design professionals from all across North America. Feedback has been pretty positive, see below…. Join us!
CLARB’s new LARE 2023 Blueprint launches in December. Our materials have been completely updated for the 2023 Blueprint. We ran the first cycle of updated sessions this fall and added videos of every session to our offerings. Contact us if you’d like to attend on your own schedule by watching the videos or by working with our study materials.
2024 Webinar Dates
Register through Eventbrite by clicking on the name of the event you’d like to attend. You will be taken to the event page in a new tab.
For test period April 1-17, 2024:
Grading, Drainage and Stormwater Management $450
February 2, 3, 4
Planning and Design $400
February 9, 10, 11
Construction Documentation and Administration $325
February 16, 17
Inventory, Analysis and Project Management $250
February 18
Grading, Drainage and Stormwater Management $450
(This repeat session will run if we have a minimum of 10 people.
If cancelled, you can opt for a partial refund or for video access.)
March 1, 2, 3
For test period July 29, Aug 14, 2024
Grading, Drainage and Stormwater Management
May 31, June 1, 2
Planning and Design
June 7, 8, 9
Construction Documentation and Administration
June 21, 22
Inventory, Analysis and Project Management
June 23
For test period December 2-18, 2024
Grading, Drainage and Stormwater Management
May 31, June 1, 2
Planning and Design
October 4, 5, 6
Construction Documentation and Administration
October 18, 19
Inventory, Analysis and Project Management
October 20
GDSW potential repeat date (depending on registration):
November 1, 2, 3
What about 2024?
We are looking forward to the new Blueprint! It brings changes that we think are good for LARE candidates.
We always incorporate new info as it becomes available – so all study materials are current and up to date. 2024 webinars will continue on as usual, 6-9 weeks before the official test periods open for each session.
All updated info for 2024 will be posted here. 2024 spring registration is open!
Watch this space and subscribe to our mailing list for more information.
Joining us from Canada? Contact us for a discount code before you register.
Construction Documentation & Administration (OLD S1-S4)
In 2024 this will become an intensive two-day course. The new Blueprint has added a significant amount of new content that you should be prepared for. We review CLARB’s test specification topics and use practice exams to assess your knowledge. This section contains a lot of process-oriented material around contracts and construction administration, and some materials and construction detailing that was formerly in the old Section 4. Candidates find plain, simple explanations and discussion of common project processes and roles invaluable. The CD&A Syllabus contains approximately 110 pages of information and 140 practice questions. We have also developed graphic format AIT practice problems for this section – new for the 2023 Blueprint.
Inventory, Analysis & Project Management (old S2)
This intensive one-day course provides an in-depth overview of the exam and exam-specific test taking tips. We review CLARB’s test specification topics and use practice exams to assess candidates’ knowledge, while providing study material to help fill in the gaps. This section contains a lot of information that must be memorized and we can help with sorting the work. The IA&PM Syllabus contains approximately 155 pages of information and 150 practice questions. The 2023 Blueprint also includes graphic format AIT questions for this section, and we will practice with new course material.
planning & DESIGN (old S3)
Over the course of three days, we will prepare for one of the most challenging of the four LARE sections. Students will be exposed to the fundamentals of planning and design skills as CLARB has defined them in the past, and we will practice applying problem-solving techniques on sample test questions in graphic and multiple response formats. The P&D Syllabus contains approximately 260 pages and 185 practice test questions. Students also receive separate packets containing 25 design advanced item type (AIT) problems with solutions, for practice during class and for follow-up study group use.
GRADING, DRAINAGE & Stormwater Management (old S4)
This intensive three-day course prepares candidates in building technical skills and comprehension. This course includes a review of CLARB’s topics and strategy tips for analyzing and answering advanced item type questions (AITs). About half of our time will be spent refreshing the fundamentals of grading and drainage. We will focus on building and reinforcing skill, speed, and accuracy. The GD&SW Syllabus contains over 200 pages of information, and includes 110 test questions and 43 Advanced Item Type problems in separate packets that include the problem, its solution, and a step-by-step written guide.
OTHER RESOURCES
Independent Study Materials:
All sections have been updated for the 2023 Blueprint! Study materials are available now. Click on the section you want for our new direct purchase links with Paypal. This section is new – contact us if you have problems and we’ll fix them ASAP.
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If your schedule or budget can’t accommodate our live webinar, purchase the study materials as pdf documents and work on your own. Includes everything except webinar/video access. Please note: prices will change in January, 2024 to reflect the reshuffled 2023 content.
Const Doc & Admin (S1), $175: Includes Syllabus book with practice tests in current multiple choice format and new graphic format AIT practice problems.
Inventory, Analysis, & Project Mgmt (S2), $125: Includes Syllabus book with practice tests in current multiple choice format and new graphic format AIT practice problems.
Planning & Design (S3), $250: Includes Syllabus book with practice questions in current multiple choice format, AIT problems and solutions. We also include the old 2008 LARE Reference Manual and our ‘Maps and Plans of the LARE’.
Grading Drainage & Stormwater Mgmt (S4), $275: Includes Syllabus book with practice questions in current multiple choice format, AIT problems and solutions, and Extra Help annotated step-by-step guidance for most AITs. —————————————————————————-
Bound Hardcopies, $40 We can mail hardcopy, bound course materials for any section for a small additional cost to cover printing and postage. Allow ten days for shipping.
Free LARE resources:
Section O – our general guide to the LARE’s current format and good strategies for test preparation. Updated to include our best advice for the 2023 Blueprint
2008 LARE Reference Manual—scanned pdf of the old reference standards
CLARB’s Eligibility Requirements by state—interactive map here
Information about being a beta tester for our new California Supplemental Exam online course
Sign up for our mailing list. We limit our emails and always include an unsubscribe option.
“I just wanted to send you a quick note to thank you for all your time and effort with the class this weekend. It was very helpful, and you did great handling this new, virtual format. I didn’t think I’d like a Zoom class, but you changed that.”
“I’m extremely happy I took this course, and the Zoom format was actually helpful and efficient—more affordable doing it virtually than paying for a plane ticket and hotel. I would recommend it to everyone”
“I wish more people knew about this course. I enjoyed it so much. I wish we could have done it for four days, not just three! Thank you, Sarah, very much.”
“The course was fantastic—just what I was looking for to steer me in the right direction to prepare for Section 4.”
“Sarah is so knowledgeable and made me feel much more confident about taking the exam. As someone who takes a longer time to learn things, I appreciate how patient, considerate, and encouraging Sarah was. She wants us to succeed!”
“Just wanted to reach out and say thank you for your incredibly informative class. I felt more confident walking out of Exam 4 than any of the other exams. I’d play the recordings on the TV and watch from the treadmill in the weeks leading up to the exam. I think that, coupled with my dog-eared and over-highlighted syllabus, really made a difference.
Thanks again for your class – I’ll be recommending it to anyone I know studying for the LARE!”
“Just wanted to let you know I PASSED!!! Thank you for all of your tutoring help. I will be taking section 3 in December.”
“I’m currently starting to go through your CSE prep course, and I am excited for the content that you have developed. I believe you are doing such an important thing in helping people figure out how to study for this exam (and the LARE exams).”
“I wanted to let you know I finally passed Section 4!!! Thank you so much for your support, your course and your time, really appreciate it.”
“I recently took your Section 2 course and really loved it… (the recorded sessions) really helped me to hear you talk through the topics and hear thoughts/questions from other participants.”
“… I wanted to report back that I ended up passing all 4 sections! I am very appreciative of you and the planning and care that you’ve put into the course. In addition to just covering test specific content, you made it interesting and engaging and the courses were very inspirational. I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the work you do as I know it is a labor of love!”