FCEFLA

FRIENDS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION

FOR REGISTERED FLORIDA LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
sent in both ms.doc(rich text) and pdf format(attachment A5)
Terms: FDBPR (Fla. Dept. Of Business & Professional Regulation)----FBOLA (Florida Board of Landscape Architecture)
RLA (Registered Landscape Architect)--Con Ed (continuing education)--NXCE (National Exchange for Con Ed)

MISSION at 15july2010
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To support and enhance quality, continuing education courses and programs for Florida's registered landscape architects
(RLA'S) which include:

• Continuing liaison with the Florida Board of Landscape Architecture (FBOLA) to ensure maximum choices for
meeting the current 16 hours of state mandated continuing education.
• Incorporation of the most recent advances in electronic mass marketing communications in order to minimize costs
and maximize con ed quality to the State of Florida, the consumers and providers of continuing education.

AGENDA A-PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

Define current, perceived problem areas or challenges within both the Florida and National apparatus for continuing
education of Florida landscape architects and recommend possible solutions of same. The identification of perceived
problem areas and their possible solutions are derived from continuous extensive communication with practicing landscape
architects, both approved and non approved providers and national sister organizations (ASLA, ISA, AIA etc.)

Currently a summary of frequently mentioned problem areas that should be addressed on an urgent basis are:

Way too much red tape and expense for existing and potential providers
The Florida Board of Landscape Architecture (FBOLA) is considered, by many knowledgeable people both inside and
outside the state of Florida, to be antiquated, excessively bureaucratic and definitely not comparable to many state licensing
boards performing similar functions in terms of state of the art practices. One particular difficulty frequently heard from
current and potential content providers is the FBOLA's uniquely convoluted and time consuming approval process for
providers. We have heard from quality, potential providers like Autodesk, AEC Daily and others that it just isn't worth the time
and money it takes to finally get approved as a content provider with FBOLA.

An acute shortage of approved 24/7 free online manufacturers product courses

One of the results of what many consider excessive red tape re the approval process is an absence of the new online,
excellent, highly successful courses on new products and services constantly entering the landscape industry market place.
This is state of the art, cutting edge training that greatly enhances a RLA's skill set and it's free to the consumer. AEC Daily
Corp is an excellent example of this new breed of site brokerage/exchange for thousands of manufactured products.

Current FBLA courses have excessive "gottachas" and awkward features

A first glance at the 420 courses currently offered by the FBOLA's 38 providers suggest an adequate range of choices
but a closer look reveals a very different story. Over 50% of the selections require an expensive membership or a stiff non
member participation fee in order to gain access to the material (ASLA, ISA, FNGA, FIS, etc) . Another serious limitation
greatly affecting timely availability of courses is that over 60% are non online classroom or seminar type instruction that are
only given once a year and hundreds of miles away in many cases. At least 30% of courses show up as unavailable and a
surprising number of providers do not return phone calls re course status.

Catch 22 is alive and well with the FBLA

Many RLA's in Florida today have had to drop membership in professional organizations because of the extremely difficult
economic environment. It is estimated that over a third of the RLA's in Florida are either unemployed or substantially
underemployed in 2010 and this picture may even get worse if the effects of the Gulf Coast oil spill prove to be as
devastating as many predict. This means that hundreds of landscape architects don't have access to the large body of CE
courses only available to dues paying members or they have to cough up a large non member fee to participate, which
makes it hard to afford these courses in any event.

AGENDA B- PROBLEM SOLUTION

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Based on extensive feedback from RLA's, approved and non approved providers, relevant institutions and other concerned
parties, a summary of possible solutions to the above problems have been discussed and are outlined below.

Streamline the approval process for hundreds of providers who are out there waiting
There are hundreds, more likely thousands of manufactures, service companies and institutions who would be
enthusiastic about participating in the continuing education of Florida's RLA's if the process of getting started and
administering courses were made easier and quicker. Convince the FBLA that most other state licensing boards have much
speedier and cheaper systems for getting content providers onboard. Require the FBOLA to actively commit to pursuing an
effective integration into current moves by national organizations like the ASLA and AIA to consolidate and streamline the
CE process for designers of all stripes.

Dramatically increase 24/7 online courses in all categories of con ed for RLA's
A sea change is occurring across the US in the efficiency, cost and effectiveness of continuing education. The awkward
methods RLA's have faced in the past of pursuing expensive, out dated, hard to access courses is giving way to online
availability of CE courses on a largely automated 24/7 basis. Current older methods (e.g. physical classrooms, seminars,
office visits, etc) should continue as valuable delivery methods but recognition and wide spread use is now under way of a
powerful new way of reaching large numbers of people who otherwise would be under great stress to access the same
information.

One of the most exciting, emerging categories of con ed for RLA's is the "exchange" or brokerage sites for manufacturers
(paving, lighting, wood structures, etc) and service companies (hydro mulching, site maintenance, etc). These sites like AEC
Daily offer hundreds of courses on newly emerging products, product upgrades, tech data on material upgrades, sustainable
design, LEED certification, etc. and are paid for by the providers. Exams are given and graded automatically and on an 80%
passing score are automatically credited to the users account for processing to the relevant state board for CE credit.
Classrooms sizes typically are 1000-1200 participants from all over the country. One doesn't have to be a rocket scientist to
grasp the tremendous cost savings and educational efficiency this technology represents.

Create a national exchange for 24/7 RLA con ed for all 50 states and save huge bucks
or online education is the wave of the future--a no brainer actually
The quantum leap in mass communication efficiency in the last 10 years has convinced growing numbers of people that a
central internet location should be established that would offer approved con ed material for all RLA's across the nation. All
states would be represented and a few mouse clicks would get you to exam center for Florida or Alabama or Alaska. The
consumer could then choose from hundreds if not thousands of approved courses across all participating providers be they
manufacturers, service companies, nurseries, universities, distance learners, etc. Automated technology now exists that
would give the exams, grade them and process them to individual state boards for their own automated processing. Learning
would then become an exciting, rewarding and affordable experience for both consumers and providers. Contrast this
environment to an often tedious, frustrating and needlessly expensive non internet alternative.

These new national exchange sites for continuing education (NXCE) are being considered for all professions and trades
not just the design industry. A typical center would generate several lucrative profit centers for itself by charging a small
admin fee on each course administered, have a store that sells tech data, videos, etc for exam prep and provide a much
needed service for packaging courses for internet consumption for the thousands of private and public sector entities that
lack the time and expertise to do it for themselves. The latter is a whole new emerging industry in itself that will provide
thousands of new high tech jobs for web specialists, video and graphic artists, writers, editors, etc.

We ask everyone concerned with improving the quality of continuing education for RLA's in Florida and the nation as well
to join us in moving this process forward and please send any questions or comments you may have to our steering
committee re the email provided below.

Regards
Kent McCoy BSLA, RLA Fla.
Interim Chairman
fcefla@usa.com
cell 850 247 9073

partial cc:
Honorable Charlie Crist, Governor, State of Fla.
Charlie Liem, Interim Secretary, Fla. DBPR
Juanita Chastain, Executive Director FBOLA
38 Current Approved FBOLA Providers
Ron Leighton, Director, Educational Services, ASLA
Lloyd Kaufman, Director, NCARB, AIA
Sue Fern, Manager, FASLA
FAPAC-Florida Architects Political Action Committee

ATTACHMENTS
A1-The only six approved FBLA providers of the 103 listed on the ASLA website
A2-Random sampling of the new automated 24/7 free approved Con Ed sites for RLA's and random, very low cost CE sites
A3-Skyrocketing costs of maintaining a professional image--where does it end?
A4-Proposed NXCE (National Con Ed Exchange) model and outline of a brand new industry to support it
A5-Summary of FBOLA's 38 approved providers with comments
A6-Helpful links-contacts
A7-Batch pdf of this cover and attachments A1-A6
ATTACHMENT A1
ASLA 103 APPROVED PROVIDERS PER ASLA WEBSITE
INCLUDES 6 APPROVED BY FLA BOARD OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE (DBPR)
MF=manufacturers outlet free course material online
MFN=manufacturers outlet free non online delivery--eg office visit--seminar--asla nat/state meeting
IN=institutional --must be a member to take courses--pay a fee for many courses as well--some are free
FPC=for profit corporations--courses for hourly rates ($25-$100/hr) red vector---distance learn pro

item NAME cat 6 fla fbla

approved !!
thats right 6
1 4D Schusterss-- an Old Castle Co
2 ACF Environmental
3 AEC Daily Corp MF
4 ASLA IN Yes
6 Aquascape Inc
7 ARCOM
8 Arizona ASLA IN
9 Arizona Nursy Assoc
10 ASLA Colorado IN
11 Bomanite
12 Boston Society of LA
13 Bowman's HIll Wildflower Preservve IN
14 California Preservaion for
15 Canadian Soc of LA IN
16 Carolina Concrete Masonary Assoc
17 Center for Sustainable Design Univ of
18 Chicago Botanical Garden
19 CoServ Electric
20 CT Chapter ASLA IN
21 DBTAC Great Lakes ADA Center
22 Distance Learn Pro-- DBA Samnik & Assoc FP Yes
23 DPC Assoc
24 Early Years Institute
25 Eldorado Stone LLC
26 Enviro Design Research Assoc
27 Esters Design Inc
28 Ewing Irrigation
29 Facility Engineering Inc
30 Gibney Design LA PC
31 Greenroofs For Healthy Cities
32 Hadco Philips Group Brand
33 Halfmoon LLC
34 Hanley Wood Univ
35 Harvard Grad Sch Desgn
36 Hunter Industries
37 ILOS Corp
38 IM ASLA
39 Interlocking Con Pavers Inst
40 International Quality & Production Center
41 International Soc of Arboriculture
42 James Rose Center For LA
43 Kalamoze Outdoor Gourmet
44 Kentucky Ready Mix Concrete Assoc
45 Kompan Inc
46 Lake Managemengt Services LZP
47 Land F/X
48 Landscape Structures
49 Lightfair Intl
50 Lithocrete/TB Penick & Sons Inc
51 Longwood Gardens Con ED Assoc
52 Marble Institute of America
53 McConnaughay Technologies-Suit-Kate Co
54 Milestone Imports
55 Molly Moyer LLC
56 Monrovia Nurseries
57 Moss Acres
58 National Bld Museums
59 National Charrete Inst
60 Nat Ready Mix Assoc
61 Nemelscheck North America
62 New Directions in the Am Landscape
63 New Jersey Chap ASLA
64 New York Chap ASLA
65 Nicolock Paving Stones & Ret walls
66 Nitsch Engineering
67 NYU ASLA Upstate NY Chap ASLA
68 Outdoor Lighting Perspective
69 Pacific Coast Bld Products
70 Permaloc Corp
71 Pine Hall Brick Co MFN Yes
72 Pioneer LS Materials Inc
73 Planetizen
74 Platipus Anchors
75 Playcore Yes
76 Prarie Gateway Chap of ASLA MFN
77 Pro Line Publications
78 Red Vector. Com. Inc FP Yes
79 Rutgers Univ office of Con Ed
80 Sesco Lighting---alan weiss winterprk-tallahassee FL MFN Yes
81 South Carolina Chap ASLA
82 Sports Turf Mang Assoc
83 Steven Winter Assoc
84 Stopwaste Org
85 Structure Studios
86 The Cultural Landscape Foundation
87 The FA Bartlett Tree Expert Co
88 The Native Plant Center
89 The Peremaculture Project
90 The Salient Group
91 The Virginia Hort Foundation
92 US Green Bld Council
93 Unilock Ohio
94 Unique Lighting System LITE Program
95 Univ of Wash Dept of LA
96 US Composting Council
97 Utah Chap ASLA IN
98 Victor Olitic Stone Co
99 Virginia Chap ASLA
100 Visionaire LIghting LLC
101 Waterline Studios Inc
102 Wiley Cont Prof Education
103 Woolpert Inc
ATTACHMENT A2

EXAMPLES OF MANY FREE OR NEAR FREE HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL

COURSES CURRENTLY NOT APPROVED BY FLA BOARD OF LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTS
key:

MIX-Manufacturers Information Exchange Site--100's of tech data on new/existing products

IMPI--Individual Manufactures Product Information--Autodesk--
FPDL-For Profit Distance Learners (Red Vector--CEA--Design with Joy)
IP's-Institutional Providers (Membership of substantial NM fees) ASLA--ISA--FNGA

SITE Type Status delivery method Content

AEC Daily MIX free 24/7 Online--Automated testing- product education broker
-crediting paving-fountains-wood
structures
GreenCE.com MIX free 24/7 Online--Automated testing- sustainable technology
-crediting
Autodesk IMPI free 24/7 Online--Automated testing- 2-3d drafting software
-crediting updates
how to BIS--cutting edge
CAD
Integrated Paving Solutions Intl IMPI free 24/7 Online--Automated testing- grass pavers--ug cisterns-
-crediting asphalt coloring
RonBlank Assoc MIX free 24/7 Online--Automated testing- USGBC--LEED-MORE
-crediting
http://www.ronblank.com/

Fast Ceu's .Com FPDL min $10- 24/7 Online--Automated product education broker
rate 15/hr grading--certificate email
DiscountPDH.com FPDL min $10- 24/7 Online--Automated product education broker
rate 15/hr grading--certificate email

==========================================
NET SAMPLING 12 JULY 2010
AEC Daily--Free
http://www.aecdaily.com/aecindex.html
Type:MIX

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

GreenCE.com---Free
Type: MIX

Link to extensive free online courses for architects--landscape architects-etc

http://mail.google.com/mail/#label/FREE+CE+COURSES/129c6d4461eea5b8

Dynamic Daylighting and Sun Control Systems

1 AIA/CES HSW/SD LU

This course explains the design dilemma between natural daylight and shading out unwanted solar heat
gain and glare. You will learn about the dynamic daylighting strategy to design oversized sun control
systems with built-in shading technology, as well as the primary components of a daylighting glazing
panel. You will also be able to describe the features of an intelligent system, how to incorporate it into
projects, and how to maximize credits for your LEED project.

Daylighting: The Intelligent Lighting Solution

1 AIA/CES HSW/SD LU

This daylighting course identifies the different types of daylighting available, the health benefits of
natural lighting, and how it contributes to energy reduction and LEED certification. You will be able to
describe the behavioral properties of light and also learn a simple calculation formula to determine the
number of skylights needed for a given application..

Air Movement for Energy Efficient Summer Comfort

1 AIA/CES HSW/SD LU

Gain knowledge of thermal environmental conditions for human occupancy and learn the factors
beyond ASHRAE that can enhance comfort levels in naturally conditioned spaces. The designer will
also learn about the effects of work performance and productivity in hot environments and possible
health issues.

A New Approach to Green Building: Caulks, Sealants & Adhesives

1 AIA/CES HSW/SD LU

Learn to identify how adhesives and sealants can contribute to green building practices (specifically
LEED and NAHB Certification). This course offers advice regarding identifying the differences
between VOC-compliant products and products with low VOC content.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ron Blank Assoc---Free ce courses for

architects/landscape architects
http://www.ronblank.com/
Type: MIX

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
AUTODESK--Free
Type: IMPI
Link to extensive free online courses for architects--landscape architects-etc
http://resources.autodesk.com/Architecture/Sustainability/Continuing_Education
FREE COURSE 1 AND 2
Bridging Environment and Architectural Design to Nurture Renewability
Earn 1.0 AIA HSW/SD credit, and get an overview of BIM technology and related analysis tools and
how they contribute to sustainable design. > View Course

Revit Architecture: Creating and Modifying Schedules

Earn 1.5 AIA LU, and learn all about Revit Architecture scheduling tools, including scheduling rooms,
areas, furniture, walls, doors, windows and more. This course covers custom fields, shared parameters,
grouping to schedule keys, formulas, and exports. > View Course
FREE COURSE 3
Expedite LEED Certification with BIM for Design Build Projects
Dear kent,
Autodesk is proud to invite you to a free live webcast, "Expedite LEED Certification with
BIM for Design Build Projects". Your attendance at the webcast qualifies for 1.0
AIA HSW/SD continuing education credit.
FEATURED WEBCAST:

Expedite LEED Certification with BIM for Design Build Projects

July 13th, 2010, Tuesday, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time
Presented by:
Erin Rae Hoffer, AIA, LEED AP©, Autodesk Industry Strategy and Relations
Barbara Heller, FAIA, President & CEO of Design + Construction (DC) Strategies
Brad Phillips, LEED AP©, Managing Director, The Beck Group
Josh Oakley, BIM Manager, The Beck Group

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Integrated Paving Solutions International
http://www.integratedpaving.com/design-and-specify/continuing-education-credits.cfm
LEED® Credits With Innovative Coating & Thermoplastic Systems
Free Continuing Education Credits
IPC provides accredited continuing education courses for members of the following:
· USGBC Education Provider - LEED AP CE Credits
· USGBC, LA CES™, CSI, AIA plus many more

American Institute of Architects (AIA)

Technologies for Sustainable Streets
New: This course is now available on a self serve online format. You can take the course here and get
your credit today.

Course Format: Structured, Face to Face course and on-line self study.

Course Credits:
· 1 GBCI CE Hour
· 1 AIA Health Safety & Welfare (HSW) Sustainable Design (SD) Learning Unit (LU)
Upon completion of this course, the design professional will be able to:
· List the 5 components of sustainable streets.
· Describe the 3 considerations for choosing pavements: Recyclability, Carbon Footprint, Heat
Island Effect.
· Explain strategies for mitigating heat island effect.
· Express how pavement fits into different green building rating systems and environmental concerns
including VOCs, Energy, LEED, and Greenroads.
· Describe different traffic calming methodologies and explain the final solution to meeting these
goals.
· Give examples on how walking path and pavement design can bring communities together to
create a move livable environment and a better quality neighborhood.
· Illustrate NYC’s Sustainable Streets Plan and describe how this is helping to create a better
pedestrian and cyclist environment in an urban setting.
To register to take this course on as a live private webinar please contact us.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

FAST CEU'S.COM-many similar courses this is just one

http://www.fastceus.com/#CEfree

EXCELLENT VERY LOW COST COURSE ON SOCIAL SKILL ENHANCEMENT FOR

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS--
ONE VERY GOOD WAY TO MAKE A LOT MORE MONEY FOR SHY DESIGNERS WITH
LITTLE PEOPLE SKILLS
NEW - LOW COST TEXTBOOK COURSE
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses in particular on the ways clients understand and
perpetuate their difficulties through language. Providing a comprehensive overview of the approach
and detailed guidelines for practice, this book shows how interventions based on metaphor, paradox,
and experiential exercises can enable clients to break free of language traps, overcome common
behavioral problems, and enhance general life satisfaction.
FLORIDA - Board of Clinical Social Work, Mental Health Counseling
Provider #50-1569 (BAP #723), exp. 3-31-20011
People Skills for Business People
$7.00/ HR NOT $30 CHARGED BY RED VECTOR!!!!!!!!!!!
8 CE Credit Hours
This is a TEXTBOOK Course - You Must Get The Book Yourself - Course Link Above Will Explain.
$56.00 for 8 CE hours eg $7.00/hr

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

DISCOUNT PDH.COM
http://www.discountpdh.com/course/bridges.htm
Over the past 3 years, we have had many registered Engineers, Geologists, Architects, Landscape
Architects, Contractors and Home & Building Inspectors attending our live seminars or take our CD or
online courses. All our courses have always been accepted. Please feel free to read the testimonial of
some of the live seminar and course attendees in our site.

For Landscape Architects: ALL ARE $12-15/HOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OL01 ADA city government common problems -ADA accessible stadiums (2 PDH) $24.00--$12/HR
OL02 ADA guide for small business (2 PDH) $24.00 ------ $12/HR
OL03 ADA guide for small towns (3 PDH) $45.00 ------ $15/HR
OL04 ADA standard for accessible design 28 CFR Part 36 (9 PDH) $135.00----$15/HR
OL05 ADA Title III highlights (2 PDH) $24.00 $12/HR
OL17 ADA- Common ADA error and omissions in new constructions and alterations (2 PDH) $24.00
OL07 ADA - Americans with disabilities act (3 PDH) $45.00--$15/HR
OL08 Army Aviation Lighting (6 PDH) $90.00-----$15/HR
OL12 Bridge Inspection (18 PDH) $270.00---------$15/HR
OL14 Causes of Distress and deterioration in Concrete (5 PDH) $75.00
OL16 Child development center (5 PDH) $75.00
OL19 Construction pocket guide (1 PDH) $15.00
OL21 Domestic Wastewater Treatment (17 PDH) $255.00
OL82 Design, Guidelines & Standards for Historic Districts (5 PDH) $75.00
OL119 Dredging and Dredged Material Disposal (9 PDH) $135.00
OL120 Drilling and blasting for surface excavations (12 PDH) $180.00
OL26 Electrical design lightning and static electricity (2 PDH) $30.00
OL31 Foundation in expansive soils (10 PDH) $150.00
OL34 Green Building Rating Systems for new construction & major renovations (10 PDH) $150.00
OL35 Green Building Rating Systems for existing buildings (15 PDH) $245.00
OL36 Heavy load on concrete slabs (4 PDH) $60.00
OL37 Home Builder Guide I (4 PDH) $60.00
OL38 Home Builder Guide II (2 PDH) $30.00
OL39 Home Builder Guide III (5 PDH) $75.00
OL40 How to design buildings against terrorist attacks (8 PDH) $159.00
OL41 How to Evaluate & Repair Concrete Structures (20 PDH) $284.00
OL42 How to avoid earthquake damage in new buildings (19 PDH) $282.00
OL43 How to preserve historic buildings (18 PDH) $272.00
OL44 How to build a radon resistant home (8 PDH) $120.00
OL45 How to avoid lead exposure in the construction industry (5 PDH) $75.00
OL46 How to avoid health hazard in plumbing cross connections. (6 PDH) $90.00
OL47 How safely erect steel (3 PDH) $27.00
OL49 How to avoid electrical hazard (2 PDH) $30.00
OL50 How to make sure the structures built near the flood zone are safe (3 PDH) $45.00
OL51 How to protect coastal shorelines (6 PDH) $90.00
OL54 Landscape design and planning (3 PDH) $45.00
OL55 Maintenance & Repair of building structures (3 PDH, 10 PDH, 20 PDH

--
ATTACHMENT A3
THE ESCALATING COSTS OF MAINTAINING PROFESSIONAL STATUS IN THE US -- INCREASINGLY MANY FEEL
THEY CAN'T MEET THE STEEP COSTS OF A PROFESSIONAL IMAGE.
abbreviations include:
CE (continuing education) ---RLA ( Registered Landscape Architects)---FLDBPR (Florida Department of Business and Professional
Regulation)--FBLA (Florida Board of Landscape Architecture)

It is more or less a given that most RLA's strongly support both state regulation and mandatory continuing education for
professional licensing in the United States. Sadly enough, in our opinion, both of these proven valuable career management
tools for professional designers are in need of considerable improvement if they are to continue to be available and of use to
all who need them now and in the future.

Landscape Architecture is the discipline used for illustrating what were talking about and based on national and statewide
conversations with RLA's and providers as well, we reluctantly conclude that the FBLA is unique in many of the worst
problems facing RLA licensing boards across the US. Particularly in the shortage of approved cutting edge 24/7 courses out
there now and the byzantine, tedious approval process so many of the current and potential providers have complained
about

MANY ARE COMING TO THE VIEW THAT MAINTENANCE COSTS FOR A PROFESSIONAL LICENSE ARE
PROHIBITIVE
A commonly heard complaint of the licensing process is the ever growing cost to stay professional which has become a
critical issue given the desperate nature of today's economy and the very high unemployment rates of RLA's in Florida which
is estimated in 2010 to be officially northward of 20 per cent and closer to 30% when factoring in the many underemployed
individuals . A typical annual outlay for a license maintenance for a Florida RLA today would be :

item details comment

annual FLDBPR license renewal $152.50** 50% of 2 year billing period of $305
average cost 16 CE hours $480.00 16 hrs@$30/hr --typical online distance learning package
ASLA national and state fees $415.00
lost production hours preparing for and $800.00 8 hrs @$100/hr
taking online exams
average annual license cost in Fla $1847.00
percentage of average annual income 4.6%*** assume a gross profit or pre tax average salary of $40,000.00

**with mounting deficits, the Fla. legislature is known to be eyeing service, permit and license fees as one way to raise badly
needed revenue, so this number could increase in the near future.

***We don't know about you but we consider 4.6% of our income to maintain a professional license way too much given all
the other expenses a family has to meet. And if your among the many unemployed RLA's with zero or little income, that
number is becoming unsustainable for increasing numbers of landscape architects, including some who have lost their
homes in the last few years due to the worst economic crisis in US history since the great depression (1930-1940)

CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR PROFESSIONALS--A RACKET OR A WORTHWHILE ENDEAVOUR?

At first glance the options for acquiring the mandated 16 hrs of con ed for a 2 yr cycle in Fla. seem quite bountiful; however
a closer examination of the choices reveal a very different picture wrought with obstacles--a veritable Catch 22 of hidden
restrictions, expired courses, exorbitant costs and more. The table below summarizes our experiences with repeated
attempts to negotiate the FBLA -- CE swamp out there
CE option Why this option is frequently of little or no value to a designer
classroom seminars at annual a growing number of LA's have had to drop their national and chapter ASLA
meetings dues and other affiliations making them ineligible to get credit for courses
offered at national and state meetings
For Profit online distance learning at $30/hr average hourly cost many RLA's simply can no longer shell out the
eg Redvector--Rainbird Service Corp the $480-$500 it takes to go this route. Rainbird online typically charges $600
etc for a 6 hr credit (not approved by FDBPR anyway) even if you had the money
Free online courses (non product) none of these courses are approved by the FBLA ,making them a waste of time
GreenCE.com for Fla. con ed participants
Manufacturers free online and they may or may not come to your area or you have to travel 5-600 miles for a
classroom type product updates free 1 hr course that may save you all of $30--many only offer the courses
Monier Tile--Hoover Pump--Fla Pool & once a year and never at a time you can relate too--many courses have
Spa Assoc, etc expired
Attendance at state licensing boards you might get a couple of hours here( eg save $60) and spend $125 on gas--
meetings lodging and meals to achieve this goal-big deal

Many landscape architects we talk to are starting to capitulate to this frustrating maze by taking the cheapest online
for profit packages available just to get it over with and move on with their lives. Never mind the material, you may
not be interested in it, but it's the cheapest going and fast, never mind you had to borrow money to pay for it.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE COST AND EFFECTIVENESS OF CON ED? IT'S DEFINITELY TIME TO
THINK OUT OF THE BOX ON THIS ONE DUE TO THE INGRAINED ATTITUDES AND PERSONAL INTERESTS THAT
HAVE DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS

Often, a great way to find creative solutions to problems like this one is to literally get outside of your box and define how
other players view the same subject . I think a great analogy by way of a graphic is Fig. 1 that schematically shows the
participants in the CE game and what their view of the same subject might be. I then compared this process to Pablo
Picassos' composite sketch of Messr Vollard whom he painted from numerous positions in one sitting. The new style was
dubbed cubism and it was all the rage in early 20th century Paris.

In other words continuing education means different things to the different participants involved, e.g.
------the designers' or consumers' view is to improve technique by learning more about a subject regardless of its origin
------a for profit course provider may well be more interested in what his margin will be for the same course
------a free product information broker service will be focused getting more products to rep to consumers
------a manufacturer's rep's course will be focused on motivating you to include the product in your next design

The point is that all of the participants have "skin in the game " so to speak and would like to see the process tilted in favor of
their interests. What else is new?

HERE ARE SOME OF OUR VIEWS ON HOW TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSING
AND EDUCATION. WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOURS.
• Increase the cycle length for license renewal e.g. make it a three year cycle in Florida not the current two years
with a modest increase in the renewal fee, say from the present $310 to $350.
• Greatly simplify the access process for ALL CE products regardless of origin. Create one or more online DLE
(Distance Learning Exchanges) site/s for the thousands of free product info courses, the hundreds of for profit
courses, all of the free technical courses e.g. GEGreen.com. These sites could make a good profit by charging both
the consumers, manufacturers and sponsor organizations a modest brokerage fee for listing and managing their
courses. Keep these NXCE sites operating on a 24/7 basis for maximum efficiency.
• Find ways to greatly increase the number of APPROVED courses available to all consumers. Increase the
dialogue with state licensing boards and encourage them to significantly increase the number of approved courses
on their sites
• Enable these new hybrid NXCE online centers to process credit hours directly to the licensing boards thus
greatly simplifying the CE process for designers taking the courses for credit on a 24/7/365 day basis.
FCEFLA
FRIENDS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION
FOR REGISTERED FLORIDA LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attachment A4--New opportunities for internet course creation for the landscape industry

The Electronic Classroom is the future of continuing education

A quantum leap forward in the last ten years in electronic mass communication coupled with animation and video
technology have truly put highly effective distance learning within the grasp of everyone in the United States. High tech
interactive classrooms on the internet now make it very practical to both communicate continuing education and instantly
evaluate its effectiveness to millions of people on a continuous basis (24/7). There is little doubt in anyone's mind today that
IDL (Internet Distance Learning) will eclipse all other forms of mass and personal level education (classroom--seminar---one
on one tutoring, etc) in the next 5 years or so. This is not to say that traditional methods of learning will disappear, but they
will increasingly be overtaken by IDL.

With this reality in mind many are convinced that IDL should be the dominant format for continuing education for RLA's in
the US and that one site or a NXCE (National Exchange for Continuing Education) should be created ASAP for not only
landscape architects but for all professions and trades that benefit from continuing education. These NXCE sites would
present material, test for it and forward the results for credit to appropriate sources largely on an automated basis. A great
early model of this concept has been highly successful in the last few years and can be seen at AEC Daily Corp on the net at

http://www.aecdaily.com/aecindex.html

The next level up from AEC for con ed of RLA's would be to incorporate it into a much larger site that has ALL of the major
categories for a RLA to get the benefit of the entire array of courses available for maximum success in continuing education.
The home page of a model site is shown below. A RLA seeking to take a course or courses for one or more sessions would
follow a procedure something like this

1-access the home page menu and gain entry to the site with user name/password issued from a state licensing board
2-select the state of choice from the 50 available
3-select one of the following categories for approved course availability
• FPDL(For Profit Distance Learner) Red Vector--CEA--Design with Joy, Distance Learn Pro, etc
• IP (Institutional Provider) Univ of Fla, Univ of Ga, Fla Concrete Assoc, Fla Urban Forestry
• MIX (Manufacturers Information Exchange) AEC Daily, Green Ce.com, USGBC
• IMPI (Individual Manufacturers Product Information ) Autodesk, Rainbird, Monrovia Nurseries, Monier Products

4-Select from the thousands of available, approved courses for your state
5-Take the course, computer will grade it and if a pass, it is sent to your account as passed credit hours. If a fail, then course
will have to be retaken until pass level results are achieved.
6-Credit hours are sent by a secure server to the RLA's relevant licensing account

The site will provide reference information re downloadable ebooks from their bookstore or their tech data files etc for test
preparation if the consumer so desires. These sites will have several profit centers for operational income, namely:
• admin fees per course for giving, grading and processing test results charged to the provider
• sales of test prep data and online hourly tutoring--say for how to design for the new modular ug cistern systems, etc
• potentially very lucrative income from creating teachable internet courses for manufactures, service companies, etc.
for example, I own a wireless garden sounds company (crickets,frogs,birds,etc) and I know nothing of IDL tech so
I get the Xchange site to create a teachable package for me. There are thousands of possibilities here.
Fig 1--Players in the Continuing Education Process for the landscape industry all view the same subject quite
differently. A great analogy would be Picasso's view of Ambrose Vollard from numerous positions around the
subject in 1910.

landscape
MIX's industry
Manufacturers
Information
Xchange sites
AEC Daily

FPDL-For
Profit
Distance RLA's
Learning state by state
red vector
pdh online
NXCE -
national xchange ce
sites--1000's of approved
courses regardless of
origin--public sector,
private sector, institution,
whatever you can find it
IP's here and take an IMPI
Institutional approved course Individual
Providers Manufacturers
asla- Product
universities Information
FNGA

FBLA
Fla Board of
Landscape
Architecture

State account
managers

analytical portrait of
cubism ambrose
pablo vollard
picasso 1910
 PROVIDERS
EXCHANGE
IMPI's
Individual
Manufacturers
Product Information
Autodesk--Monier CONSUMERS

FPDL's
For Profit
Distance Learners
Redvector--ACE
RLA's

IP's
Institutional
Providers
Univ Fla FLDOT

MIX's Proposed National Exhange Con Ed site

Manufacturers (NXCE)
Information A super con ed exchange model could
Xchange sites work for any trade or profession. All
AEC Daily
state licensing boards could be found
here for a given speciality along with an
extensive number of approved
international sites . The exchange would
be open 24/7--365 days a year and
would automatically credit a passing
Passing scores typically 80% of higher would be
automatically credited to the users account at the
score for an exam to the relevant state
relevant state licensing board board for automated crediting to the
proper account.

These exchanges would charge a small

admin fee for each course to the
thousands of providers who sponsor
approved.courses, offer training aids and
tutors and provide a service to prepare a
providers course for internet ready
status.
 SKYPE TYPE 2 WAY CAMERA

WELCOME TO THE PHONIEX NATIONAL XCHANGE

FOR REGISTERED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS IN THE
UNITED STATES AND APPROVED INTERNATIONAL
LOCATIONS
CHOOSE FROM THE FOLLOWING MENU OPTIONS

COUNTRY ▼ MANAGE YOUR

ACCOUNT
▼PROVIDER
STATE ▼RLA
PROVINCE
TERRITORY
▼ MONITOR
RLA'S HOME PAGE
STORE TYPICAL
EBOOKS NCEX
USER ID TECH VIDEOS SITE
PASSWORD TECH DATA
▼ UTUBE
STUDY GUIDES
SCAN COURSES
BY CATEGORY
PICK ONE TAKE PROVIDERS
EXAM--IF PASS LET US
OBTAINED PREPARE YOUR
YOUR CE COURSE
ACCOUNT IS ▼XPRSS
AUTOMATICALY SERVICE
CREDITED
▼FPDL
▼IP
▼MIX
▼IMPI

KEYBOARD
&MOUSE

note:
this super exchange model can be used for any con ed training--
nursing-engineering-architecture--plumbing--electricians--etc
pass=80%--software automatically credits your account to a state
licensing board
FCEFLA
FRIENDS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR REGISTERED FLORIDA LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
ATTACHMENT A5

SUMMARY OF FDBPR--FBOLA APPROVED COURSES AT :19JULY 2010

KEY:
COURSE TYPE
FPDL--for profit distance learner
IGP--institutional-govt provider (universities--professional organiazations--govt depts)
MIX-manufacturer information xchange (1000's of product techdata--AEC Daily--GreenCE.com--USGBC-Invisible Structures.com)
IMPS--individual manufacturer/producer/service (autodesk--monier tile--rainbird--monrovia nursy)
COMMENT TYPE
1-national & state chap membership fee required--2--limited yearly access at nat conventions or sporadic traveling lectures
3-expensive courses ($30-100) per ce hour--$500-$1600 for 16 hr ce package 4-only avail at source--could be 100's miles away--
maybe an office visit if convenient
------------------
NC=no of courses per provider--PT=% of total approved courses offered--OL=24/7 ONLINE SERVICE
NA=on asla approved national level provider list--note only 15% of fbla approved courses are on the national list!!
=================================================================================
TYPE OL PROVIDER LOCATION NC PT NA COMMENTS
FPDL CEA Con Ed Acad Fort Meyers & Orlando Fl 5 4
FPDL x Design With Joy Jacksonville Fl 3 2
FPDL x Distance Learn Pro Palm Harbor Fl (Tampa) 43 10% x 3
FPDL x PSMJ Resources Newton Ma 9 1
FPDL x Red Vector Tampa Fl 68 16% x 3
IGP x ASLA Washington DC-Tallahassee Fl 139 34% x 1
IGP FLA DCA (Commty Affairs) Tallahassee Fl 6 2-4
IGP FDOT (fla dep transportation) Tallahassee Fl 3 2-4
IGP Fla Concrete Assoc Orlando 8 2--4
IGP Fla Earth Foundation West Palm Bch Fla 2 2-4
IGP Fla Irrigation Society FIS Tampa Fl 4 1-2-4
IGP Fla Nursy Growrs Assc FNGA Orlando, Fl 10 1-2-4
IGP Fla Pool Spa Assoc Sarasota Fl. 15 2-4
IGP Fla Urban Forestry Orlando Fl 1 2-4
IGP Greenway Trails Tallahasse Fl 2 2-4
IGP Palm Bch Plan Congress West Palm Bch Fl 2 2-4
IGP Univ Ga-Schl Env Desgn Athens Ga 7 2-4
IGP Univ Fla Co Op Ex Homestead Fl (Miami) 2 2-4
IGP USGBC Fla Tallahassee Fl 1 2-4
IGP Fla Educ-Research Assoc Winter Park Fl 1 2-4
IGP x Fla Chap ISA (arboriculture) Sarasota Fl 20 5% 1
IMPS All Native Plans San Antonio Fl (Tampa) 5 2-4
IMPS SESCO Lighting Winter Park Fl 6 x 2-4
IMPS Brick America Deland Fla 4 2-4
IMPS Mike Starks (Stucco) Winter Springs Fl 1 2-4
IMPS Hoover Pump Pompano Bch Fl 3 2-4
IMPS Paver Systems West Palm Bch Fl 4 2-4
IMPS Pine Hall Brick Winstom Salem NC 1 x 2-4
IMPS Play Core Chattanooga Tn 4 x 2-4
IMPS Pro Line Pubs San Antonio Tx 5 2-4
IMPS x Rain Bird Serv Corp Tucson AZ 5 2-4-very expensive
IMPS Skinner Nursy Jacksonville Fl 1 2-4
IMPS Trifecta Constrn Fort Meyers Fl 5 2-4
IMPS Wasau Tile Wausau Wis 1 2-4
IMPS Emerald Isle Turf Vero Bch Fl 1 2-4
total current providers: 38 total courses:420 2-4
NOTE:
1--dramatic absence of free high quality online product tech courses at aec daily, ron blank assoc, green ce.com etc
2- only 6 or 18% of providers offer online 24/7 processing
3-80% of providers only present courses yearly or maybe at your office or only at an awkward time and distance
4- a woeful overall lack of online 24/7 automated presentation grading and processing to state boards for credit
FCEFLA

ATTACH A6--HELPFUL LINKS--CONTACTS

last updated 29 july 2010
fdbpr ( florida dept of business & professional regulation)------fbola( florida board of landscape architecture)

name title contact info--email--links--ph--fax

charlie crist governor state of charlie.crist@myflorida.com fax 850-487-0801 hotline 850-488-4441
fla http://www.flgov.com/contact_form
charlie liem interim sec dbpr charlie.liem@dbpr.state.fl.us ph 850-413-0755 fax 850 -921-4094
http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/os/os-info.html
maureen olsen deputy secretary maureen.olson@dbpr.state.fl.us
dbpr http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/os/os-info.html
for professional ph 850-413-0755 fax 850 -921-4094
regulation
juanita chastin exec director fbola call.center@dbpr.state.fl.us 850- 487 -1395
fbola fbola link at dbpr http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/pro/larch/index.html

fbola fbola link to current http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/servop/testing/documents/landscp_ceprov.pdf

approved courses
fbola bureau of http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/servop/testing/CE.html
education &
testing--provider
requirements-
contacts
ron leighton dir education ser rleighton@asla.com ph 1-202-216-2338
asla
laces asla continuing http://laces.asla.org/
education
aia continuing http://www.ronblank.com/ce_course_home.htm
education
sue fern manager flasla suefern@flasla.org ph 727-938-6752
ken bates pres elect flasla presidentelect@fsasla.org
http://www.flasla.org/leadership.htm
patrick hodges licensure flasla memberatlargeAL@flasla.org
http://www.flasla.org/leadership.htm
mike starks titan succo approved provider to fbola mstarks@titanamerica.com ph 407-709-9001
kevin cavaioli hoover pumps approved provider to fbola kevin@hooverpumping.com ph 954-971-7350
joe samnik distance learn pro approved provider to fbola joesamnik@experttreeconsultants.com ph 727-781-1212
alan weiss sesco lighting approved provider to fbola aweiss@sescolighting.com ph 407-629-6100
jennifer phelps ron blank assoc pending provider to fbola jennifer@ronblank.com ph 1-210-872-4193
joann davidson AEC Daily pending provider to fbola jdavidson@aecdaily.com ph 877-566-1199
http://www.aecdaily.com/en/236763?list=4
dustin glist invisible structures pending provider to fbola dustin@invisiblestructures.com ph 1-800-233-1510