Continuing Education/PDUs

The Alberta Association of Landscape Architects (AALA) has established the Continuing Education Program (CEP) to maintain, advance, and broaden the knowledge, skills and life-long learning of Landscape Architects (LA) and Landscape Architect Technologist (LAT) members. With admission to membership in the Alberta Association of Landscape Architects, LA and LAT members have accepted a personal responsibility for the continued maintenance of their professional competence reflected by the following objectives:

  • To uphold public health, safety and welfare as it relates to the professional practice of Landscape Architecture in Alberta;
  • To further the practice of professional landscape architectural knowledge and technique relating to the environment;
  • To advance Landscape Architectural theory, knowledge, and technique;
  • To further and maintain proper standards of Professional Landscape Architectural Practice in Alberta.

It is important to understand that Landscape Architecture is a broad based profession requiring many skills. These skills may be enhanced through LA and LAT member initiatives. It is important that the AALA acknowledge the initiatives of its LA and LAT members. LA and LAT members will have discretion in deciding how best to meet their continuing education and professional development needs.

To encourage its members in their continuing education and to advance the AALA Continuing Education Program, the Association has instituted a voluntary program of Continuing Education. In the near future, the CEP will become mandatory for the Association LA and LAT members.

The Continuing Education Committee in conjunction with the AALA Registrar will manage the Continuing Education Program. With annual membership renewal, LA and LAT members will submit their Continuing Education Summary Form detailing CEP Personal Development Unit (PDU) credits to the AALA Registrar. As the CEP is initially a voluntary program, the Continuing Education Committee will review LA and LAT member submissions. The Committee will advise the AALA Executive Council on the program status and make recommendations regarding changes and improvements to the program. When the program becomes mandatory, the Committee will randomly review member submissions for compliance. Members will be responsible for maintaining their records.

LA and LAT members are responsible to achieve 20 Personal Development Units (PDUs) per membership year. Members, who exceed the allotted number of PDUs in a given year, may carry over a maximum of 10 PDUs to the next year.

Members, who for personal reasons will not be able to continue their work or AALA Membership commitment, will make application to the AALA to take a leave or sabbatical. In doing so, they will also be absolved from their Continuing Education commitment at a rate of 1.5 PDU per month of absence.

PDU Categories

The members will be able to achieve PDUs in four categories. The Categories are:

Category 1. Formal Academic Education Activities
Category 2. Professional and Self-Directed Activities
Category 3. AALA Education Providers
Category 4. Volunteer Activities

PDU Qualifying Credits are detailed on the:

AALA Schedule of PDU Qualifying Credits

The AALA LA or LAT member will report their credits on the:

Annual Continuing Education Summary Form

In future, the AALA will be attempting to have the AALA Website made available for LA and LAT members to update their information and search for approved CSLA and AALA education providers.

To enter your PDU credits, you must log into your member account (enter username and password at bottom left) once you have logged in, click on the link to go to your “profile” and scroll down to the bottom of the page. This is where you will find the online PDU reporting form.

If you have questions or comments regarding the AALA Continuing Education Program, please feel free to contact us.