The South African Council for the Landscape Architectural Profession (SACLAP)

Education Committee

Purpose of the committee

Set the criteria and procedures according to which accreditation visits are to be undertaken

To co-ordinate and undertake accreditation visits to all the tertiary education Institutions offering qualifications i.e. programmes that feed into either the landscape architectural or landscape management professions.

Responsibilities of the committee

To ensure that Institutions offering education in landscape architecture related courses are accredited.

To ensure that a rigorous accreditation process is conducted in a fair and transparent manner.

To set up accreditation panels for the various institutions.

FEEDER QUALIFICATIONS TO SACLAP CATEGORIES OF REGISTRATION

As at August 2017

Landscape Architectural Professions

Qualification: current programmes
Qualifications: proposed future programmes

Qualification	NQF level	SACLAP Category of Registration PRIOR to 3 November 2016	SACLAP Category of Registration POST 3 November 2016	Proposed candidacy period	Status
University of Pretoria
BSc (LArch)	7	Professional Landscape Technologist	Professional Landscape Architectural Technologist	24 months min	Accredited Next review 2020/2021
BL (Hons)	8	Professional Landscape Technologist	Professional Senior Landscape Architectural Technologist	24 months min	Accredited Next review 2020/2021
ML Prof	9	Professional Landscape Architect	Professional Landscape Architect	24 months min	Accredited Next review 2020/2021

BL		Professional Landscape Architect		Pending RPL outcome if applicable.	This programme closed out in the early 2000.
University of Cape Town
Master of Landscape Architecture (2 yrs)	9	Professional Landscape Architect	Professional Landscape Architect	24 months min	Accredited Next review 2020/2021
Master in Landscape Architecture conversion course					Cannot be accredited as it is a bridging course

Honours in Landscape Architecture (1yr)	8		Professional Senior Landscape Architectural Technologist	24 months min	Provisional Accreditation
Masters of Landscape Architecture (1 yr)	9		Professional Landscape Architect	24 months min	Provisional Accreditation
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
National Dip Landscape Technology	6	Professional Landscape Technician	Professional Landscape Architectural Technician	24 months min	Accredited in Mar 2016 Next review - 2020
B Tech: Landscape Technology	7	Professional Landscape Technologist	Professional Landscape Architectural Technologist	24 months min	Accredited in Mar 2016 Next review - 2020
Diploma in Landscape Architecture	6		Professional Landscape Architectural Technician	24 months min	Provisionally Accredited starts 2017, first outcome end of 2019
Advanced Diploma in Landscape Architecture	7		Professional Landscape Architectural Technologist		Under construction – implementation aim 2020

NOTES:

In the process of phasing programmes in and out, the registration criteria and deliverables may be amended.

The 24 months of candidacy begins on the date that the individual was added onto the SACLAP register as a candidate.

Candidacy is a prerequisite to professional registration in most cases; the duration thereof will be dependent on the accreditation outcome of the new programme once implemented. The RPL process may lead to professional status as an outcome.

In terms of the old BL qualification the following is to be noted:

The time lapse since the closure of the programme is now significant and individuals who graduated from the programme can no longer simply be registered as candidate landscape architects, as the content of the programme could be deemed irrelevant with regards to current educational/ competency requirements and practice.

Those currently registered (with this qualification in hand) kept abreast though CPD activities and engagement in practice.

Individuals with such qualifications are being assessed through the RPL process. The applicant would be able to apply to be registered as a landscape architect, but the assessment may result in a different outcome regarding the level of registration. It may also include prerequisites such as candidacy and/ or further assessment.

Landscape Management Professions

(Construction or maintenance will be added in brackets pending outcome of competence evaluation)

Qualifications current programmes
Qualifications proposed future programmes

Qualification	NQF level	SACLAP Category of Registration PRIOR to 3 November 2016	SACLAP Category of Registration POST 3 November 2016	Proposed candidacy period	Status
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
National Diploma in Horticulture	6		Professional Landscape Technician	24 months min	Closes out end of 2015
Diploma in Horticulture	6		Professional Landscape Technician	24 months min	starts 2016, only accredited in 2019

B Tech in Horticulture	7		Professional Landscape Technologist	24 months min	closes out in 2017
Adv Dip in Horticulture	7		Professional Landscape Technologist	24 months min	starts in 2018, only accredited in 2019

National Dip Landscape Technology	6	Professional Landscape Technician	Professional Landscape Architectural Technician	24 months min	Last intake 2015. Accredited in Mar 2016
Diploma in Landscape Architecture	6		Professional Landscape Technician	24 months minimum	Provisionally Accredited

B Tech: Landscape Technology	7	Professional Landscape Technologist	Professional Landscape Architectural Technologist	24 months min	Last Intake Accredited in Mar 2016
Adv Dip in Landscape Construction Management	7		Professional Landscape Technologist	24 months min	Provisionally Accredited starts in 2020, only accredited in 2021

Durban University of Technology
National Diploma in Horticulture	6		Professional Landscape Technician	RPL	Closes out end of 2017
Diploma in Sustainable Landscaping and Horticulture	6		Professional Landscape Technician	24 months min	Starts 2018

B Tech in Horticulture	7		Professional Landscape Technologist	RPL	Not closing out in foreseeable future
Advanced Diplomas in Sustainable Landscaping and Horticulture	7

Tshwane University of Technology
National Diploma in Landscape Technology	6		Professional Landscape Technician	24 months min	close out end of 2017
Diploma in Landscape	6		Professional Landscape Technician	24 months min	Starts 2018

B Tech in Landscape Technology	7		Landscape Technologist	24 months minimum	Closes out end of 2020
Advanced Diploma in Landscape	7		Landscape Technologist	24 months minimum	Start 2021

Post Graduate Diploma in Landscape	8		Senior Landscape Technologist	24 months minimum To be confirmed	Starts 2022

National Diploma in Horticulture	6		Professional Landscape Technician	24 months min	close out end of 2015
Diploma in Horticulture	6		Professional Landscape Technician	24 months min	confirm title

UNISA
National Diploma in Horticulture	6		Professional Landscape Technician	24 months min	Closes out end of 2015
Diploma in Ornamental Horticulture	6		Professional Landscape Technician	24 months min	Started 2013

B Tech in Horticulture	7		Professional Landscape Technologist	24 months min	closes out in 2018
Adv Dip in Ornamental and Landscape Horticulture	7		Professional Landscape Technologist	24 months min	starts in 2018, only accredited in 2019
Post grad Dip in Ornamental and Landscape Horticulture	8		Professional Landscape Technologist	24 months min	starts in 2019, only accredited in 2020

NOTES:

In the process of phasing programmes in and out, the registration criteria and deliverables may be amended.

It is proposed that for the landscape management profession, a candidacy period of 5 years is recommended for individuals with a NQF 7 qualification to upgrade to a higher category of professional registration in the absence of tertiary education programmes for such. This may be amended upon the inception of feeder programmes at higher NQF levels as and when the need arises.

Candidacy is a prerequisite to professional registration, the duration thereof will be dependent on the accreditation outcome of the new programme once implemented.

In terms of lateral transitions from Landscape Architect professions to Landscape Management professions

As the competency requirements for LA and LM differ considerably (More than 50%), lateral transition from LA to LM and vice versa is not a given, but also not ruled out.

Those who hold a relevant qualification and have the required competencies for a specific registration category can apply for recognition through RPL.

In the case of accreditation, Institutions may apply to have academic programmes accredited to feed to dual registration categories.

This is the case with CPUT’s new diploma in Landscape Architecture which feeds into both envisaged NQF7 programmes: Adv Diploma in Landscape Architecture and Landscape Management. Those who wish to exit from studies at NQF 6, could register as candidate landscape architectural or management technician.

Even though dual accreditation of a programme may be possible at lower NQF levels, the required specialization (as NQF levels rise) renders the possibility low.

SACLAP alerts Institutions where the possibility may exist and assists in recommending potential registration categories that specific programmes may feed towards. The onus remains with the institution to pursue the recommendations of SACLAP