How to Get Help Paying for the L.A.R.E.

If you’re working toward licensure, you already know the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (LARE) takes a lot of time and focus. It also costs real money, since you pay a fee for each of the four sections. For many candidates, especially early-career designers and recent graduates, those fees can be what decides when to schedule the next exam.

There’s good news. A new grant program and a few existing options can take some of the pressure off.

The New CLARB Exam Success Grants

ASLA announced on October 26, 2026 that the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) has given $500,000 to the ASLA Fund to launch the CLARB Exam Success Grants. The ASLA Fund will run the program for the next three years.

Here’s how it works:

• Who it’s for: L.A.R.E. candidates who show financial need and don’t have other help paying their exam fees.
• How recipients are chosen: A jury of professional landscape architects reviews applications blind.
• How you get paid: The grant is a reimbursement. You still pay the exam fee up front. The money comes back to you only after you pass the section and CLARB verifies your result.
• When to apply: The application window usually lines up with L.A.R.E. registration periods, so check the current instructions when you’re ready to register.

The reimbursement setup matters for planning. You’ll need the fee on hand when you register, and the grant only pays out for a section you pass. That gives you one more reason to walk in prepared.

For eligibility details, the application, and FAQs, visit the ASLA Fund’s CLARB Exam Success Grants page.

Other Ways to Get Help

The CLARB grant isn’t your only option. CLARB’s licensure support page lists other resources, including:

• The Anova L.A.R.E. Grant Competition, another source of funding for exam candidates.
• GI Bill benefits for eligible veterans, which can reimburse licensing exam costs.

Each program has its own requirements and deadlines, so read the details before you count on one.

It’s also worth asking around closer to home. Your state ASLA chapter may know about local help, and many employers will pay for exams or prep materials if you ask. If you’re a student, ask your department too.

Make Every Attempt Count

Funding helps, but the best way to keep exam costs down is to pass each section the first time. A retake means paying another fee, and with a reimbursement grant, only a passing result gets paid back.

That’s why we started LandCertPrep. Our L.A.R.E. study guides, starting with Construction Documentation & Administration and Grading, Drainage & Stormwater Management, are written by a licensed landscape architect with more than 20 years in practice. They’re built to help you study efficiently and walk into the testing center confident.

Join the LandCertPrep waitlist to hear first when they launch. You’ll also get our free L.A.R.E. Study Plan and Readiness Checklist right away.

You’ve got this. Plan ahead, look into every funding option you qualify for, and keep moving toward your license.

Grant details are from ASLA’s October 26, 2026 announcement. Check the official program pages for current eligibility and deadlines before you apply.