John Denson is the founder of LandCertPrep, an independent publisher of exam-focused study materials for Green Industry professionals. He is a licensed landscape architect in Arizona, previously licensed in Georgia and Florida, with over 20 years of experience in practice and licensure prep.
He wrote one of the earlier study guides for the California Supplemental Exam, Pass the California Supplemental Exam for Landscape Architects, and has spent years helping professionals prepare for licensure. LandCertPrep grew out of a simple belief: Green Industry professionals deserve exam prep that is current, practical, and written by people who do the work.
Credentials
- Current license: Landscape Architect, Arizona
- Previously licensed: Georgia; Florida
- Experience: 20+ years in landscape architecture
- Arizona license number: 83767
- Education:
- Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (BSLA), Cal Poly Pomona, 1997Master of Science in Administration, Central Michigan University, 2009Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning, Arizona State University, 2018
LandCertPrep is its own publisher and a FranciscanLandscape LLC company. Through a separate sister company, Verdant Green Media, John also writes about desert horticulture, including the upcoming Palms for The Southwest. He grows palms and native plants in San Tan Valley, Arizona, and serves as a Scoutmaster in Florence.
What John writes about
- LARE exam prep — study plans, section strategies, fees, registration logistics, and how to recover after a failed section
- Exam traps and wording — BEST / EXCEPT / FIRST items, figure-based scenario questions, and how CLARB-style stems actually work
- From the field — practice stories that connect site constraints, client conversations, and documentation habits to what shows up on the exam
- Licensure path — grants and payment help, study hours for working candidates, and what to do in the final week before test day
Articles by John
Read John’s latest articles on the LandCertPrep blog.
A few recent posts:
- LARE Exam Cost in 2026: Every Fee, From Registration to Retakes
- How to Pass LARE Section 4 (Grading, Drainage & Stormwater): A Study Plan That Works
- How to Get Help Paying for the L.A.R.E.
- What Order Should You Take the LARE Sections In?
- Failed a LARE Section? Here’s How to Come Back Stronger
- From the Field: “While You’re At It…” How to Handle Scope Creep
Contact
Questions about LandCertPrep materials, corrections, or speaking requests: john@landcertprep.com.
LandCertPrep is an independent publisher (a FranciscanLandscape LLC company) and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by CLARB, LATC, CSLB, ISA, the Irrigation Association, state pesticide regulators, or any licensing or certifying body. Always confirm current exam details with the official source.