ASLA UTAH JUNE/JULY 2025 NEWSLETTER

UPCOMING EVENTS

**INCLUDES A LIVE WEB EVENT ON JULY 29TH 12:00pm (MDT)**

LEADERSHIP EXPRESS - DOPL LICENSE # -5301: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Lars Erickson, ASLA Utah President

Hello ASLA Utah!

I hope your summer is going great and that you’re able to get out and enjoy time outside. As I have talked about often, two years ago when I started with Excom, one of the first things that caught my attention was a discussion ASLA national was having on explaining what Landscape Architecture is. I still done jive with how the hired consultant used examples like “landscape architects are landscape like what architects are to buildings”. It never sat well with me, needing to use another discipline’s identity to explain ours. So, I continue to be intrigued by this dilemma.

My latest thoughts are on the use of four little numbers that come after the dash from our personalized Utah DOPL license numbers -5301. I’ve always thought I knew, like many today when wanting pure knowledge and insight, I asked ChatGPT. Here’s what got:

In Utah, professionals’ license numbers often include a four-digit suffix that indicates the specific type of license—for instance:

-2202 indicates a Professional Engineer (PE) license
-2203 indicates a Structural Engineer (SE) license

Likewise, for landscape architects, the suffix -5301 appears at the end of their license numbers. This suffix doesn’t refer to a geographic region or office location—it’s simply the designation code used by Utah’s Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) to represent a Landscape Architect license.

So if you see a license like “123456-5301”, you can interpret that as:

123456 – the individual’s unique license ID
-5301 – indicates Landscape Architect

This aligns with how Utah uses similar suffixes for other professions (like 0301 for Architects) to categorize license types.

See, even the Chatbot is throwing LA’s shade with comparisons. Or at minimum it has assimilated what it reads. I do believe the profession is tied to allied partners. It’s part of what makes us different and special. I’m just not sure it should ultimately define. To continue, -5301 is how the State of Utah quantifies our profession. You define the first set of numbers (unique ID) and -5301 indicates Landscape Architect. I love that tension, individual and profession. It’s a wonderful muse to consider what -5301 means to each of us and how we portray what we do.

What does it mean to you? Do you think we should define what we do with comparisons to architects and engineers? I would love to know what you think. Send me an email @ larserickson@gmail.com with the subject line RE: -5301. I hope to hear from you.

All the best, Lars Erickson, ASLA UT President

Who are you and where are you from? Hey Utah ASLA! My name is Kate van der Zalm and I am the current president of the ASLA Student Chapter here at Utah State University. We have participated in and put on a variety of events this past year and are so excited to be collaborating with the state chapter to highlight just a few of our incredible students/emerging professionals.

I moved to Utah four years ago from Vancouver, British Columbia. Moving to a new country was a big step for me and one that did not come without its challenges; however, I have learned SO much over these past few years and can attribute a lot of that to the education I have received at Utah State in our incredible Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning department.

Why are you interested in landscape architecture? I was originally interested in Landscape Architecture because of my dad. He completed his master’s at Utah State and moved back to Canada to start his own Landscape Architecture and Civil Engineering firm in Vancouver. Seeing his passion for design and creating spaces that bring people together was initially what inspired me to pursue this rigorous profession.

What is your favorite thing about LA studio? I started at Utah State as a four-year undergrad student studying Landscape Architecture, but have decided to continue my studies to complete my master’s in Environmental Planning. My favorite thing about our studios is the culture. I’m sure I speak for many when I say we have a very special studio culture within our department. While many of us spend more time on campus than we do at our own homes, the community in the studio begins to feel like family. We are constantly learning with and from each other which I think is so cool!

What LA project do you find inspiring? An LA project that I find inspiring is the Nature Discovery Park located in Hong Kong. It is inspirational to me in the fact that it is a living example of how to create habitats that support wildlife in urban areas. This project encompasses what I want to achieve as a future landscape architect by fostering a deep connection between both people and the land.

What is your favorite hobby? What is your favorite hobby? Currently my favorite new hobby is yoga! I also love to run (I am training for my second half marathon), hike, and snowboard. In the little free time I have outside of the studio I prioritize time with friends and family as well as my cat.

What do you find inspiring? The thing I find most inspiring is the conversations that I have with professors and designers who truly care about the work they do. I have spoken with individuals in and outside of the profession and I am energized when it is evident that someone genuinely cares about creating a positive impact on the built environment while finding ways to be ecologically sensitive and prioritizing inclusivity.

**AND if you decide to join the Utah Chapter is giving you even more incentive to join! — SEE BELOW!**

New members will be automatically entered into a drawing for a chance to win.

Second entry period: April 12, 2025 – October 12, 2025

Second Drawing: Held at the ASLA Awards Ceremony in October 2025

Additional Details:

You do not need to be present to win.
Winners will be selected at random by the ASLA Utah
To enter, visit ASLA Join Page or scan the QR code.

Special Thanks to ASLA Utah 2025 Sponsors & Corporate Partners for their Support!

Platinum Sponsors
BioGrass | Great Western Recreation | Rain Bird

Corporate Partners
Denton House | FenceTrac | G Brown Design