Renewal of license.

(1) The department shall renew a license upon receipt of the renewal application and fee.

(2) The department shall adopt rules establishing a procedure for the biennial renewal of licenses.

(3) No license renewal shall be issued to a landscape architect by the department until the licensee submits proof, satisfactory to the department, that during the 2-year period prior to application for renewal, the licensee participated in such continuing education courses required by the board. The board shall approve only continuing education courses that relate to and increase the basic knowledge of landscape architecture. The board may make an exception from the requirements of continuing education in emergency or hardship cases.

(4) The board, by rule adopted pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54, shall establish criteria for the approval of continuing education courses and providers, and shall by rule establish criteria for accepting alternative nonclassroom continuing education on an hour-for-hour basis. A landscape architect shall receive hour-for-hour credit for attending continuing education courses approved by the Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System or another nationally recognized clearinghouse for continuing education that relate to and increase his or her basic knowledge of landscape architecture, as determined by the board, if the landscape architect submits proof satisfactory to the board that such course was approved by the Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System or another nationally recognized clearinghouse for continuing education, along with the syllabus or outline for such course and proof of course attendance.

(5) The board shall require, by rule adopted pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54, a specified number of hours in specialized or advanced courses, approved by the Florida Building Commission, on any portion of the Florida Building Code, adopted pursuant to part IV of chapter 553, relating to the licensee’s respective area of practice.