The American Society of Landscape Architects was organized in 1899 as the first professional organization for landscape architects. Today, almost 18,000 landscape architects in public, private and academic practice nationwide are members of the ASLA. Illinois has one of the largest chapters of ASLA in the nation with more than 500 members. The profession of landscape architecture is a licensed profession in the State of Illinois. To achieve licensure and the privilege to use the title "Landscape Architect" most licensed landscape architects have completed a minimum of a four year professional degree program, which is accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board in landscape architecture. Most registered landscape architects have taken and passed the Landscape Architecture Review Examination (LARE), a national test administered by the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards.