The Washington state Department of Licensing has increased fees related to several professional licensing programs, including for landscape architects and providers of crematory services.

The state also will increase fees for real estate appraisers' licenses next month, and has approval from the Legislature to raise fees for cosmetologists, says Brad Benfield, a department spokesman.

The application fee for landscape architects to be licensed jumped to $250, from $50, and other fees related to that occupation doubled, the state says.

Meanwhile, the application for a crematory license or endorsement went to $210, from $140, while the cemetery prearrangement sales license application fee was boosted to $250, from $140.

In the real estate appraiser program, 11 fees will be increased next month, some by more than $100 or more. The application for an examination fee, for example, will jump to $370, from $246, while the examination fee itself will increase to $120, from $106. The state says that because fewer people are entering the profession, due to market conditions, license fees aren't covering the department's costs. Also, the program has seen an increase in consumer complaints, which will increase the need for staff training, travel, investigation, and legal support, it says.

Benfield says if changes to fees and charges are adopted for the cosmetology program, they would take effect in January 2011. The proposed fee changes range between an increase of only $15 for a cosmetologist instructor license renewal, to an increase of $125 for a cosmetology school application or school renewal.