AICP Certification
Earn the AICP Credential Demonstrate Your Expertise
The American Institute of Certified Planners is APA's professional institute and provides the only nationwide, independent verification of planners' qualifications. Certified planners pledge to uphold high standards of practice, ethics, and professional conduct, and to keep their skills sharp and up to date by continuously pursuing advanced professional education.
To become a certified planner, entitled to use the AICP designation, American Planning Association (APA) members must meet certain education and experience requirements and pass a written examination. The AICP Certification Exam is given twice each year, in May and November. The most current information regarding certification can be found on the One Path to AICP webpage.
Have questions regarding the AICP exam? See APA’s FAQs. For additional questions, please contact the Chapter’s Professional Development Officer, Jessica Lawlis at jessical@dpsdesign.org, or email aicpexam@planning.org.
AICP Exam Preparation
National APA
APA offers a wealth of exam prep resources. Review the content outline, watch some training videos, explore other chapters’ exam prep materials, and much more.
APA New Mexico Exam Prep
APA New Mexico is pleased to offer an AICP exam training course to APA-NM members free of charge. Weekly courses are taught by local experts and provide the guidance and materials needed to better prepare for the exam. Non-members can participate in the course at a charge of $50.
Additional APA Chapter Resources
- California APA Resources
- Florida APA Resources
- Georgia APA Resources
- Texas APA Resources
- Pennsylvania APA Resources
Other materials not specifically endorsed by the Chapter or APA:
- Practice Exams - Planningprep.com
- Certified Planner Quizzes - Planning Peeps
- AICP Exam Prep Class – Planetizen.com
AICP Exam Scholarship
Each exam cycle, APA offers scholarships to APA members who are interested in taking the AICP exam or who are interested in submitting their experience assessment.
Under this program, APA scholarship recipients pay reduced fees to AICP as follows:
- $85 for the exam registration fee. Regular exam registration fee is $255.
- $85 for the experience assessment after passing the exam. Regular experience assessment fee is $255.
All awarded scholarships must be used for the cycle granted. Recipients must re-apply for the scholarship if they do not pass their exam or if their assessment does not meet the requirements. Please visit the AICP Certification Diversity Scholarship webpage for more information.
Certification Maintenance
The New Mexico Chapter provides opportunities and resources for chapter members to obtain AICP certification and maintain their certification by staying involved in the planning profession and gaining Certification Maintenance (CM) credits.
Upcoming local event will be posted below.
Additional APA Chapter Resources
