TABLE OF CONTENTS - Amazon Web Services

1 1 2 Last Updated November 16, 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS GENERAL INFORMATION .. 4 American Planning Association .. 4 AICP Certified Planners .. 4 Prometric .. 4 INTRODUCTION TO THE AICP CERTIFCATION EXAMINATION .. 5 AICP CERTIFICATION eligibility requirements .. 6 APPLICATION PROCESS .. 7 Application Process Overview .. 7 Early-Bird Application Window .. 8 Application Lifespan (Returning Applicants) .. 9 Incomplete 9 Denied Applications .. 9 Important Information for Previously Denied Applicants .. 10 Appeals .. 10 Candidates Outside of the United States and Canada .. 11 Special Testing Arrangements .. 11 Additional Application Information .. 11 Application Status Key .. 12 Lapsed AICP Members .. 12 Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) .. 12 DEMONSTRATING PROFESSIONAL PLANNING EXPERIENCE ON THE 13 General Instructions .. 13 Professional Planning Experience Criteria .. 13 Criterion 1.. 13 Criterion 2.

2 15 Criterion 3 .. 16 Does My Experience Qualify? ..17 Non-Traditional Professional Planning Experience ..17 Part Time Experience ..17 Internship Experience ..17 Work at a pre-professional level .. 18 Elected and appointed officials .. 18 Work in Related Fields (Not Generally Considered Professional Planning Experience) .. 18 VERIFICATIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION .. 19 Employment Verification Letters .. 19 Education Verifications .. 20 APPLICATION 21 SCHEDULING TEST APPOINTMENTS .. 23 Test Center Locations .. 23 Where to Take the Examination .. 23 Scheduling Your Examination Appointment .. 23 Additional Scheduling Information .. 23 Transfers and Appointment Changes .. 24 Changes to Your Test Appointment (within the same exam window) .. 24 Transfers to the Next Exam Window .. 24 3 No Show Policy .. 25 If You Never Schedule an Appointment .. 25 Refunds .. 25 DAY OF EXAM .. 25 Identification requirements .

3 25 Acceptable Differences in ID .. 26 At the Test Center .. 26 Testing Procedures .. 27 Computer-based Examination Tutorial .. 27 Reporting Test Center Irregularities .. 27 Some Notes on Computer-based 27 Examination Logistics .. 27 Exit Survey .. 28 Candidate Misconduct .. 28 SCORING THE EXAMINATION .. 28 Score Validity Review .. 28 Score Reports .. 28 Diagnostic Scores .. 29 Equating .. 29 Scaling .. 29 Reliability .. 29 Standard Error of Measurement .. 29 If You Have a Complaint .. 30 If You Retake the Examination .. 30 AICP Membership & Dues .. 30 CRITERION RESPONSE .31 EXAM content RECOMMENDED 4 GENERAL INFORMATION American Planning Association The American Planning Association (APA) brings together thousands of people practicing planners, citizens, elected officials dedicated to making great communities happen. APA is a nonprofit public interest and education organization committed to urban, suburban, regional, and rural planning.

4 APA s professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), provides leadership in professional development, ethics, and the standards of planning practice. American Planning Association American Institute of Certified Planners 205 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1200 Chicago, IL 60601 p. 312-431-9100 f. 312-786-6700 Prometric APA works with Prometric to administer the AICP Certification Examination. Prometric is the recognized global leader in testing and assessment Services , providing computer-based, Internet, and paper-and-pencil testing solutions. It offers a fully integrated testing system that includes test development, test delivery, and data management capabilities. On behalf of more than 600 current clients in the academic, professional, government, corporate, and information technology markets, Prometric develops and delivers assessments through a global network of testing centers in 131 countries, as well as direct to candidates via the web.

5 Prometric AICP Program 2000 Lenox Pike Corporate Center Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 800-853-6769 AICP Certified Planners AICP Certified planners are members of APA s professional institute, AICP. They have demonstrated a commitment to high standards of professional practice and a mastery of theories and tools of planning. To become certified, an APA member must meet requirements for education and experience, pass the AICP Certification Examination, and pledge to uphold ethical standards and engage in ongoing professional development. The AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct helps certified planners uphold those ethical standards. AICP s Certification Maintenance program helps them engage in ongoing professional development. Under the Certification Maintenance program, certified planners engage in 32 hours of professional development every two years. Details about the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct are at Details about the Certification Maintenance program are at 5 INTRODUCTION TO THE AICP CERTIFCATION EXAMINATION The AICP Certification Examination tests the knowledge and skills of candidates eligible for membership in AICP.

6 The examination has been developed by committees of experts in the field of planning with the help of Prometric test specialists. An examination committee oversees the program to ensure its continuing professional relevance. The examination is administered in a computer-based format at more than 300 Prometric test centers in the United States, Canada and numerous locations internationally. The examination is given during two test windows in May and November. The test deals with basic knowledge areas and the skills of planners. The general content areas of the examination are outlined later in this guide. The number of questions from each area of knowledge is distributed randomly throughout the examination. The examination is made up of 170 multiple choice questions, of which 150 are scored and 20 are sample questions being considered for future examinations and therefore not scored. The exam is timed and candidates are given 3 hours to complete the examination.

7 To become eligible to sit for the exam, members must submit an application that demonstrates that they have obtained the required combination of education and professional experience. The application consists of three short answer narrative essays through which candidates describe how their work experience fulfills APA's definition of professional planning experience. Applications are reviewed by both APA staff reviewers and a peer reviewer team made up of certified planners who have volunteered their time to help advance the planning profession by fostering the next generation of certified planners. 6 AICP CERTIFICATION eligibility requirements Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements before applying to take the examination: 1. Be a current member of the American Planning Association (APA). 2. Be engaged in professional planning, either currently or in the past, as defined by AICP.

8 3. Have completed, at the time of application submission, one of the combinations of education and corresponding years of professional planning experience listed in the chart below: * The education may be obtained before, during, or after the experience. ** Accredited degrees have been determined by the Planning Accreditation Board to meet standards approved by the American Institute of Certified Planners and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning or recognized by the Canadian Institute of Planners. AICP gives educational credit to applicants holding these degrees if the degree was received (1) during the period the university has been accredited (or previously recognized), and (2) by the time that an application for member is filed. If you are unsure about the status of your planning degree, consult the Planning Accreditation Board's list or contact AICP. ** Non-accredited undergraduate planning degrees and degrees in related and other disciplines ( Geography, Architecture, History, Music, etc.)

9 At undergraduate and post-graduate levels. 7 APPLICATION PROCESS Application Process Overview 1. Bring your APA membership up-to-date All AICP applicants must be current members of the American Planning Association. Please make sure that your APA and Chapter dues are up-to-date before you start your application. If your chapter and national dues are not fully paid, you will not be permitted access to the online application. 2. Review the eligibility requirements for AICP membership All AICP applicants must meet APA s eligibility requirements for AICP membership before submitting an application for the AICP examination listed on page 6. 3. Submit the online application and pay fees Applications can only be submitted for the upcoming exam window. All applicants must complete and submit the online application along with verifications and pay the application fee by the application deadline posted at You are strongly encouraged to apply early.

10 Applications submitted on or near the deadline may take longer to process due to high volume. Section 1: Describe and verify educational history Enter university, graduation date, degree information and upload verification for each degree entered. Section 2: Describe and verify employment history Enter professional planning employment information and upload an employment verification letter for each position entered. Section 3: Respond to eligibility criteria Applicants for the AICP examination must write three essays demonstrating that their verified work experience meets APA's definition of professional planning experience. Please be sure to review the guidance and checklists provided in this Exam Guide to ensure that your essays meet criterion requirements as defined by APA. See the Demonstrating Professional Planning Experience on the Application section on page 13 and the Criterion Response Checklist on page 32 for full details.