American Institute of Certified Planners

AICP is the American Planning Association's professional institute, providing recognized leadership nationwide in the certification of professional planners, ethics, professional development, planning education, and the standards of planning practice.

Certified planners use their skills to find solutions to community problems in ways that will carry the community toward its desired long-term goals.

Certification
To become a certified planner entitled to use the AICP designation, APA members must meet certain education and experience requirements and pass a written examination. The exam is given twice a year, in May and November.

Certification Maintenance
Certification Maintenance is an affirmation of AICP members' commitment to advancing the quality and integrity of the planning profession — and a recognition of the importance of continuing education.

Ethics
Ethical planning isn't always easy. AICP offers a code to help planners negotiate the tough ethical and moral dilemmas they can face.

Planners Training Service Workshops
Planners Training Service workshops offer advanced training for practicing planners.

Community Assistance Program
The American Institute of Certified Planners created the Community Assistance Program (CAP) to address social equity issues through the provision of pro bono planning services to communities in need.

Professional and Practicing Planners Education
AICP Training provides high quality, intensive instruction on management, planning techniques, and contemporary policy issues.

AICP Symposiums
AICP sponsors regular symposiums on a variety of topics vital to practicing planners.

National Planning Awards
Among the National Planning Awards give each year by APA are the AICP National Planning Leadership Award for a Professional Planner,  the AICP President's Award for Exceptional Practice, the AICP National Planning Pioneer Award, and the AICP Student Project and Outstanding Students Awards.

AICP Commission
Read biographies of the certified planners elected to represent fellow AICP members on the AICP Commission.

APA Interact for Certified Planners
This special edition of APA's award-winning e-newsletter is an exclusive benefit for AICP members. Each month, it delivers AICP news, profiles of members and activities, help in meeting Certification Maintenance requirements, and other valuable professional resources.

Practicing Planner
AICP's online quarterly magazine provides a forum to discuss, analyze, critique, review, and research case studies and issues that affect professional planning practice. We encourage you to submit articles.

Planning Salary Survey
Based on more than 10,000 responses, the APA/AICP Planners Salary Survey is the most comprehensive look at compensation and benefits in the profession. Members may access the entire survey; everyone may read the summary.

Don't Let Your AICP Membership Lapse
If you let your AICP membership lapse and do not pay your full dues for more than four years you will lose your AICP credential and will need to retake the exam in order to be reinstated. AICP is currently revising its reinstatement policy to incorporate the new Certification Maintenance requirements.
Click here to update your member records
Click here to review the AICP reinstatement policy

The Fellows of AICP
Election to Fellow in AICP recognizes the achievements of individuals as model planners who have made significant contributions to planning and society.

Outstanding Students
The AICP Outstanding Student Awards were created to recognize outstanding attainment in the study of planning by students graduating from an accredited program.