Professional Practice Manual

A manual containing standards and guidelines for practice by certified planners and organizations employing certified planners.

By Les Solin, AICP

Excerpted from a manual compiled by the Professional Practice Committee, American Institute of Certified Planners. Copyright 1997 by the American Planning Association.

Introduction

The American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is committed to advancing planning practice by working with public and private entities that employ planners in order to promote the identification and implementation of principles and procedures for effectively organizing and managing planning resources.

A major objective is to work with planning service providers to improve the working environment and professional development opportunities for certified planners and planners seeking to become certified planners. There is no assurance that a well-managed planning service provider will deliver quality professional services. However, a planning service provider with ineffective management cannot be expected to sustain excellence in the delivery of planning services, if indeed it can even serve the public health, safety, and welfare at all.

On a continuing basis, the American Institute of Certified Planners will evaluate the professional practice environment, identify changing conditions, and address related issues. AICP will periodically recommend new or revised principles and procedures for effectively organizing and managing resources of public and private planning. Similarly, AICP shall recommend policies for maintaining and advancing the quality of professional practice.

Professional practice policies of the American Institute of Certified Planners are documented herein. Major AICP program initiatives are presented. The manual concludes with an annotated bibliography of selective books representative of the planning profession, beginning with historical perspectives of planning practice, application of management concepts and practices, and values and ethics of the profession.

Table of Contents

I. Introduction

II. Ethical Planning Principles

AICP/APA Ethical Principles in Planning

AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
AICP Advisory Rulings

III. Technical Standards of Professional Practice

Introduction and Objective
Technical Standards

1. Standard of Care

2. Maintenance of Adequate Records

3. Responsibility for Technical Competence

4. Possess, Maintain, and Upgrade Qualifications

5. Avoid Errors of Omission and Commission

6. Practice with Due Diligence

7. Substantiate Findings

8. Present Reliable Information and Disclose Substantive Deficiencies

9. Performance of Required Investigation

10. Explain Cause-and-Effect Relationship

11. Rational Consideration of Alternatives

12. Avoidance of Misleading Communication

13. Optional Certification of Findings

IV. Standards for Certified Planners Engaged as Experts

Introduction and Objective
Standards for Certified Planners Engaged as Experts

1. Professional and Dignified Conduct

2. Protect the Public Health, Safety, and Welfare

3. Avoid Conflicts of Interest

4. Collaboration and Full Disclosure of Information

5. Understand the "Standard of Care" Practiced by Other Certified Planners and Related Professionals

6. Interactions with News Media

7. Research and Disclosure of Omission

8. Advocacy

9. Confidential Information

VI. AICP Professional Practice Programs

1. AICP Certification

2. Ethics Awareness and Enforcement

3. Continuing Professional Development Program

4. Accreditation Program

5. Assistance to Planners and Entities Employing Planners

6. Planners Online

VI. Advancing Planning and Management Practices:

An Annotated Bibliography

1. Culture of Planning: General and Historical Perspectives of Professional Planning Practice

2. Applying Management Concepts and Practices in Planning

3. Values and Ethics

The Professional Practice Manual may be purchased from PlanningBooks.com.