One Path to AICP
AICP Certification brings value to your career, the organization you work for, and the communities you serve. Do you want to demonstrate your expertise, show your commitment to professional ethics, distinguish yourself in the job market, and keep your planning skills in tip-top shape? Good news! The new One Path to AICP streamlines the certification process.
View the Two Annual AICP Certification Windows
Take These Steps to AICP Certification

ELIGIBILITY PRE-CHECK
Visit Are You Eligible? to review the experience requirements for AICP Certification, download the AICP Certification Guide, and use the Eligibility Pre-Check resources designed to help you understand how your experience fits into AICP Certification.
STEP 1: REGISTER ($255)
When preparing to test, confirm you'll abide by the AICP Code of Ethics, agree to the Certification Agreement, and schedule your in-person or online remote appointment to test for the upcoming AICP Certification Exam with Prometric.
STEP 2: Test ($0)
See APA's tips for exam preparation and links to resources to help you succeed.
Passing the exam earns you the AICP Candidate designation to use until you successfully complete the three steps to achieve AICP certification. Exam results to do expire so you can take any amount of time to obtain your experience. The AICP Candidate designation will distinguish you and can be leveraged with your employer.
Learn more about the value of AICP to employers
STEP 3: Apply ($255)
After passing the AICP exam and earning the required amount of professional planning experience, submit your education and employment verifications, and demonstrate your experience meets the AICP definition of professional planning experience. Download the Planning Experience Assessment Worksheet to review the professional planning experience requirements for certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please note that the AICP Certification Guide can provide answers to almost all your questions. This guide must be reviewed prior to registering for AICP.
Am I allowed to register for AICP and take the exam?
Any APA member can register for AICP and take the exam. Please refer to the Planning Experience Worksheet to determine if your experience aligns with APA's definition of professional planning. You must have gained all your professional planning experience, though, prior to submitting the assessment (Step 3 of One Path to AICP).
When can I register for the exam and/or submit my assessment?
View the list of upcoming dates and fees
Submit your education and employment information
I did not receive a confirmation email with the eligibility ID after I registered.
I did not receive a confirmation email after I transferred my exam.
I did not receive any information after I submitted my assessment.
These auto emails oftentimes land in spam or junk folders. Please check those folders. Also, to avoid any future issues with receiving emails, please add AICP@planning.org to your list of email contacts.
When I go to the Prometric site to schedule my exam, the eligibility ID does not work.
If you cut/pasted the eligibility ID into the field at Prometric, please make sure there are no spaces before or after the ID. Also, be sure to use the first 4 letters of the last name on your My APA account. If you still experience issues, please contact AICP@planning.org.
I want to take the exam at home. How do I set that up?
Prometric offers in-person or remote exam options. ProProctor is the software used to launch the exam remotely. Please read the ProProctor User Guide and refer to the AICP Certification Guide for more information.
I need extra time to take the exam.
I need noise-cancelling headphones while taking the exam.
I need extra breaks while taking the exam.
All accommodation requests must be submitted to AICP@planning.org prior to scheduling the exam with Prometric. Staff will then add the accommodation and let you know when you can schedule your exam.
How can I prepare for the exam?
Review the list of exam prep resources. Be sure to also connect with your chapter's Professional Development Officer for additional resources and local studying opportunities.
The name on my official ID is different than the name on my registration record. How can I get it updated on the registration record?
Please refer to the AICP Certification Guide for more information.
I registered but never scheduled my exam. I would like to transfer to a future window. What do I do?
I registered and scheduled my exam, but I can no longer take the exam. What do I do?
All fees are final. Details about rescheduling, cancelling or transferring the exam can be found in the AICP Certification Guide.
*** When you pay the transfer fee, you will then have a transfer record in the system that can then be used for any future exam window, not just the upcoming window. You will still need to register for your exam of choice and will be able to redeem the transfer at no cost (instead of paying another registration fee). Please note that transfers are allowed only one time. Once the transfer is redeemed, whether you take the exam or not, the registration cannot be transferred again.
I already passed the exam. How long do I have before I need to submit my assessment?
Your exam scores do not expire and there is no time limit between passing the exam and submitting the assessment.
Will you accept a picture of my diploma/transcripts for my education verification document?
Yes. Whatever document is submitted must contain the member's name, the name of the college or university, the name of the degree and the degree conferral date.
I am unsure if my experience would be considered professional planning.
The Planning Experience Worksheet can help determine if your experience meets APA's definition of professional planning. Also refer to the section "Does My Experience Qualify?" in AICP Certification Guide for more information.
How long does it take to hear if my assessment meets/does not meet requirements?
Members will receive an email within four weeks after submitting their assessment indicating if their assessment met the requirements. If it did, you will be sent instructions on how to pay your initial AICP dues. Please be sure to check your spam/trash/junk folders for the email.
If the assessment did not meet requirements, members will be given information as to why the assessment did not meet requirements and will be able to resubmit their assessment during the next submission window.
I am a member of an international planning agency. Can I still get AICP certified?
Yes. Please send a letter from the other agency indicating you are a member in good standing. You need to take and pass the AICP exam, but you will not need to submit your assessment. You can send the letter to AICP@planning.org.
Please refer to the AICP Certification Guide for more information.
Where do I go to enter the CM I have obtained?
Tracking CM was a requirement of the AICP Candidate Pilot Program. That pilot program ended in 2021 so members are not required to complete CM until they become AICP certified.
Spring 2023 AICP Certification Cycle
STEP 1: REGISTRATION
Opens: Monday, April 3, 2023 at 9:00am CST
Closes: Thursday, April 27, 2023 at 3:00pm CST
Transfer Deadline: Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 3:00pm CST
STEP 2: EXAM
Exam Window: May 1–26, 2023
STEP 3: EXPERIENCE
Opens: Monday, June 5, 2023 at 9:00am CST
Closes: Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 3:00pm CST
Fall 2023 AICP Certification Cycle
STEP 1: REGISTRATION
Opens: Monday, October 2, 2023 at 9:00am CST
Closes: Monday, October 30, 2023 at 3:00pm CST
Transfer Deadline: Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at 3:00pm CST
STEP 2: EXAM
Exam Window: November 1–29, 2023
STEP 3: EXPERIENCE
Opens: Monday, December 4, 2023 at 9:00am CST
Closes: Friday, December 29, 2023 at 3:00pm CST
AICP Certification Fees1 | |
---|---|
Registration Fee | $255 |
Transfer Fee | $100 |
Planning Experience Assessment Fee | $255 |
Appeal Fee |
$100 |
AICP Initial Dues2 | $100 |
1All fees are non-refundable.
2Payable after all requirements are met; AICP Certification granted upon payment.