One Path to AICP

AICP Certification brings value to your career, your organization, 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! 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.

APA members can request an exam accommodation for ESL considerations or a disability. Please view Appendix 2 in the AICP Exam Certification Guide.

STEP 1: REGISTER ($305)

All members of APA are eligible to take the AICP Exam. 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.

Learn more about registration.

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 do not 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 exam

Learn more about the value of AICP to employers

STEP 3: Apply ($305)

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 Experience Assessment Template to review the professional planning experience requirements for certification.

Learn more about applying

AICP Office Hours

Have a CERTIFICATION QUESTION?

The Fall 2024 AICP certification cycle will be here soon! Get information about the process, deadlines, exam prep materials, etc.

Before the session, please review the eligible requirements and the certification FAQ.

Register and join us for a Q&A on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at noon CT.

Register and join us for a Q&A on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. CT.

Frequently Asked Questions

We've pulled together some commonly asked questions to help make your certification experience a breeze.

Learn more about certification


Fall 2024 AICP Certification Cycle

STEP 1: REGISTRATION

Opens: Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 9:00 am CST

Closes: Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 3:00 pm CST

Transfer Deadline: Monday, November 25, 2025 at 3:00 pm CST

STEP 2: EXAM

Exam Window: November 4-30, 2024

STEP 3: EXPERIENCE

Opens: Monday, December 2, 2024 at 9:00 am CST

Closes: Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at 3:00 pm CST

Spring 2025 AICP Certification Cycle

STEP 1: REGISTRATION

Opens: Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at 9:00 am CST

Closes: Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 3:00 pm CST

Transfer Deadline: Friday, May 23, 2025 at 3:00 pm CST


STEP 2: EXAM

Exam Window: May 1-29, 2025

STEP 3: EXPERIENCE

Opens: Monday, June 2, 2025 at 9:00 am CST

Closes: Monday, June 30, 2025 at 3:00 pm CST

 

AICP Certification Fees1
Registration Fee $305
Transfer Fee $100
Planning Experience Assessment Fee $305
Appeal Fee $100

1 All fees are non-refundable. To expedite and smooth the certification process, the schedule of fees for the exam and assessment has shifted slightly. The sum of the fees remains the same.