AICP Certification
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AICP Exam Prep

To become a certified planner, entitled to use the AICP designation, American Planning Association (APA) members must meet certain education and experience requirements and pass a written examination. The AICP Certification Exam is given twice each year, in May and November. The first step is to complete and submit an application and the exam fee by a specified deadline (typically 5 to 6 months in advance of the testing window). Once your application is accepted, you may register to take the exam. Information about the AICP process can be found at https://www.planning.org/certification/.

New Year, New You, New Exam Prep Materials

APA has updated some of their exam prep materials. Specifically, check out the new recordings and slides (under Tip #3).

On Thursday, January 16, 2025, from 11:00am-12:00pm CT, join Jordan Yin, AICP (the volunteer who coordinated the herculean efforts of creating the recordings and slides), IL PDO Andy Cross, AICP and APA Staff for this meeting focusing on AICP exam prep materials. Register here.

For those new to the One Path to AICP process, please consider attending AICP Office Hours on January 7, 2025 (register here) prior to the exam prep event. Office hours will give you an overview of the path to AICP certification while New Year, New You, New Exam Prep Materials will mainly focus on exam prep process.

Both events are open to members and non-members. Questions can be directed to aicp@planning.org.

Information about AICP Office Hours

The Spring 2025 AICP certification cycle will be here soon! Information about the One Path process, deadlines, exam prep materials, etc. can be found on the APA website. After reviewing the materials and FAQs, please register and join APA staff for a Q&A on any (or all!) of the following dates. Each session will last 60 minutes.

  • Tuesday, January 7, 2025, 1:00-2:00pm CT (Register HERE)
  • Wednesday, February 12, 2025, 12:00-1:00pm CT (Register HERE)
  • Monday, March 10, 2025, 1:00-2:00pm CT (Register HERE)

Information about AICP Certification Diversity scholarship

Interested in an AICP Certification Diversity Scholarship for the May 2025 AICP exam or the June 2025 Experience Assessment? The window to apply for the AICP Certification Diversity Scholarship will open January 6, 2025, and continue through February. Recipients will be notified in early March.

Questions? Email AICP@planning.org

Exam Prep Resources

National APA Exam Prep:

National APA offers an extensive AICP Exam Prep session at each National Conference, and now offers videos of this presentation as well as their slide show for free on their website at https://www.planning.org/certification/examprep/ .

APA Iowa Conference:

APA Iowa offers an abbreviated AICP Exam Prep session at each State Conference; this presentation is available here.

AICP Exam Update:

Please note that the AICP Commission has updated the AICP exam to make sure it remains current in today’s changing planning climate.  As a result, there are new test questions and other changes to the process that began with the May 2017 exam and all tests going forward.  You can keep up with the latest information on the exam at https://www.planning.org/certification/examprep/.   

Other Study Resources

One suggestion often offered is to start your studying with the free sample tests/questions and see where your weaknesses are and then focus your studying on those areas. 

Other useful resources include: