Frequently Asked Questions

Certification Maintenance Program Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions for AICP Members

Member Requirements
Eligible Educational Activities
Additional Questions
Logging CM Credits

Frequently Asked Questions for Professional Development Providers

Provider Registration and Activity Approval
Eligible Educational Activities

If you don't find the answer to your question here, e-mail AICPCM@planning.org.

FAQ for AICP Members

Member Requirements

What are my CM requirements?
Between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009, AICP members must earn a total of 32 CM credits (1 hour = 1 CM credit).* A minimum of 1.5 credits must be on the topic of ethics, and another 1.5 credits must be on the topic of current planning law. A member who exceeds the required 32 credits may carry over a total of 16 credits to the next reporting period, but cannot carry over the law and ethics credits.

* AICP members who received a CPD certificate valid to the end of 2009 will begin their reporting period on January 1, 2010.

What happens if I have lost my AICP certification?
AICP members who have lost their AICP certification and do not comply with CM requirements for four years or more will be obliged to seek recertification, including taking and passing the AICP exam, in order to regain the AICP credential. These members will lose their original AICP certification ID number, their AICP start date, and any AICP membership accrual towards retirement or Life status previously acquired.

When can I log my credits for APA National Planning Conference 2008?
AICP members who earned CM credits at the APA National Planning Conference will receive an e-mail in early June 2008 with detailed instructions on how to view the list of sessions in which they had their conference badge scanned, rate the sessions, and verify their attendance. AICP members will be able to add or delete sessions from their log as needed.

Can I carry over credits from one reporting period to another?
During any reporting period, you may carry over a maximum of 16 credits. These cannot include the required law and ethics credits.

Must the required (and any other) ethics credits be specifically related to the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct?
Yes, activities seeking ethics credit must focus on training planners on the standards of ethical behavior according to the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. While general ethics courses, local ethics laws, and ethics codes from other professions can introduce relevant issues as well, the AICP Code focuses on a system of moral principles specific to professional planners.

Must the required (and any other) law credits be specifically related to planning law, or can they be general law courses?
Providers must demonstrate that the content of the activity is related to planning law, such as environmental law, land use law, redevelopment law, administrative law, housing law, etc. Activities seeking law-credit CM approval must be closely related to recently enacted planning laws or recent case decisions or trends in existing planning laws or case decisions. Political movements, policy recommendations, and policy initiatives are not "current planning law." Existing planning laws or case decisions must clearly constitute a majority of the content of the activity.

What are some ways in which members can meet the CM law requirements?
APA has an annual planning law review audio/web conference in June. A CD-ROM of the program is available from APA's PlanningBooks.com. APA's National Planning Conference several sessions pertaining to planning law; many of these sessions will be approved for CM law credits. In addition, APA is creating an online course on planning law to help meet the CM requirement. Many chapters also offer planning law sessions and workshops.

What are some ways in which members can meet the CM ethics requirements?
The Stollman Ethics Symposium at APA's National Planning Conference is dedicated to planning ethics. Many chapters host an ethics session at their chapter conferences. In addition, APA is creating an online course on planning ethics to help meet the CM requirements. Many chapters also offer planning ethics sessions and workshops.

I'm retired, and my APA membership type is Retired or Life. Do I have to comply with CM requirements?
Retired members, as defined by APA (i.e., who have been an APA or AICP member continuously for 10 or more years, who are 65 or older, and who are completely retired) are exempt from Certification Maintenance requirements. If you meet these criteria then you do not need to apply for an exemption. Planners who do not meet the above criteria or who are practicing part time (and who use the AICP credential in their work) will be required to meet the full obligations of Certification Maintenance, unless granted one of the exemptions described here. Please note: If you are currently paying dues at the life member rate and you meet the criteria above for retired status, then you qualify for this exemption. If you are paying dues at the life member rate and do not meet the criteria, then you must meet CM requirements.

I'm semi-retired or work part time. Do I have to comply with CM requirements?
Yes. If you do not meet all three criteria for APA Retired membership (65 or older, not working, and an APA member for at least 10 years), you are not considered an APA Retired member and you must comply with CM requirements. Click here for more information.

How do I apply for a temporary exemption from CM requirements, as described in the CM Program Details?
Please click here to read about applying for exemptions and waivers.

When can a new AICP member start accruing CM credits?
The CM reporting period for new AICP members will begin the January after AICP exam candidates have officially been granted AICP membership (e.g. once AICP dues payments have been received and processed by APA, AICP members receive an official ID number). AICP members may not apply credits for courses they participated in before they became AICP members to their CM requirements, but they may begin earning credits from the time AICP membership is officially granted.

I have a CPD certificate valid to the end of 2009 but would like to earn new credits in the period between April 14, 2007, and December 31, 2009. May I roll over credits earned from April 14, 2007, to December 31, 2009, and apply them to the CM reporting period that will begin in January 2010?
Yes, you may roll over up to 16 excess credits to the next reporting period, even if you do not need to start accruing CM credits until January 2010. During any reporting period, you may roll over a maximum of 16 credits, and these cannot include the minimum required law and ethics credits for the next reporting period.

What are the CM requirements for members with suspended AICP membership?
All members with suspended membership under the former AICP Reinstatement Policy will be assessed under the new CM program. Please contact AICPCM@planning.org for more information.

Eligible Educational Activities

What are some non-qualifying activities?

Time spent in business meetings of APA leadership, whether at the national, chapter, or division levels, will not be eligible for CM credits.
Time spent in mentoring activity will not be eligible for CM credits.
Time spent in volunteer activities will not be eligible for CM credits.
Teaching for a salary, fee, or honorarium will not be eligible for CM credits.

How are mobile workshops assessed?
Mobile workshops will be assessed as other activities and therefore must meet eligibility criteria. However, only time dedicated to instruction will be awarded credit. Providers must deduct the time that will be spent in transit from a site or to a site. In-transit workshops will count for something less than the equivalent time in a classroom.

Do keynote speeches qualify for CM credit?
Yes, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria and provided that they meet the minimum time required (one hour). Portions of a keynote that are not related to education (such as the award of honors, promotion, consumption of a meal, etc.) should not be counted in the CM credit allocation. In addition, the content of a keynote that is eligible for CM credit must be non-promotional and non-partisan.

Are facilitated book discussions awarded credit?
Yes, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria and the discussion is facilitated. Credit should not be given for reading the book, only the amount of time spent in the discussion, to a maximum of 2 credits. The facilitator can receive credit for presentation.

Are roundtable sessions eligible for CM credit?
Ye, CM approvable roundtable sessions provide educational content for professional planners through facilitated discussion, guided by an expert or panel of experts. The focus of roundtable content should be specifically delineated to define relevant topics that meet CM eligibility criteria. Roundtable discussions should also be carefully structured to ensure communication of meaningful lessons and minimize tangential discourse. To apply a roundtable session for credit, a provider should specify the following: the topic area, its educational purpose, and how discussion is managed or facilitated.

Are online chat-rooms / discussions awarded credit?
No, online chat-rooms / discussions are not awarded credit.

Are downloadable audio files such as mp3s, podcasts, audio CDs, or other recordings eligible for CM credit?
Yes, as long as they meet the criteria for the content of CM activities. Downloadable audio files of at least one hour in length may be eligible for CM credit as long as the audio recording and the event from which the podcast was recorded have been registered with APA. In addition, CM eligible audio recordings must also include collateral or supportive material that can be downloaded to accompany the audio recording. Such material may include PowerPoint slides, articles that were referenced in the audio recording, and web links to other pertinent information.

Do poster sessions count for CM?
No, poster sessions do not qualify for CM credit.

I taught (or was a speaker at) a continuing education event and want to get CM credits for preparation and teaching time. How do I claim credits for teaching or speaking?
Volunteer, unpaid planning instruction or presenting a professional paper may qualify when CM officially launches on January 1, 2008. Please note that only activities that earn CM credit for attendees will earn CM credit for the instructor or presenter. Certification Maintenance credit may be earned only once for planning instruction. The amount of credit equals the length of the presentation in hours plus one hour for preparation.

If you taught at an activity after April 14, 2007, and the activity is listed as an approved CM activity, please record it in your personal records. We are currently working on a mechanism that will allow you to report this credit into your CM log.

Do charrettes or visioning workshops count for CM credit?
Neither charrettes nor visioning workshops shall count for CM credit because training is not the primary objective in these activities. However, an activity that trains members on how to conduct charrettes may count for CM credit if other program criteria are met.

Are facilitated film discussions awarded credit?
Yes, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria and the discussion is facilitated. Credit should not be given for the time spent watching the film, only the amount of time spent in the discussion, with a minimum discussion period of one hour. A maximum of two credits may be earned from this type of activity in any one reporting period. The facilitator may receive credit for presentation.

Do AICP exam prep activities count for CM credit?
No, AICP exam prep activities will not count for CM credit.

Can activities geared towards professional development, but not directly planning related, count for CM?
Per the CM criteria, an activity must be designed to meet a specific planning-related training objective. Examples of courses that may qualify include:

Conflict resolution, with a focus on planning
Advanced training in GIS
Environmental law
Management, with a focus on planning
Project management, related to planning

Examples of courses that would not qualify for CM include:

General project management
Advanced Excel training
Contract law

Would an introduction to planning course be eligible for CM credit?
No, because a course that provides an introduction to the entire planning field is considered remedial for a certified planner.

Would an introduction to arts and culture in planning course be eligible for CM credit?
Depending on the participating planner, such a course may count toward CM. In general, introductory courses may be eligible for CM credit when they are not remedial for the participating planner. Two such instances could be an introductory course on an emerging specialty or trend within planning, or an introductory course in a specialty outside of the planner's expertise or training, such as an introduction to arts and culture in planning course for a transportation planner.

Are other activities that are peripheral to planning eligible for credits?
Yes, as long as they are related to planning and meet the criteria.

Does planning commissioner training count for CM credit?
No, neither activities whose intended audience is planning commissioners nor activities that are clearly marketed to planning commissioners shall count for CM credit.

I can't travel to attend training or conferences, so I'm looking for online, audio conference or CD-formatted continuing education activities. Where are they listed?
APA is currently reviewing many web-based training events. Please check the list of approved CM activities often for new entries.
APA is also expanding its own online educational program to provide members with accessible and affordable educational products. These products include webcasts, CD-ROMs, podcasts, and online courses. Currently, APA and AICP provide audio conferences on a wide variety of planning topics: from affordable housing, green communities, downtown revitalization, community planning, complete streets, planning and public health, and more. We will develop a variety of online courses over the next two years. Click here for more information about APA audio/web conferences and AICP CD-ROM training packages.

We are reaching out to online providers suggested by our members and that participated in our CPD program. To recommend a provider for participation in the CM program, please e-mail us and we will invite them to participate. Or, download a CM fact sheet and give it to the provider.

Additional Questions

Why was the online CM log activated in advance of the official CM program launch in January 2008, especially when the list of approved CM activities is incomplete?
The online CM log was launched early to allow AICP members to get a head start on reporting their CM credits earned since April 14, and to become familiar with the new CM webpages. The first CM reporting period will begin on January 1, 2008, and end on December 31, 2009. We are adding registered activities to the website daily and encourage you to check the CM listing often for new entries.

How can I get a continuing education provider I know of to participate in the CM program?
E-mail us and we will invite them to participate, or send them this 1-page CM fact sheet that details the benefits of becoming a CM provider. We also encourage you to work with your Chapters to reach out to your favorite providers.

Why can't I find an event on the list of approved CM activities when the provider advertised the event as offering CM credits?
The activity may have been submitted but not yet been approved by APA for CM credits. We are working to review activities as quickly as possible.
We have asked providers not to promote themselves or their activities as being approved for CM credit unless they have been notified explicitly by us that they have been so approved. However, providers are welcome to say that they are seeking CM approval.

How is APA reaching out to potential providers of CM offerings?
APA is tracking requests that come in now and will notify providers who have already contacted us, as well as all APA chapters and divisions. We will contact all other providers from our CPD list and our mailing lists. With the assistance of chapters and divisions, we will reach out to other providers not on our lists to notify them of the online registration process. We will contact providers that are identified by members, partners, and others.

Are activities required to last a minimum amount of time to receive CM credit?
An activity must be at least 1 hour to receive CM credit.

Who manages the CM provider registration system?
APA National manages the web-based registration system. All providers are responsible for submitting information about their organization and their activities into the system.

Will extra CM credit be granted for an activity that runs over the scheduled time?
No, APA will not grant extra CM credit for an activity that runs over the timeframe registered with APA.

Logging CM Credits

Is there a time limit on when I can log credits for an activity that happened in the past?
There is no limit on when you need to log credits for activities, as long as you do so within your CM reporting period. However, we strongly encourage you to do so periodically.

How can I get help with a technical problem I encounter when I use the member log (e.g. I get an error message)?
Please e-mail AICP. Include the following information in your message:

Approximate date and time the problem occurred
The web address (URL) where the problem occurred (copy from your web browser and past into the message.
APA ID (This six-digit number is at the top of the e-mail message that attached this PDF, on your Planning label, and at the top of each issue of interact.)
A detailed description of the problem, including, if possible, the text of the error message (if you got one).
If possible, copy and paste a screenshot of the page where you are experiencing the problem.

The more information you provide, the better we will be able to help.

What do I do when my search for activities where I earned CM credits produces no results?
Please make sure that when searching for activities that you search by city and state. Example: Chicago, IL (please leave the keyword field blank). Please note that we are currently working to improve our search function so that members can more easily find CM activities. We appreciate your patience.

Why can't I find a session or mobile workshop from APA's 2007 National Planning Conference in Philadelphia in the list of approved CM activities?
All the eligible activities from APA's 2007 APA national conference were listed as of November 7, 2007. If you don't see a session or workshop from the national conference in the list of approved CM activities, it means the event was not approved for CM credit.

Why can't I find a session from a chapter conference or a chapter- or division-sponsored activity in the list of approved CM activities?
There are several reasons why you may not find a chapter or division activity on the list:

APA may still be reviewing the particular activity you are looking for. Please check the list of approved CM activities often for new entries.
The conference session or activity may not have met the criteria for CM approval. APA staff will inform providers of sessions and activities that have not been approved for CM credit.
The provider may not have registered the conference session or activity. We encourage all APA chapters and divisions to register their activities with us so that attendees may receive CM credit, but the chapter or division may not have done so yet. Please contact your chapter or division for more information.

Why can't I find a non-APA sponsored event in the list of approved CM activities?
There are several reasons why you may not find non-APA sponsored activities on the list:

APA may still be reviewing the particular activity you are looking for. Please check the list of approved CM activities often for new entries.
The activity may not have met the criteria for CM approval. APA staff will inform providers of sessions and activities that have not been approved for CM credit.
The provider may not have registered the activity. Because we are not aware of all the educational programs our members routinely attend, we encourage you to let us know about an event you attended. To recommend a provider or activity for participation in the CM program, please e-mail us and we will invite them to participate. Or, download a CM fact sheet and give it to the provider.

To find out what kinds of activities are eligible for CM credit, please read the eligibility guidelines.

If you taught at an activity after April 14, 2007, and the activity is listed as an approved CM activity, please record it in your personal records. Look for more information about logging your activity into the CM system in January.

APA is also expanding its own online educational program to provide members with accessible and affordable educational products. These products include webcasts, CD-ROMs, podcasts, and online courses. Currently, APA and AICP provide audio conferences on a wide variety of planning topics: from affordable housing, green communities, downtown revitalization, community planning, complete streets, planning and public health, and more. We will develop a variety of online courses over the next two years. Click here for more information about APA audio/web conferences and AICP CD-ROM training packages.

How do I transfer post-April 14, 2007, events listed in my CPD log to my CM log?
The CM logging system will not automatically transfer CPD credits to your CM log. We recommend printing the CPD list and using it to choose activities from the list of approved CM activities.

Continuing education activities that were approved for the CPD program — which officially ended on April 13, 2007 — had to be reviewed and approved again to be eligible for CM credits. Some activities that were approved for CPD credit may not be approved for CM credit. Also, the CM program requires providers of professional development to submit activities to be reviewed for CM credit. If a provider has not registered with us, or if the activity was not submitted or approved, you will not be able to claim CM credits.

Why are continuing education activities I attended prior to April 14, 2007, that were in my CPD log not on the list of approved CM activities?
Only activities that took place on or after April 14, 2007, were added to the CM listing in your CPD log. AICP members had the opportunity to log their CPD credits online until May 22, 2007. Members who logged 60 or more CPD credits were issued a CPD certificate. If no certificate was issued, credits earned prior to April 14, 2007, were lost and cannot be logged into the CM system.

I earned a CPD certificate in the last two years, but my CM reporting period posted online does not reflect this.
This will be corrected online in time for the official start of the CM program in January.

All AICP members who have CPD certificates that earn them the right to begin the CM program later than January 1, 2008, received an e-mail from AICP at the end of October that specified their CPD certificate end date and their CM reporting period start date. Please rely on the dates in that e-mail.
All AICP members who earned CPD certificates should have received them by September 1, 2007. If you earned at least 60 CPD credits, met the required split between APA– and non–APA sponsored events, and believe you should have received a CPD certificate but did not, please e-mail us.

Why do sessions at APA's 2007 National Planning Conference in Philadelphia give only 1.25 CM credits when they were listed for 1.5 CPD credits in the conference program and the online CPD log?
The CM standard assigns credit based on actual contact hours, rounded to the closest one-quarter hour increment. CPD credits were rounded up to the nearest half credit. APA national planning conference sessions are one hour and a quarter in duration, which equates to 1.25 CM credits.

FAQ for Professional Development Providers

Provider Registration and Activity Approval

Am I required to register all sessions or activities of my multi-part event (e.g. conference)?
No, you are not required to register all sessions or activities. We hope that you will only consider registering those events that are appropriate for AICP members and meet our eligibility criteria. Please note that you may also register a portion of an activity or session (e.g. if you have a 1-day workshop but only 4 hours are appropriate for this program, you may register those 4 hours only). You should also discount non-instructional activities, such as breaks, (non-working) lunch, etc., from the total CM credits requested.

How long will credit review take?
Turnaround will be slower in the initial start-up period from late summer through December 2007, but we will do our best to guarantee a response within three weeks of submission of complete information after January 2008. Please contact us if you have not received a response within three weeks.

How will I know when my activity is approved or denied?
AICP will contact you via email when your activity has been approved, denied or if we need more information to make a determination. If your activity has been approved, it will be posted on our calendar of events and available for members on the CM log. Please note that we are currently working on an automated system that will help smooth the notification process. This should be ready in Spring 2008.

How will providers retroactively register their credits and become registered providers for activities offered in the transition period of April 14, 2007, through the summer of 2007 (the period when no online reporting system was in place)?
Providers of educational programs that took place during the transition period have been invited to register with APA and submit those programs from CM credit. If their activities are retroactively approved, they will be entered into the online database and calendar. AICP members will then be able to add these credits to their online CM logs. Click here for our special offers for activities that happened in 2007.

Must the CM event receive credit approval ahead of time, or can it be approved after the fact?
It is in your best interest to receive CM approval before the event in order to market it and have it placed in the APA events calendar with the CM designation. However, you can still receive CM approval after the event so long as the request is made no more than 90 days after the event took place.

Are activities required to last a minimum amount of time to receive CM credit?
An activity must be at least 1 hour to receive CM credit.

Are minor changes to an already-approved activity acceptable?
Yes, but only minor changes are allowed. Examples of minor changes would be a secondary speaker, the date, the time (so long as the same number of hours is maintained), and the meeting room location. Within the course, examples illustrating particular trends, policies, or concepts may be changed to better suit the region or city in which the activity is held. Please note that providers are required to re-register any activity that is held on more than one occasion (see Repeated Activities on the CM provider webpage).

What is meant by "activities must include a mechanism of recording attendance of each AICP member"?
AICP members are required to use the honor system and guidance from the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct to verify attendance at CM educational events. However, from time to time APA will audit member and provider records to verify records. The CM program calls for a mechanism of recording attendance of AICP members at CM activities. Examples of such attendance mechanisms include a registration list of attendees at a conference, program evaluations, or sign-in sheets. Such verification should be maintained by the provider for three years should the provider be audited. Click here for a sample sign-in sheet.

How will the provider registration function for a university course? For example, how much will CM registration for a university course worth 30 credits cost?
The CM provider registration and the first 2 credits are $95; each additional CM credit is $50. Thus, for a course that meets for a total of 30 hours over a semester or other specified time period, the total cost would be $1,495. We are currently working with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) and a committee of universities to develop ways in which universities can best become CM providers.

What is the fee structure for online and in-person activities?
Click here for information about fee structures.

Eligible Educational Activities

What are some non-qualifying activities?

Time spent in business meetings of APA leadership, whether at the national, chapter, or division levels, will not be eligible for CM credits.
Time spent in mentoring activity will not be eligible for CM credits.
Time spent in volunteer activities will not be eligible for CM credits.
Teaching for a salary, fee, or honorarium will not be eligible for CM credits.

Is participation in a roundtable exchange awarded credits?
Yes, roundtable discussions are eligible for CM credit. The focus of roundtable content should be specifically delineated to define relevant topics that meet CM eligibility criteria. Providers should specify the following: the topic area, its educational purpose, and how the discussion is facilitated. Roundtable discussions should also be carefully structured to ensure communication of meaningful lessons and minimize tangential discourse.

Are online chat-rooms / discussions awarded credit?
No, online chat-rooms / discussions are not awarded credit.

Do poster sessions count for CM?
No, poster sessions do not qualify for CM credit.

Do AICP exam prep activities count for CM credit?
No, AICP exam prep activities will not count for CM credit.

Conflict resolution, with a focus on planning
Advanced training in GIS
Environmental law
Management, with a focus on planning
Project management, related to planning

Examples of courses that would not qualify for CM include:

General project management
Advanced Excel training
Contract law

Would an introduction to planning course be eligible for CM credit?
No, because a course that provides an introduction to the entire planning field is considered remedial for a certified planner.

Are other activities that are peripheral to planning eligible for credits?
Yes, as long as they are related to planning and meet the criteria.

Does APA provide refunds for activities that are not approved for CM credit?
If an activity is not approved for CM credit, APA will issue credits to the credit bank. This way providers can use those credits for future activities. However, providers can request a refund be credited back to the card used at the time of payment. Please note that there is no refunds given for the annual registration fee.

Can providers charge AICP members extra for attending their event?
No, Providers are unable to charge AICP members more than non-AICP members.

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