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Join APA There are two ways to join:
Divisions Click here to read all about APA's divisions.
APA’s early career program includes three years of student membership and two years of new professional membership. Both membership categories offer all the benefits of regular APA membership at a fraction of the cost. You must join APA as a student to participate in the five-year early career program.
APA offers a free year of membership to students in PAB-accredited planning programs.
If you are a member who has recently returned to school full time, you may qualify to pay student APA, AICP, and chapter dues while you are still in school. Click here for detailed information on rates and qualifications.
Leading the field For several generations, the American Planning Association and its predecessor
organizations have been in the forefront of city and regional planning. To prepare
for the next generation, APA is... Fighting crucial public policy battles nationally and locally, in the legislatures and before the courts. Generating creative, effective ways for planners to address the plight of distressed
neighborhoods, the aging of American society, and the needs of youth. Employing advanced technologies to help planners apply new concepts and techniques to achieve planning's fundamental goal of improving human communities. Offering continuing education, practical training, career development, and professional certification. Forging the diverse talents and experiences of thousands of individuals into a powerful instrument that benefits everyone who is committed to good planning. Serving a diverse field Planners are a remarkably varied group. They work in cities, suburbs, and towns, specialize in transportation, housing, design, and the environment. They are students, beginning planners, consultants, planning directors, teachers, and planning commissioners. All of them contribute something valuable to APA. Students share their energy, fresh outlook, and enthusiasm for new technologies.
Public agency planners look ahead while managing day-to-day challenges. Consultants
combine business acumen with multifaceted planning know-how. Planning directors
offer years of leadership, practical experience, and political savvy. Academics
link us to the next generation of planners. And planning commissioners bring
pragmatism and strong community ties. Together these groups create a synergy
that is APA's greatest asset. You'll find that APA leaders influence opinions both within and outside the planning field. Only APA gathers the diverse universe of planners into a dynamic, powerful, and influential whole. We marshal this strength to benefit our members, the field of planning, and the welfare of coming generations. Joining a community When you join APA, you'll join a community of planners where your dedication, accomplishments, and contributions are recognized and applauded. APA will honor your achievements, challenge you with new perspectives on old problems, and open doors to professional and personal growth. You'll encounter people who speak planning's language, grapple with familiar issues, and shoulder similar responsibilities. APA brings together planning commissioners and planners working
at every level of government, in universities, in consultancies ranging from
one-person firms to multinational corporations, and in a myriad of specialties. Membership is more than shop talk and networking. Social activities foster camaraderie and friendship. Planning is a national profession and you may work in many different parts of the country during your career. Participation in APA offers a way to keep friendships alive, as well as an opportunity to develop new ones. Those relationships based on shared interests and experiences may be among the most lasting and meaningful you'll ever have. Finally, APA offers you opportunities for leadership. By participating and accepting responsibility in your professional association, you'll expand your own potential — perhaps in unexpected ways that enrich your professional, personal, and public life. Informing public policy Unless public officials and citizens understand, support, and demand good planning, we cannot achieve our goals: safe, attractive, and healthy neighborhoods, affordable housing, and accessible, efficient, and environmentally friendly transportation. APA incorporates the planner's perspective into national and local public policy. For example, we promote federal and state policies that ensure growth will occur in a smart and sustainable fashion and we defend the structure and process of TEA-21, the federal transportation planning law. We also encourage initiatives to clean up and redevelop brownfields and support programs that develop fair and affordable housing. APA and its chapters will remain vigilant on these issues, in state courts and legislatures, on Capitol Hill, and before the United States Supreme Court. We'll file legal briefs, provide timely and reliable information to policy makers, and help planners formulate strategies that effectively respond to those who oppose planning. Recognizing that "all politics is local," we help elected officials, agencies, and planners find ways to accommodate the legitimate but sometimes conflicting demands of economic development and environmental protection, and to become more effective advocates in city councils and state legislatures Expanding horizons
For example, we're leading the movement to modernize state statutes that govern planning, zoning, subdivision control, and growth management. Our Growing Smart project has produced an annotated guidebook of model statutes — the first new set of model planning and zoning acts in more than 70 years. States have already begun to incorporate Growing Smart prototypes in their laws, often with APA providing technical assistance. We're also developing new land-based classification standards to replace those written in 1965, and the City Parks Forum is showing mayors ways to use parks and open space to help solve critical urban challenges. The Journal of the American Planning Association features leading-edge research with practical applications and offers informed speculation on where planning is headed. APA also publishes many of the best new books, monographs, and videotapes about planning. We employ the Internet to disseminate research results and analyses, and to demonstrate how, why, and where to apply new ideas in the worldwide planning community. Spreading the word Reliable, up-to-date information is what public officials and clients demand of planners. APA is your first, best source of news on contemporary planning practice. We get the word out through Planning magazine; publications on land use law, zoning, and other planning specialties; and our highly respected series of reports on best practices. Publications, our annual national conference and chapter and division meetings provide valuable arenas for sharing information, discussing trends, and swapping problem solving techniques. And PlanningBooks.com is the most comprehensive planning bookstore anywhere. It offers the best new publications as well as planning classics that would otherwise be out of print.
The APA/AICP website is emerging as the most comprehensive source of planning information and interaction on the Internet. Stop by frequently to see what's new. Building your career APA believes that successful members foster successful communities. Achieving and maintaining success demands continually learning new ideas, techniques, and practical solutions to everyday planning problems. That's why APA and its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), generate outstanding educational and professional development opportunities.
APA is also the national clearinghouse for jobs in planning and your best connection for career development. APA job services include JobsOnline and the annual conference Job Connection. Above all, APA members develop networks of invaluable professional contacts by participating in national, chapter, and division activities.
Looking ahead Do you see communities that nurture families, generate good jobs, and housing, and provide public services? Cities and towns that educate children, encourage recreation, and preserve natural and cultural resources? Local governments that protect people from environmental hazards and crime, and motivate citizens to participate in making decisions? Good planning now is key to realizing that future. As a planning practitioner, local official, or student, you bring vision, creativity, expertise, and determination to the effort. You require solid information, thoughtful public policy, and government and citizen support. You appreciate opportunities to share with and learn from your colleagues and experts in the field. APA offers tools to help. Original research. Innovative techniques. Comprehensive information. Professional development. Leadership and networking opportunities. APA is an outspoken advocate for planners and planning. With your help, we can create an environment where you can achieve even more. We invite you to add your voice to more than 30,000 others that speak up for good planning.
Why belong to APA?
Planning
magazine JAPA Zoning Practice Planning & Environmental
Law
When you join APA, you also join your local chapter. Chapter membership involves you in APA close to home, sharing experiences with colleagues, expanding your network, and broadening your perspective beyond your office, commission, or campus. Newsletters keep you current on local issues and "people news." You'll want to attend your chapter's regular meetings, as well as special workshops and conferences.
Participate with colleagues who share a special interest by joining one of APA's 19 divisions. Each division publishes a newsletter, organizes conference sessions, and works on other projects. Divisions are an important source of technical help to APA's public policy program, suggesting guidelines for government programs and policies, and offering expert testimony before legislative committees. APA members pay nominal additional dues set by each division.
In the planning field, AICP certification is the accepted credential for professional competence and ethical practice. To become certified, a candidate must belong to APA, fulfill rigorous education and experience requirements, pass the AICP examination, and pay additional dues. Over 10,000 APA members have made this extra commitment and joined APA's professional institute. AICP's Continuing Professional Development Program (CPDP) recognizes certified planners' efforts to keep abreast of current issues in the profession.
Full-time students interested in planning are eligible to join APA at a reduced cost. It's the best way to establish a solid professional foundation at the very beginning of your career. The New Planner, an online newsletter written by and for planning students, discusses what your peers are doing around the country. Chapter meetings and other functions foster networking and learning about planning in the real world.
Planning officials join APA at a special reduced rate and receive enhanced services. All planning official members receive The Commissioner, a quarterly newsletter, as well as notices of customized training programs. Through APA-sponsored audio conferences, publications, and chapter meetings, you'll learn about planning and meet fellow commissioners and planning practitioners. At APA's annual national conference, plan to attend sessions and special events tailored to the needs of new and experienced planning officials.
As an APA member, you receive a substantial discount on the registration fee the annual national planning conference. Meet planners from across the country, renew friendships, exchange information, and explore the hottest planning issues, problems, and solutions. Participate in mobile workshops that examine local planning activities and explore the entire host city as a planning laboratory.
APA members receive discounts on many titles offered by APA's PlanningBooks.com. No matter what your area of interest, look to PlanningBooks.com for relevant and helpful publications. PlanningBooks.com offers books, monographs, video and audio recordings, and software titles published by APA Planners Press and more than 100 other publishers. Many items aren't available anywhere else. Our booklist is so extensive that libraries use our catalog as their standard acquisitions guide.
Find the right job or the right person for the job. Jobs Online is an database of planning jobs and a resume bank that help employers and job seekers find one another. Employers: Post your open positions and search the resume bank for qualified candidates. Job Seekers: Search the database, which is updated daily, by location, title, or salary and respond to ads using the resume you've posted in the resume bank.
A comprehensive insurance program for APA members only! APA is pleased to offer a fully endorsed insurance program, custom-designed for APA members. APA members deserve the peace of mind that comes from having a solid, stable insurance program, one that will be there when it's needed. APA's program provides plans underwritten by industry leaders, administered by the professionals at CBCA Administrators. In partnership with CBCA and our underwriters, APA makes available to members and their families the following coverages:
Find out today what these outstanding APA plans can do for you and your family. For information on any or all plans, call CBCA toll-free at 1-800-233-3938, fax 1-817-731-5735, or e-mail agency@cbca.com. Outstanding customer service is part of the APA Insurance Program. Note: Not all programs are available in all states.
APA's Public Information Office educates media and the public about the importance of planning and the role of planners in shaping our nation's communities. It also recognizes successful planning initiatives and efforts through the annual National Planning Awards. APA is your voice on Capitol Hill and before executive agencies. We work hard to secure the funds for programs that support good planning. And we advocate for legislation that incorporates sound planning ideas. APA also works with chapters to make sure your legislature is aware of the benefits of good planning.
The public information program helps to educate people about what planners do — and why good planning is important. For newspapers, television, and radio reports, APA is the primary source of information about planning.
For 50 years PAS has provided planners with a one stop source for all types of planning information. As a PAS subscriber, you too will gain access to one of the most extensive planning collections in the world. Zoning ordinances and subdivision codes, specialized periodicals, local comprehensive plans, planning agency reports, and customized Internet searches. Plus, eight reports on important planning topics per year, and the monthly newsletter PAS Memo. In short, information you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.
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In
response, APA offers opportunities almost as varied as our membership. You may
choose to participate in one of APA's special interest divisions, attend
or organize state or regional chapter events, or showcase your expertise at
a national conference session. Students and planning board members may also
participate in their own leadership forums.
APA
has the unique capacity to investigate and find innovative solutions to planning
problems. We keep in touch with real-world planning issues through the Planning
Advisory Service, which responds to nearly 5,000 inquiries every year. Backed
by an expert research staff, world-class library, and the most up-to-date computer
technology available, APA defines and promotes best practices through books,
manuals, research reports, and model statutes.
APA's
awards program recognizes the best in planning practice and challenges all planners
to innovate and excel. We realize that two of our most important jobs are promoting
the benefits of planning to the public and encouraging individuals to attend
to the well-being of their communities. Our education and public information
programs publicize planning success stories and foster citizen participation
in local planning.
APA
chapters offer a diverse menu of professional development options. And once
a year, at the APA national conference, thousands of planners, elected officials,
and planning commissioners participate in hundreds of sessions and scores of
mobile workshops focused on the most current and pressing issues in planning.
Ideas and presentations that appear first at this national forum often are repeated
and adapted in state and regional events or local workshops.
In
addition to jobs and career development, APA also offers a fully-endorsed insurance
program, custom-designed for APA members. The program delivers outstanding
coverage including major medical, term life, and disability insurance, and provides
you with peace of mind.
