Get Started

• Are you an APA member? That's the only requirement to take the AICP exam — even if you do not have a degree or have earned your professional planning experience. If you are not an APA member, join today!
• Does your first name and last name on your MyAPA profile match your license or official government ID (middle names do not matter)? If not, please contact APA.
• Interested in an AICP Certification Diversity Scholarship? Fifty scholarships are awarded twice a year via a lottery. Applications are accepted in February and June, with notifications sent the following month. These can be used for either the exam or the assessment.
• Do you need an ESL or ADA exam accommodation? Review Appendix 3 in the AICP Certification Guide for more information.
• Have you read
• The AICP Certification Guide? This guide outlines each step toward certification. You will need to confirm that you have read it when registering for the exam.
• The AICP Code of Ethics? You will affirm that you agree to the code when registering — please take time to review it.
• Does your employer support their employees' professional advancement by paying for some or all certification costs? Use this flyer to support your request for financial assistance.

• Does your first name and last name on your MyAPA profile match your license or official government ID (middle names do not matter)? If not, please contact APA.
• Do you need an ESL or ADA exam accommodation? If so, submit a request form. See Appendix 3 in the AICP Certification Guide for details. All requests must be submitted prior to registering for the exam. Please visit Prometric's website for pre-approved items.
• Have you reviewed APA's exam prep materials? We have curated videos, slides, reading material, and much more to help you prepare.
• Have you contacted your chapter's Professional Development Officer (PDO)? Your PDO may offer additional study support.
• Taking the exam remotely? Make sure your device meets technical requirements, even newer computers. Review all of Prometric's system documents. (Note that both a computer check before test day and another on test day are required.

• Do you meet the required professional planning experience? Please review the chart below and use the Interactive Experience Calculator to track your progress.
• Does your experience qualify as professional planning? Review Appendix 5 in the AICP Certification Guide and the Experience Worksheet to assess your eligibility.
• Have you completed the Experience Assessment Template? Before submitting your assessment, we recommend that you complete, review, and print this template to use as a guide for filling out the online form.
• Wondering whether your master's degree qualifies as a non-PAB-accredited planning degree? Use the Planning Curriculum Worksheet to confirm how much professional planning experience you will be required to provide.

The chart below indicates the amount of professional experience you need based on your education:

1. The degree may be obtained before, during, or after planning experience is obtained.

2. Accredited degrees have been determined by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) to meet standards approved by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) or accredited by the Professional Standards Board (PSB) for Planning in Canada. The accredited degree must have been obtained during the period the university has been accredited (or previously recognized). If you are unsure about the status of your planning degree (PAB, PSB, or other), contact AICP.

3. Use the Planning Curriculum Worksheet to determine whether a non-PAB-accredited graduate degree qualifies as a planning degree.