Where Do Planners Work?

Planners Are Everywhere

Planners work in every state and around the world. They work in rural areas, suburban areas, and large cities.

They function in the public sector within federal, state, and local governments. They also work in nonprofits and within the private sector in real estate development companies and planning or multi-disciplinary consulting firms.

Planning in Context

To see the variety of contexts within which planners work, visit the websites of APA's divisions. You'll learn about transportation planning, urban design, planning law, and many other arenas of planning.

APA Across the Nation

APA has 46 chapters that represent every state in the U.S. Chapter websites provide information on planning at the state or regional level.

Planning in Other Countries

Planning is an international profession and practice. Many countries have a long history of community planning and have professional institutes similar to the American Planning Association and its institute, AICP.

The Royal Town Planning Institute is the UK's leading planning body for spatial, sustainable and inclusive planning and is the largest planning institute in Europe with over 23,000 members.

The Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) works on behalf of over 6,300 planning professionals nationally, and has served as the voice of Canada's planning community since 1919. Planners safeguard the health and well-being of urban and rural communities, by addressing the use of land, resources, facilities and services with consideration to physical, economic, and social efficiency.

Planning Institute Australia (PIA) is the national body representing planning and the planning profession. Through education, communication and professional development, PIA is the pivotal organization serving and guiding thousands of planning professionals in their role of creating better communities.