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TThhee WWoorrlldd BBaannkk IInnssttiittuuttee
CCeerrttiiffiiccaattiioonn ooff UUrrbbaann PPllaannnneerrss
RReevviieeww ooff CCeerrttiiffiiccaattiioonn PPrrooggrraammss iinn SSeelleecctteedd DDeevveellooppeedd aanndd DDeevveellooppiinngg CCoouunnttrriieess
Working Paper
Prepared by
Sabine Palmreuther
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. ACRONYMS
II. PREFACE
III. INTRODUCTION
IV. EXECUTIVE SUMMARIES 1. USA 2. Canada 3. Australia 4. Germany 5. China 6. Guatemala 7. Philippines
V. CONCLUSIONS AND LESSONS LEARNED
1. Certifying Institution 2. Scope and Requirements for Certification 3. Level of Specialization 4. Certification Process 5. Required Institutional Capacity 6. Continuing Professional Education for Certification Renewal 7. Professional Recognition 8. Cost of Certification 9. Quality Control of Certification 10. Cross-country and Cross-jurisdictional Compatibility
VI. SYNOPSIS
VII. BIBLIOGRAPHY
VIII. TABLES
TABLE 1. Urban Planning Certification Matrix: Summary for selected developed countries TABLE 2. Urban Planning Certification Matrix: Summary for selected developing countries
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I. ACRONYMS ACSP Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning AICP American Institute of Certified Planners APA American Planning Association APGA Association of Philippine Government Architects ASAP Association for the Recognition of Studies in Architecture and
Planning BAK Federal Chamber of German Architects CHED Commission on Higher Education CIP Canadian Institute of Planners CM Certification Maintenance CPE Continuing Professional Education CPP Certified Practicing Planners CPL Continuous Professional Learning NEE National Education Specialist LPA League of Philippine Architects LUs Learning Units OMP Municipal Planning Office OPPI Ontario Professional Planners Institute PIA Planning Institute of Australia PAB Planning Accreditation Board PD Professional Development PIEP Philippines Institute for Environmental Planners PRC Professional Regulatory Commission REDGUAPLAN Network of Municipal Planners of Guatemala SEGEPLAN Secretariat of Planning of the Presidency of Guatemala SRL Professional Association for City, Regional- and Land Use
Planning SURP School of Urban and Regional Planning UAP Association of United Architectures Philippines VB Visiting Board
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II. PREFACE
The paper offers a review of country experiences in certification of individuals
and institutions in urban planning, in selected developed and developing countries. It lays out the different institutional frameworks – in four countries with established and well functioning certification systems: USA, Canada, Australia and Germany – and their application at the national and regional level. On the other hand, it presents emerging institutional frameworks for certification in urban planning in countries like China, and complements them with country experiences where efforts have been launched to institutionalize certification in certain professions but an institutional framework for urban planners is not yet in place, such as Guatemala and the Philippines.
Furthermore, the paper reflects on the role of certification as a mechanism for capacity building of local government institutions, and their role in promoting sustainable social and economic development. The view that institutions have a significant role in socio-economic development is consistent with the fact that substantial resources have been allocated to local institutional capacity building. Particular attention has been given to the appropriate staffing and level of qualification of local governments’ human resources, the efficiency of their internal administrative processes, the provision of adequate office technology, and the quality of the products and services delivered by local authorities.
Certification is a process by which individuals can achieve professional recognition for their knowledge and achievement in a particular field, whether or not accompanied by an academic degree. Equally institutions can obtain professional accreditation. In the context of decentralization of decision making, certification may directly affect the performance of local government public officials, the effectiveness of local government internal administrative and operational processes, and the quality of the public goods and services that local institutions are supposed to provide. Certification of urban planners has been considered a significant advance in creating real incentives for sustainable urban planning and management.
This compendium may be of professional interest to students, researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners alike, as it provides the basis for study of different aspects both at the policy and operational level (i.e. transparency of decision making at the local level; accountability in decentralized governance structures; effectiveness of service delivery; monitoring and evaluation).
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III. INTRODUCTION
The objectives of the review are: (i) to document and establish a broad understanding of the institutional framework of professional certification processes at the national and sub-national level; (ii) to take stock of certification programs of individuals and institutions in urban planning at the national and sub-national level, in selected developed countries; (iii) to compare to the approach being applied in developing countries such as China and Guatemala; and to reflect on the role of certification prospects for developing countries.
Certification of competencies is considered to be a designation earned by an individual or an institution to verify in an oobbjjeeccttiivvee manner that the individual or the institution is qualified to perform certain tasks. The above also includes the verification that the norms, procedures and the corresponding operational systems are in fact in place and being systematically used. Certification indicates that the individual or institution posses a specific set of knowledge, skills, or abilities in the view of an iinnddeeppeennddeenntt certifying body. Established certification practices exist in a wide range of professions (i.e. accountancy, legal, educational, engineering, medical professions, as well as in industries such as computer and project management.)
Certifications are offered through a ‘certification body’. This is usually a business organization, and sometimes a professional body (also known as a professional association that exists to further a particular profession, to protect both the public interest and the interests of professionals). The certifying body determines the policies of the certification program and standards of professional practices.
Certification is highly related to capacity building process, as individuals become certified through training and/or passing a test demonstrating their professional capacities. Furthermore, many certifications need to be renewed periodically. Oftentimes the individual must show evidence of continued learning or earning continuing education credentials.
Better understanding of the nature and structure of the certification process will enable WBI to provide more effective capacity building interventions to its client countries, and establish objective and measurable impact at the institutional and individual level.
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IV. EXECUTIVE SUMMARIES
1. USA
In the USA there are separate means of certification for both planning programs and specific individuals; these programs are carried out by specialized institutions of the American Planning Association. The Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) certifies planning programs and schools, while the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) serves to certify individuals. AICP is the professional institute of the American Planning Association (APA). The association has 46 chapters representing every state in the U.S. It is important to note that certification began initially only with planning schools/programs and later spread to individuals/planners. Both accredited (and non-accredited) schools of planning, and the requirements necessary for the certification of individuals, are posted on the institutions’ websites.
Colleges and universities interested in being certified (“accredited”) can initiate their
own request/process with the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB). The review process has specific requirements, including detailed verifications, in order to maintain the standards of the planning profession. Planners who are interested in seeking AICP Certification are required to have at least two years of professional planning experience; these planners will be have to pay for the process and complete (and pass) an exam. The cost of AICP Exam Prep & CD is $150.
On January 1, 2008, it will be required that planners have continued professional education. Certified Planners must engage in at least 32 credits of eligible professional development activities within a two-year period. If AICP Certification Maintenance (CM) requirements are not met within four years, an AICP member will lose his/her certification, making him/her obliged to seek re-certification in order to retain the AICP credential. While some states have their own certification requirements, the American Planning Association does not encourage the licensing of planners on either a national or state level. The APA recognizes and respects existing state licensing or credential requirements and supports those members who practice the profession of planning in such states.
The American Planning Association (APA) promotes accreditation and has therefore created both the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) and the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). The APA works in collaboration with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP). It is in the best interest of the Association for planning programs and certified planners to establish and maintain high standards for the planning profession. Both these planners and their employees have benefited from recognition by an independent authority acknowledging their compliance to such high standards. In fact, certified planners on average earn more than non-certified planners. The quality of certification is based on transparent and objective criteria; its application is carried out and overseen by the highest recognized authority in the planning profession.
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The certification program has relied on the institutional capacity of the APA, and its specialized entities, which are for non-profit institutions.
2. Canada
In Canada, similarly to the United States, there are two types of certification: one
certifies schools offering degrees in Urban Planning while the other certifies practicing planners. Planning programs are accredited (“recognized”) by the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) and by the USA-based Planning Accreditation Board (PAB). Individuals are certified by the CIP.
There are different requirements necessary to becoming a member or to be certified. These requirements depend on the academic background of each applicant. Those people who have been granted a recognized degree in planning completed a minimum of two years of responsible professional planning experience, and successfully completed an oral examination to the satisfaction of the affiliate, thereby allowing them to be granted certification. Individuals with other academic backgrounds are required to have more than two years of experience. The CIP works in collaboration with seven (7) affiliates or provincial institutes.
Both the CIP and PAB review undergraduate and master’s degree programs for the purposes of accreditation. Though Ph.D. programs in planning are recognized by the CIP, the PAB does not consider these programs for certification. In Canada, accreditation of Master’s and Ph.D. programs in Community and Regional Planning began, respectively, in 1952 and 1973. It is important to note that certification was first applied to planning schools/programs and then to individual planners. The CIP publishes on its website the list of all the Recognized University Programs in Canada.
Like the USA, Canadian colleges and universities interested in being certified (“accredited”) can initiate their own requests/processes with the CIP or the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB). The review process follows specific requirements, including detailed verifications, in order to maintain the standards of the planning profession.
Canadian planners interested in seeking certification must meet certain criteria in order to become members of the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP). Candidates that hold a degree in planning from a recognized university program are granted exemption from taking the CIP examination, although they must have: applied for and been elected as Provisional CIP members, completed a minimum of two-years of responsible professional planning experience, and successfully completed an oral examination to the satisfaction of CIP’s provincial affiliate. Membership to CIP is $142.06 dollars annually. In Ontario’s affiliate, membership costs range between $203.69 and $260.41. There is no cost specified for the examination of Canadian residents; however, for non-residents the cost is $150.
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Since 2004, Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) applies to all practicing corporate members, each of whom are expected to complete a minimum of 18 learning units (LUs) each year (54 LUs in a 3-year span), these units being mandatory throughout Canada. CPL is designed to operate under a self-reporting system and is required to revalidate each member’s certificate.
Similarly to other nations, it is in the best interest of the Association (CIP), academic institutions, and certified planners to establish and maintain high standards for the planning profession. Both planners and employers benefit from this system of recognition/certification, which operates under an independent, third-party type of authority.
The quality of certification is warranted by transparent and objective criteria, which is applied and overseen by the highest third-party authority in the planning profession. The certification program for individuals relies on the institutional capacity of the CIP, while in the case of academic programs, certification responsibilities are shared with the US-based Planning Accreditation Board (PAB). Both of these institutions are non-profit.
Members of a provincial institute are also members of the CIP and are recognized as professional planners in all Canadian provinces and territories. Additionally, academic programs accredited by either the CIP or the PAB are recognized in both the USA and Canada.
3. Australia
The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) is the certifying institution for both academic programs and individuals. The PIA’s accreditation criteria have been established in the Education Policy for Recognition of Australian Planning Qualifications. Recognition of qualification has traditionally been applied to the educational institution rather than to the individual; however, in 2006, this was introduced for the first time to the Certified Practicing Planner (CPP) initiative. According to this new policy, in order to become members of PIA all practitioners need at least two years of experience as planners and must have graduated from an accredited program.
Just as in the USA and Canada, Australian colleges and universities interested in being recognized (“accredited”) can initiate their own request/process with the Institute (PIA). The review process verifies two main requirements: firstly that the Core Curriculum in Planning is operating in the planning program, and secondly that the program meets the standard Visiting Board Requirements.
The recognition/certification of qualifications involves several operational units within the PIA, including the national and regional office, representatives of the university, the planning program itself, the planning program’s staff, and the students. The national education specialist of the PIA is an appointed member of the national
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council of the Institute. This person is responsible for organizing the reviews that lead to the continued recognition of qualifications. Reviews for both recognition of new qualifications and for continued recognition are undertaken by visiting boards, appointed by the national education convenor of the PIA, along with the national president, the relevant PIA State president, and the head of the planning program. Individuals applying for certification need to have a degree from a recognized program and must have at least two years of experience as planners. They must fill out an application for membership, which can be found on the website. Applicants must submit copies of curriculum vitae, degree, academic transcripts; they also must pay a one-time admission fee of $65.00 to become a member, while the current annual fee for members is $465. Also, as of July 2006, members are required to achieve 60 PD (Professional Development) points in a consecutive two-year period to maintain their status.
Similarly to USA and Canada, it is in the best interest of the Association (CIP), the academic institutions, and the certified planners to establish and maintain high standards for the planning profession. Both employers and planners benefit from this system of recognition, which operates under an independent, third-party type of authority.
The quality of certification is warranted by transparent and objective criteria, which is applied and overseen by the highest third-party authority in the planning profession. The certification systems for individuals and for academic programs rely on the institutional capacity of the PIA, a non-profit institution.
4. Germany
In principle the accreditation/quality assurance in Germany is warranted by the protection of the professional title ‘city/urban planner’ which is regulated legally by the individual federal states. This differentiates Germany from many other countries in which this title is not clearly protected. Similarly as the title ‘architect’, the title ‘city/urban planner’ may be carried only by registered members of the Federal state Chambers of Architecture and Urban Planning.
Because of the German federal structure, professions like architecture and city/urban planning are regulated by the federal states, and each state holds a list of the architects and city/urban planners. Hence, a central accreditation does not exist. For example, for engineers in other fields there is no job protection, therefore there is no requirement for compulsory membership in a professional association. Besides the Federal state Chambers of Architecture and Urban Planning, which only regulate the protection of the professional title, there are associations, such as the Professional Association for City, Regional- and Land Use Planning (‘Berufsvereinigung für Stadt-, Regional- und Landesplanung’), representing the interests of the urban profession. There are no technical standards for urban planners per se, only as they are formulated in the context of the German Statutory Code on Construction and Building (‘Baugesetzbuch’) and Land Use Ordinance (‘Baunutzungsverordnung’).
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A requirement for the membership in the Federal state Chamber of Architecture and Urban Planning is relevant university education of usually at least four years, as well as professional experience of usually at least two years. This is examined by a registration committee of the respective Chamber. Only by completing this procedure and registration in the Chamber the title “city/urban planner” may be carried.
There are different (regional) institutions involved in the accreditation/ quality
assurance process. Their functions range from development of quality criteria for the accreditation of study programs in architecture and planning (ASAP); accreditation of accrediting institutions (German Accreditation Council); registration in the Chamber and protection of the title ‘city/urban planner’ (Federal state Chambers of Architecture and Urban Planning); or more advocating for recognition of the necessity of urban planning.
As the German accreditation system is organized in a decentralized manner, one
of its characteristics is that the accreditation of study programs is carried out by Accreditation Agencies (see above), who in turn are accredited by the German Accreditation Council of the Foundation for the Accreditation of Study Programmes in Germany. The German Accreditation Council – as the central decision-making body of the foundation – defines the basic requirements of the process to ensure that any accreditation is carried out on the basis of reliable, transparent and internationally recognized criteria. As part of their contract agreements, the Agencies commit themselves to the deployment of the criteria and further decisions of the German Accreditation Council.
The actual objects of the accreditation process are study programs for Bachelor
and Master Degrees from state, or recognized by the state, Higher Education Institutions in Germany. If a study program has successfully undergone an accreditation process, then it is awarded accreditation for a limited period, with or without conditions, and carries the Quality Certificate of the Foundation for the duration of this period. Where any study programs are combined in a logical and justified way, the accreditation can also be carried as a combined package. In such cases the accreditation decision is always made on the basis of the individual study program.
5. China
The China Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Construction are jointly responsible for policy formulation, organization/coordination, qualification testing, registration, supervision, and management of the national practicing qualification system for urban planners. In the year 2000, however, in order to enhance the service functions of the National Commission and improve efficiency, the jobs of application, review, testing, registry, the continuance of professional development, and other non-policy duties were delegated to the Practicing Qualification Registration Center at the MOC. It should be noted that in China, in contrast to these selected developed nations, it is the government that administers certification.
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Similarly to other nations, candidates must pass a test to obtain their Urban Planners’ Practicing Qualification Certificate; they must also register. Candidates of certification must have a university degree and a certain number of years of experience, both of which are standard requirements. The degrees include: associate, college diploma, MA, and Ph.D. Each degree requires a different number of years of experience, beginning with six years for associate and ending with at least one year for PhDs. Academic institutions are classified into three categories (A, B, and C) that must be certified as well.
The scope of the national test covers: Urban Planning Theory, Management Laws and Regulations, Knowledge of Urban Specifications, and Urban Planning Practices. The test is conducted once a year during four half days, each covering one of the above four subjects. Each person pays a CNY 100 for each subject, except for that of “Urban Planning Practices,” which has a fee of CNY 160.
At the regional level, the administration of the system is under the Urban Planning Administrative Departments. In addition to passing the National Practicing Qualifications Test, the process entails the following: obtaining a practicing qualifications certificate by applying to an authorized provincial agency/department for review; registry and clearance; and issuance of a registration certificate. Certified urban planners must comply with both Continuing Professional Education (CPE) and renewal three months before the expiration of the three-year certificate. Among its other duties, the national Commission is in charge of preparing the CPE Record Handbook, designing and reviewing test questions, preparing the CPE teaching material, and referencing materials for the practicing qualification test.
Since 2006, those who attain practicing qualification certificates are, after three years, required to meet the continuing professional development requirements. A professional urban planner must complete the CPD/CPE for a minimum of 40 credit hours each year and a minimum of 120 credit hours for the effective registration period of three years. Forty total credit hours are compulsory and 80 are optional.
At the national level, the institutional capacity of the certification system involves the MOP and MOC on policy formulation regarding: provisions on the operation of the practicing qualification system, accreditation method, implementation of a national test, sign-up conditions/requirements, implementation of a method for Continuing Professional Development CPD/CPE, and a registration method. These provisions and methods of national directives provide the legal foundation and framework of the Urban Planning Practicing System. In contrast to many developed nations, where certification is the responsibility of the Associations of Urban Planners (as in the USA, Canada and Australia), in China, it is the responsibility of both the central and provincial government.
In 2005 an international agreement between the National Management Commission and the Hong Kong Institute of Planners was signed, enabling inter-acceptance between the China Mainland Professional Urban Planners and the Hong Kong Institute of Planners; this dictates that Mainland Professional Urban Planners may take a test to obtain membership to the Hong Kong Institute of Planners. Likewise, planners
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from the Hong Kong Institute may take an examination in Mainland to become certified there.
6. Guatemala
Under a decentralization process and with the approval of the new Municipal Code (May 2002), Municipal Planning Offices (OMPs) were established in Guatemala to coordinate and consolidate the diagnostics, plans, programs and projects for the development of municipalities. There are 331 OMPs with 1,000 people working in them. Challenges remain towards professionalizing the municipal planning profession in Guatemala and establishing standards of competencies of a municipal planner. The Secretary of Planning of the Presidency in Guatemala (SEGEPLAN) is currently making efforts to train staff of the Municipal Planning Offices (OMPs). The Central Government/ SEGEPLAN’s objective is to strengthen OMPs’ institutional capacity, particularly in the area of local investment planning and programming, including but not limited to identification, prioritization, evaluation of local development project, and land use planning. As the result of diagnosing the current institutional capacity of the OMPs, SEGEPLAN’s local assistance covers 22 OMPs, with one in each Department of the Republic.
This effort has helped SEGEPLAN identify the need to develop a Certification system meeting the qualifications of OMPs’ local government planners. Guatemala is one of the pioneers in the Certification of Urban and Regional Planners in Central America. The objective of this initiative is to set up a minimum standard of skills among OMPs’ staff, given the important role of this function in the sustainable socio-economic development of the local communities.
The fundamentals of Guatemala’s certification model have already been developed. Detailed curricula for urban planners in the areas: municipal planning, information systems, and project evaluation are in preparation. Also, SEGEPLAN has made an effort to build a network of municipal planners (i.e. REDGUAPLAN – Red Guatemalteca de Planificadores), which needs to be strengthened to be effective.
It should be noted that municipal planning is a broad area that covers a number of functions, including but not limited to: local public investment planning, urban and rural land use planning, and financial planning. In the case of Guatemala, the proposed model focuses in three certification areas: Communal Projects Specialist, Urban Land Use Specialists and Planning Management Specialists.
7. Philippines
Experiences regarding the certification of individuals and institutions in the Philippines involve the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), an organization that deals with the higher education situation in the country. The certification of professions
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is the responsibility of the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC). These two institutions work together with the academic schools.
The School of Urban and Regional Planning (SURP) at the University of the Philippines is the main academic institution offering a degree in Regional and Urban Planning, although there are other somewhat related programs in architecture schools. The association of United Architectures Philippines (UAP) represents the three main architecture schools in the country. Another related academic program is one at the Philippines Institute for Environmental Planners (PIEP).
SURP offers MA and Ph.D. degrees in urban and regional planning. The organization has a fairly comprehensive program covering eleven main areas in this field, and its graduates are recognized nationwide for their skills. The school has assisted numerous cities and municipalities in preparing for comprehensive land use plans and zoning ordinances. The findings indicate, however, that there is not an independent certification/accreditation authority for urban planners, which in developed nations is a job usually carried out by a national association of urban planners.
The United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) was recognized as the PRC’s most outstanding accredited professional organization in the year 2002. The UAP encompasses the history of three architectural organizations: the Philippine Institute of Architects (PIA), the League of Philippine Architects (LPA), and the Association of Philippine Government Architects (APGA). The three organizations become one: the United Architects of the Philippines.
The UAP received its accreditation from PRC on 26 March 1975, officially confirming the UAP as the only duly accredited professional organization of architects in the Philippines. The UAP’s objectives adhere strictly to the Architects National Code; these objectives thus include, but are not limited to: the establishment and promotion of the highest standards of architectural education, ethical conduct, and professional excellence in the practice and service of architecture. In matters concerning licensing and regulating the certification profession, he UAP also works with the Board of Architecture, the PRC, and other government agencies.
Another accredited professional organization that may be tapped to provide certification and training in urban planning is the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (PIEP), accompanied by the help of the Board of Environmental Planning. The PIEP was given accreditation by the PRC on 11 February 1993.
It may be concluded that certification programs for urban planning in the country have not been established, with the exception, perhaps, of the degree in UP provided by the UP-SURP, although strictly speaking this is not the certification of a third and independent authority. In fact, Urban Planning is not covered in the professions list regulated by the PRC. Urban Planning does not have accredited-professional-organizations under PRC. This does not mean, however, that UP cannot be a priority in the future, or that there is no need to establish new professional organizations. Existing
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4 -
accr
edite
d pr
ofes
sion
al o
rgan
izat
ions
like
the
UA
P an
d PI
EP, i
n co
ordi
natio
n w
ith U
P-SU
RP,
cou
ld h
elp
in s
trate
gizi
ng, p
repa
ring,
an
d im
plem
entin
g ur
ban
plan
ning
cer
tific
atio
n pr
ogra
ms i
n th
e fu
ture
. U
rban
Pla
nnin
g C
ertif
icat
ion
Mat
rix
– de
velo
ped
coun
trie
s
TA
BL
E 1
. Urb
an P
lann
ing
Cer
tific
atio
n M
atrix
: Sum
mar
y fo
r sel
ecte
d de
velo
ped
coun
tries
Key
El
emen
ts
USA
C
anad
a A
ustra
lia
Ger
man
y 1.
Cer
tifyi
ng
In
stitu
tion
The
Am
eric
an P
lann
ing
Ass
ocia
tion
(APA
), th
roug
h th
e A
mer
ican
Inst
itute
of C
ertif
ied
Plan
ners
(AIC
P), c
ertif
ies
prac
ticin
g pl
anne
rs, w
hich
is th
e pr
ofes
sion
al in
stitu
te o
f the
APA
. Th
e A
ICP
prov
ides
nat
ionw
ide
stan
dard
s for
the
plan
ning
pr
ofes
sion
. The
APA
has
46
chap
ters
that
repr
esen
t eve
ry st
ate
in th
e U
.S.
Ever
y ch
apte
r has
a
web
site
pro
vidi
ng in
form
atio
n on
pl
anni
ng a
t bot
h th
e st
ate
and
regi
onal
leve
l.
The
Plan
ning
Acc
redi
tatio
n B
oard
(P
AB
) acc
redi
ts b
oth
unde
rgra
duat
e an
d M
.A.’s
deg
ree
prog
ram
s.
Col
lege
and
uni
vers
ity p
rogr
ams a
re
accr
edite
d (“
reco
gniz
ed”)
by
the
Can
adia
n In
stitu
te o
f Pla
nner
s (C
IP).
The
CIP
als
o re
cogn
izes
pl
anni
ng p
rogr
ams t
hat h
ave
been
ac
cred
ited
by th
e U
S-ba
sed
Plan
ning
A
ccre
dita
tion
Boa
rd. T
he P
AB
ac
cred
its b
oth
unde
rgra
duat
e an
d m
aste
r’s d
egre
e pr
ogra
ms.
The
CIP
w
orks
in c
olla
bora
tion
with
seve
n af
filia
ted
(pro
vinc
ial)
inst
itute
s.
The
CIP
is a
lso
the
certi
fyin
g in
stitu
tion
for i
ndiv
idua
ls.
The
Plan
ning
Inst
itute
of
Aus
tralia
(PIA
) is t
he c
ertif
ying
in
stitu
tion.
Rec
ogni
tion
of
qual
ifica
tions
has
bee
n tra
ditio
nally
app
lied
to th
e ed
ucat
iona
l ins
titut
ion
rath
er th
an
to th
e in
divi
dual
. H
owev
er, f
or
the
first
tim
e la
st y
ear (
2006
) it
was
intro
duce
d in
the
Cer
tifie
d Pr
actic
ing
Plan
ner (
CPP
) in
itiat
ive.
Prof
essi
ons l
ike
arch
itect
ure
and
city
/urb
an p
lann
ing
are
regu
late
d by
th
e fe
dera
l sta
tes,
and
each
stat
e ho
lds
a lis
t of t
he a
rchi
tect
s and
city
/urb
an
plan
ners
. H
ence
, a c
entra
l ac
cred
itatio
n do
es n
ot e
xist
. B
esid
es
the
Fede
ral s
tate
Cha
mbe
rs o
f A
rchi
tect
ure
and
Urb
an P
lann
ing,
w
hich
onl
y re
gula
te th
e pr
otec
tion
of
the
prof
essi
onal
title
, the
re a
re
asso
ciat
ions
, suc
h as
the
Prof
essi
onal
A
ssoc
iatio
n fo
r City
, Reg
iona
l- an
d La
nd U
se P
lann
ing,
repr
esen
ting
the
inte
rest
s of t
he u
rban
pro
fess
ion.
Th
ere
are
diff
eren
t (re
gion
al)
inst
itutio
ns in
volv
ed in
the
accr
edita
tion/
qua
lity
assu
ranc
e pr
oces
s. T
heir
func
tions
rang
e fr
om
deve
lopm
ent o
f qua
lity
crite
ria fo
r the
ac
cred
itatio
n of
stud
y pr
ogra
ms i
n ar
chite
ctur
e an
d pl
anni
ng (A
SAP)
; ac
cred
itatio
n of
acc
redi
ting
inst
itutio
ns
(Ger
man
Acc
redi
tatio
n C
ounc
il);
regi
stra
tion
in th
e C
ham
ber a
nd
prot
ectio
n of
the
title
‘city
/urb
an
plan
ner’
(Fed
eral
stat
e C
ham
bers
of
Arc
hite
ctur
e an
d U
rban
Pla
nnin
g); o
r m
ore
advo
catin
g fo
r rec
ogni
tion
of th
e ne
cess
ity o
f urb
an p
lann
ing.
- 1
5 -
2. C
ertif
icat
ion
Req
uire
men
ts
Plan
ning
Pro
gram
s: T
he P
AB
ac
cred
itatio
n en
sure
s tha
t gr
adua
tes h
ave
at le
ast a
m
inim
um k
now
ledg
e of
: -
Stru
ctur
e an
d fu
nctio
ns o
f urb
an
settl
emen
ts.
- H
isto
ry a
nd th
eory
of p
lann
ing
proc
esse
s and
pra
ctic
es.
- A
dmin
istra
tive,
lega
l, an
d po
litic
al a
spec
ts o
f pla
n-m
akin
g an
d po
licy
impl
emen
tatio
n.
- K
now
ledg
e of
a p
artic
ular
sp
ecia
lizat
ion
or p
lann
ing
Issu
e.
Plan
ners
who
dem
onst
rate
that
th
ey m
eet h
igh
stan
dard
s of
tech
nica
l, th
eore
tical
, and
eth
ical
kn
owle
dge
in th
e fie
ld w
ill e
arn
AIC
P C
ertif
icat
ion.
Aca
dem
ic In
stitu
tions
:
The
CIP
and
The
PA
B h
ave
sim
ilar
requ
irem
ents
.
Indi
vidu
als :
The
requ
irem
ents
for
certi
ficat
ion
are
near
ly th
e sa
me
as
thos
e to
bec
ome
a C
IP m
embe
r. Th
ese
requ
irem
ents
are
as f
ollo
ws:
- A m
embe
r mus
t hav
e el
ecte
d ca
ndid
ates
. -
Can
dida
tes m
ust h
old
a re
cogn
ized
deg
ree
in p
lann
ing.
- C
andi
date
s mus
t hav
e a
min
imum
of
two
year
s of r
espo
nsib
le
prof
essi
onal
pla
nnin
g ex
perie
nce.
- C
andi
date
s mus
t hav
e su
cces
sful
ly
com
plet
ed a
n or
al e
xam
inat
ion
to
the
satis
fact
ion
of th
e af
filia
te.
For i
nstit
utio
ns, t
wo
mai
n re
quire
men
ts n
eed
to b
e m
et. O
ne,
a “C
ore
Cur
ricul
um in
Pla
nnin
g”
mus
t be
oper
atin
g in
the
plan
ning
pr
ogra
m. S
econ
dly,
the
prog
ram
m
ust m
eet t
he “
Vis
iting
Boa
rd
Req
uire
men
ts”
For i
ndiv
idua
ls, p
lann
ers m
ust
have
a d
egre
e fr
om a
reco
gniz
ed
prog
ram
and
at l
east
two
year
s of
expe
rienc
e as
pla
nner
s. A
lso,
as
of Ju
ly 2
006,
mem
bers
are
re
quire
d to
ach
ieve
60
Prof
essi
onal
Dev
elop
men
t (PD
) po
ints
in a
con
secu
tive
two-
year
pe
riod.
For i
ndiv
idua
ls
A re
quire
men
t for
the
mem
bers
hip
in
the
Fede
ral s
tate
Cha
mbe
r of
Arc
hite
ctur
e an
d U
rban
Pla
nnin
g is
re
leva
nt u
nive
rsity
edu
catio
n of
us
ually
at l
east
four
yea
rs, a
s wel
l as
prof
essi
onal
exp
erie
nce
of u
sual
ly a
t le
ast t
wo
year
s. T
his i
s exa
min
ed b
y a
regi
stra
tion
com
mitt
ee o
f the
re
spec
tive
Cha
mbe
r. O
nly
by
com
plet
ing
this
pro
cedu
re a
nd
regi
stra
tion
in th
e C
ham
ber t
he ti
tle
“city
/urb
an p
lann
er”
may
be
carri
ed.
For a
cade
mic
pro
gram
s A
Bac
helo
r’s,
follo
wed
by
a M
aste
r’s
degr
ee c
ompr
ises
a fi
ve-y
ear
cons
ecut
ive
stud
y pe
riod
in tw
o st
ages
. B
ache
lor’
s deg
rees
qua
lify
grad
uate
s fo
r pro
fess
iona
l pra
ctic
e re
gard
less
of
the
dura
tion
of th
e co
urse
, bot
h na
tiona
lly a
nd in
tern
atio
nally
. H
owev
er, u
nlik
e M
aste
r’s c
ours
es,
they
do
not m
eet t
he re
quire
men
ts fo
r th
e gr
antin
g of
title
s of o
ccup
atio
n lik
e ‘u
rban
pla
nner
’.
The
accr
edita
tion
proc
ess m
ust a
lso
asce
rtain
whe
ther
a sp
ecifi
c M
aste
r’s
degr
ee c
orre
spon
ds w
ith th
e qu
alifi
catio
ns re
quire
d fo
r hig
her c
ivil
serv
ice
posi
tions
. In
view
of t
his
incr
ease
d gl
obal
izat
ion
and
mob
ility
, ur
ban
and
regi
onal
pla
nner
s sh
ould
be
educ
ated
to re
spec
t, an
alyz
e an
d pr
otec
t diff
eren
t cul
tura
l ba
ckgr
ound
s, to
ass
ume
resp
onsi
bilit
y in
soci
ety,
to ta
ke in
to a
ccou
nt th
e le
gal a
nd p
roce
dura
l fra
mew
ork
cond
ition
s rel
evan
t to
the
impl
emen
tatio
n of
thei
r pro
ject
s, an
d to
pay
atte
ntio
n to
loca
l con
text
s
- 1
6 -
and
iden
titie
s of p
ossi
ble
futu
re fi
elds
of
act
ivity
. 3.
Are
as o
f
Spec
ializ
atio
n A
ccre
dita
tion
incl
udes
un
derg
radu
ate
and
mas
ter’
s de
gree
. Ph.
D. p
rogr
ams i
n pl
anni
ng a
re n
ot c
ertif
ied
by th
e PA
B. T
he u
nder
grad
uate
and
m
aste
r’s d
egre
e pr
ogra
ms a
re
liste
d to
geth
er u
nder
eac
h sc
hool
, in
clud
ing
both
acc
redi
ted
and
non-
accr
edite
d A
CSP
mem
ber
scho
ols.
Bot
h th
e C
IP a
nd th
e PA
B re
view
un
derg
radu
ate
and
mas
ter’
s deg
ree
prog
ram
s for
the
purp
oses
of
accr
edita
tion.
Tho
ugh
Ph. D
. pr
ogra
ms i
n pl
anni
ng a
re re
cogn
ized
by
the
CIP
, the
se p
rogr
ams a
re n
ot
cons
ider
ed fo
r cer
tific
atio
n by
the
PAB
. Th
e C
IP’s
web
site
incl
udes
th
e lis
t of a
ll R
ecog
nize
d U
nive
rsity
Pr
ogra
ms i
n C
anad
a.
In so
me
stat
es (i
.e. V
icto
ria)
mem
bers
may
cho
ose
amon
g se
vera
l cha
pter
s whe
n th
ey a
pply
fo
r mem
bers
hip/
reco
gniti
on. I
n V
icto
ria, a
PIA
mem
ber m
ay
choo
se a
mon
g si
x di
ffer
ent t
ypes
of
spec
ializ
atio
ns/ c
hapt
ers,
incl
udin
g: U
rban
and
Reg
iona
l Pl
anni
ng, S
ocia
l Pla
nnin
g,
Econ
omic
Pla
nnin
g, U
rban
D
esig
n, E
nviro
nmen
tal P
lann
ing,
an
d Tr
ansp
ort P
lann
ing.
The
actu
al o
bjec
ts o
f the
acc
redi
tatio
n pr
oces
s are
stud
y pr
ogra
ms f
or
Bac
helo
r and
Mas
ter D
egre
es fr
om
stat
e, o
r rec
ogni
zed
by th
e st
ate,
H
ighe
r Edu
catio
n In
stitu
tions
in
Ger
man
y
4. C
ertif
icat
ion
P
roce
ss
Plan
ners
who
are
inte
rest
ed in
se
ekin
g A
ICP
certi
ficat
ion
mus
t ta
ke a
n ex
am (o
ffer
ed tw
ice
a ye
ar).
Plan
ners
with
an
accr
edite
d gr
adua
te d
egre
e m
ust a
lso
have
at
leas
t tw
o ye
ars o
f pro
fess
iona
l pl
anni
ng e
xper
ienc
e be
fore
they
m
ay a
pply
to ta
ke th
e A
ICP
certi
ficat
ion
exam
. Pro
spec
t ca
ndid
ates
may
con
tact
the
AIC
P w
ebsi
te fo
r inf
orm
atio
n on
exa
m
sche
dule
s, a
self-
stud
y gu
ide,
fe
es, a
nd o
ther
rela
ted
info
rmat
ion.
Col
lege
s and
uni
vers
ities
inte
rest
ed
in b
eing
cer
tifie
d (“
accr
edite
d”) c
an
initi
ate
thei
r ow
n re
ques
t/pro
cess
w
ith e
ither
the
CIP
or t
he P
AB
. A
fter r
evie
win
g ea
ch in
stitu
tion’
s ac
adem
ic p
rogr
am a
nd p
erfo
rmin
g sp
ecifi
c ve
rific
atio
ns th
e C
IP a
nd
the
Boa
rd is
sue
the
accr
edita
tion
docu
men
t. Th
e PA
B re
gula
rly
revi
ews p
rogr
ams t
o m
aint
ain
stan
dard
s.
Can
dida
tes t
o ce
rtific
atio
n ne
ed to
m
eet t
he sa
me
crite
ria to
bec
ome
mem
bers
of t
he C
IP. M
embe
rs jo
in
thro
ugh
thei
r loc
al a
ffili
ate.
C
andi
date
s hol
ding
a d
egre
e in
pl
anni
ng fr
om a
reco
gniz
ed
univ
ersi
ty w
ith w
hich
the
degr
ee
prog
ram
is a
ffili
ated
mig
ht b
e gr
ante
d ex
empt
ion
from
the
CIP
ex
amin
atio
n. E
very
can
dida
te m
ust
have
com
plet
ed a
min
imum
of t
wo-
year
s of p
rofe
ssio
nal p
lann
ing
expe
rienc
e, re
cord
ed in
a lo
gboo
k.
PIA
car
ries o
ut th
e re
cogn
ition
pr
oces
s. Fo
r pla
nnin
g pr
ogra
ms,
the
natio
nal e
duca
tion
spec
ialis
t (N
EE) o
f PIA
, app
oint
ed b
y th
e na
tiona
l cou
ncil
of P
IA, i
s re
spon
sibl
e fo
r org
aniz
ing
the
revi
ews f
or c
ontin
ued
reco
gniti
on
of q
ualif
icat
ions
. Whe
n a
revi
ew
is d
ue, t
he N
EE c
onta
cts t
he h
ead
of th
e pl
anni
ng p
rogr
am to
ar
rang
e a
date
whe
n st
uden
ts a
re
avai
labl
e to
take
par
t in
the
proc
ess.
Rev
iew
s are
und
erta
ken
by
visi
ting
boar
ds (V
B) a
ppoi
nted
by
the
natio
nal e
duca
tion
conv
enor
of
PIA
in c
onsu
ltatio
n w
ith th
e na
tiona
l and
stat
e pr
esid
ents
of
PIA
and
the
head
of t
he p
lann
ing
prog
ram
. V
Bs a
re c
ompo
sed
of th
ree
mem
bers
; tw
o PI
A m
embe
rs fr
om
the
Reg
iona
l Div
isio
n an
d a
full-
time
acad
emic
from
out
of s
tate
. V
B m
embe
rs m
ake
reco
mm
enda
tions
bas
ed o
n
The
accr
edita
tion
proc
ess i
s car
ried
out
by th
e G
erm
an A
ccre
dita
tion
Cou
ncil
upon
requ
est f
rom
the
accr
edita
tion
agen
cy. B
efor
e an
y ag
ency
is g
iven
the
auth
ority
to a
war
d th
e Q
ualit
y C
ertif
icat
e of
the
Foun
datio
n fo
r stu
dy
prog
ram
s tha
t hav
e su
cces
sful
ly
acco
mpl
ishe
d an
acc
redi
tatio
n pr
oces
s, it
mus
t its
elf b
e su
bjec
ted
to a
n ac
cred
itatio
n pr
oces
s.
The
accr
edita
tion
proc
ess i
s mad
e up
of
seve
ral s
tage
s and
is b
ased
on
the
peer
revi
ew p
rinci
ple.
Whe
n a
Hig
her
Educ
atio
n In
stitu
tion
subm
its a
n ap
plic
atio
n fo
r the
acc
redi
tatio
n of
a
stud
y pr
ogra
mm
e to
an
agen
cy th
at
they
hav
e ch
osen
, the
rele
vant
Age
ncy
depl
oys a
n ev
alua
tion
grou
p w
hose
co
mpo
sitio
n m
ust b
e a
refle
ctio
n no
t ju
st o
f the
spec
ialis
t con
tent
focu
s of
the
stud
y pr
ogra
mm
e bu
t als
o of
its
spec
ific
prof
ile. I
n ea
ch c
ase
the
eval
uatio
n gr
oup
is m
ade
up o
f re
pres
enta
tives
of H
ighe
r Edu
catio
n In
stitu
tions
, i.e
. tea
cher
s and
stud
ents
, an
d of
repr
esen
tativ
es o
f the
- 1
7 -
spec
ific
crite
ria a
nd su
bmit
a re
port
to P
IA’s
nat
iona
l cou
ncil,
w
hich
mak
es th
e fin
al d
ecis
ion.
In
divi
dual
mus
t fill
out
an
appl
icat
ion
and
subm
it th
eir C
V, a
co
py o
f the
ir ac
adem
ic d
egre
e,
trans
crip
ts a
nd th
e ap
prop
riate
fe
e.
prof
essi
on. T
he e
valu
atio
n of
the
stud
y pr
ogra
mm
e is
car
ried
out i
n ac
cord
ance
with
the
give
n C
riter
ia fo
r th
e A
ccre
dita
tion
of S
tudy
Pr
ogra
mm
es b
y th
e A
ccre
dita
tion
Cou
ncil
and,
as a
rule
, inc
lude
s an
on-
site
vis
it of
the
inst
itutio
n by
the
eval
uato
rs.
On
the
basi
s of t
he
asse
ssm
ent r
epor
t dra
wn
up b
y th
e ev
alua
tion
grou
p, a
nd in
acc
orda
nce
with
the
deci
sion
regu
latio
ns p
rovi
ded
by th
e A
ccre
dita
tion
Cou
ncil,
the
resp
onsi
ble
Acc
redi
tatio
n C
omm
issi
on
from
the
Age
ncy
deci
des e
ither
to
gran
t an
accr
edita
tion
for t
he re
leva
nt
stud
y pr
ogra
mm
e, to
gra
nt a
n ac
cred
itatio
n w
ith c
ondi
tions
, to
aban
don
the
proc
ess o
r to
reje
ct th
e ac
cred
itatio
n.
5. R
equi
red
In
stitu
tiona
l
Cap
acity
The
inst
itutio
nal c
apac
ity
invo
lves
seve
ral p
laye
rs.
- A
ccre
dita
tion
is p
rom
oted
by
the
Ass
ocia
tion
of P
lann
ers
(APA
). -
APA
cre
ated
the
Plan
ning
A
ccre
dita
tion
Boa
rd (P
AB
) for
co
llege
s and
uni
vers
ities
in
tere
sted
in b
eing
acc
redi
ted
by
PAB
. -
The
role
of P
AB
is p
rimar
ily to
ve
rify
com
plia
nce
of th
e ac
adem
ic in
stitu
tions
with
re
quire
men
ts fo
r acc
redi
tatio
n.
- Th
e A
ssoc
iatio
n of
Col
legi
ate
Scho
ols o
f Pla
nnin
g (A
CSP
) is a
m
embe
r org
aniz
atio
n of
the
acad
emic
com
mun
ity in
pla
nnin
g.
It m
aint
ains
cur
rent
info
rmat
ion
on li
ne o
n sc
hool
s pro
vidi
ng
degr
ees i
n pl
anni
ng. .
AC
SP a
lso
prov
ides
a li
st o
f non
-acc
redi
ted
The
inst
itutio
nal c
apac
ity th
at is
cu
rren
tly n
eede
d in
clud
es th
e C
IP,
the
acad
emic
inst
itutio
ns, a
nd th
e pl
anne
rs. C
IP w
orks
in c
olla
bora
tion
with
APA
(the
Am
eric
an In
stitu
te o
f Pl
anne
rs) a
nd th
e PA
B.
Col
lege
s an
d un
iver
sitie
s int
eres
ted
in b
eing
ac
cred
ited
initi
ate
the
proc
ess
thro
ugh
CIP
whi
ch re
view
s and
ve
rifie
s com
plia
nce
of th
e ac
adem
ic
inst
itutio
ns w
ith th
e pr
eest
ablis
hed
requ
irem
ents
for a
ccre
dita
tion
/cer
tific
atio
n.
The
list o
f sch
ools
off
erin
g de
gree
s in
pla
nnin
g is
mai
ntai
ned
by th
e C
IP
and
is a
vaila
ble
in th
e w
ebsi
te.
Add
ition
ally
in th
e U
SA, t
he
Ass
ocia
tion
of C
olle
giat
e Sc
hool
s of
Plan
ning
(AC
SP) m
aint
ains
cur
rent
in
form
atio
n on
line
on
scho
ols
prov
idin
g de
gree
s in
plan
ning
ed
ucat
ion.
AC
SP a
lso
prov
ides
a
The
proc
ess i
nvol
ves t
he
inst
itutio
nal c
apac
ities
of t
he
univ
ersi
ties’
pla
nnin
g pr
ogra
ms
and
that
of t
he P
lann
ing
Inst
itute
of
Aus
tralia
(PIA
). It
shou
ld b
e no
ted
that
indi
vidu
als
mus
t fill
out
an
appl
icat
ion
for
mem
bers
hip,
whi
ch is
ava
ilabl
e on
the
web
site
of e
ach
stat
e an
d te
rrito
rial d
ivis
ion.
The
inst
itutio
nal c
apac
ity in
volv
es
seve
ral p
laye
rs.
Bes
ides
the
Fede
ral s
tate
Cha
mbe
rs o
f A
rchi
tect
ure
and
Urb
an P
lann
ing,
w
hich
onl
y re
gula
te th
e pr
otec
tion
of
the
prof
essi
onal
title
, the
re a
re
asso
ciat
ions
, suc
h as
the
Prof
essi
onal
A
ssoc
iatio
n fo
r City
, Reg
iona
l- an
d La
nd U
se P
lann
ing
repr
esen
ting
the
inte
rest
s of t
he u
rban
pro
fess
ion.
- 1
8 -
scho
ols.
list o
f non
-acc
redi
ted
scho
ols.
6. C
ontin
uing
Edu
catio
n fo
r
Cer
tific
atio
n
Ren
ewal
The
certi
ficat
ion
mai
nten
ance
(C
M) r
equi
rem
ents
for C
Ps a
re
the
follo
win
g: W
ithin
eac
h tw
o-ye
ar p
erio
d, A
ICP
certi
fied
plan
ners
are
requ
ired
to e
ngag
e in
at
leas
t 32
cred
its o
f elig
ible
pr
ofes
sion
al d
evel
opm
ent
activ
ities
, eff
ectiv
e Ja
nuar
y 1,
20
08.
No
min
imum
num
ber o
f cr
edits
nee
ds to
be
logg
ed p
er
year
so lo
ng a
s 32
qual
ifyin
g cr
edits
are
logg
ed in
dur
ing
each
tw
o-ye
ar re
porti
ng p
erio
d. A
m
axim
um o
f 16
exce
ss c
redi
ts
can
be c
arrie
d ov
er to
the
next
re
porti
ng c
ycle
. If A
ICP
certi
ficat
ion
mai
nten
ance
re
quire
men
ts a
re n
ot m
et w
ithin
fo
ur y
ears
, an
AIC
P m
embe
r will
lo
se A
ICP
certi
ficat
ion
and
will
be
obl
iged
to se
ek re
certi
ficat
ion
in o
rder
to re
tain
the
AIC
P cr
eden
tial.
Con
tinuo
us P
rofe
ssio
nal L
earn
ing
(C
PL) a
pplie
s to
all p
ract
icin
g m
embe
rs, w
ho a
re e
xpec
ted
to
com
ply
with
a m
inim
um o
f 18
lear
ning
uni
ts (L
Us)
per
yea
r (or
54
LUs o
ver 3
yea
rs),
whi
ch a
re
man
dato
ry a
cros
s Can
ada.
CPL
is
desi
gned
to o
pera
te u
nder
a se
lf-re
porti
ng sy
stem
, whi
ch is
requ
ired
in o
rder
to re
valid
ate
a m
embe
r’s
certi
ficat
e.
Prof
essi
onal
Dev
elop
men
t (PD
) ad
dres
ses t
he n
eed
for l
ifelo
ng
lear
ning
in th
e w
orkp
lace
. M
embe
rs a
re re
quire
d to
ach
ieve
60
PD
poi
nts i
n a
cons
ecut
ive
two-
year
per
iod,
and
the
CPP
Pl
anni
ng P
ract
ice
Cou
rse
units
w
ill c
ount
tow
ards
PD
. Eac
h ho
ur
of P
D su
ch a
s sem
inar
, co
nfer
ence
atte
ndan
ce,
invo
lvem
ent i
n PI
A C
omm
ittee
s, et
c w
ill p
rovi
de 1
PD
poi
nt p
er
hour
of a
ctiv
ity. M
embe
rs a
re
requ
ired
to k
eep
reco
rds o
f the
ir PD
par
ticip
atio
n an
d fr
om Ju
ly
2006
com
plia
nce
will
be
audi
ted.
PI
A is
cur
rent
ly d
evel
opin
g a
new
sy
stem
, whi
ch w
ill e
nabl
e m
embe
rs to
regi
ster
for e
vent
s an
d re
cord
thei
r PD
par
ticip
atio
n on
line
.
If a
stud
y pr
ogra
mm
e ha
s suc
cess
fully
un
derg
one
an a
ccre
dita
tion
proc
ess,
then
it is
aw
arde
d ac
cred
itatio
n fo
r a
limite
d pe
riod,
with
or w
ithou
t co
nditi
ons,
and
carr
ies t
he Q
ualit
y C
ertif
icat
e of
the
Foun
datio
n fo
r the
du
ratio
n of
this
per
iod.
7. P
rofe
ssio
nal
R
ecog
nitio
n U
pon
rece
ivin
g A
ICP
Cer
tific
atio
n, p
lann
ers m
ay u
se
the
initi
als “
AIC
P” a
fter t
heir
nam
es. A
ICP
certi
fied
plan
ners
ar
e re
quire
d to
adh
ere
to th
e A
ICP
Cod
e of
Eth
ics.
AIC
P C
ertif
icat
ion
yiel
ds ta
ngib
le
resu
lts fo
r pro
spec
tive
empl
oyer
s an
d pl
anni
ng p
rofe
ssio
nals
as
dem
onst
rate
d in
the
resu
lts o
f the
20
04 A
PA S
alar
y Su
rvey
. C
ertif
ied
plan
ners
ear
ned
$13,
000
mor
e, o
n av
erag
e, th
an n
on-
certi
fied
plan
ners
. Man
y or
gani
zatio
ns e
ither
requ
ire
Cer
tific
atio
n as
“R
egis
tere
d Pr
ofes
sion
al P
lann
er”
(RPP
) has
tra
ditio
nally
dem
onst
rate
d pr
ofes
sion
al tr
aini
ng a
nd
com
mitm
ent.
Mem
bers
hip
in C
IP
mea
ns th
at th
e pl
anne
r is f
ully
qu
alifi
ed a
nd e
xper
ienc
ed, a
nd th
at
they
adh
ere
to a
Cod
e of
Pr
ofes
sion
al C
ondu
ct th
at se
ts
ethi
cal s
tand
ards
for t
he p
rofe
ssio
n.
Indi
vidu
als,
who
hav
e a
degr
ee
from
a re
cogn
ized
pro
gram
and
at
leas
t tw
o ye
ars o
f exp
erie
nce
as
plan
ners
, and
in a
dditi
on w
ho
com
ply
with
60
units
of P
D
poin
ts in
a c
onse
cutiv
e tw
o-ye
ar
perio
d, a
re re
cogn
ized
by
PIA
as
Cer
tifie
d Pr
actic
ing
Plan
ners
(C
PP),
whi
ch h
as si
gnifi
cant
ly
enha
nced
nat
iona
l and
in
tern
atio
nal r
ecog
nitio
n of
the
prof
essi
on.
By
com
plet
ing
this
pro
cedu
re a
nd
regi
stra
tion
in th
e C
ham
ber t
he ti
tle
“city
/urb
an p
lann
er”
may
be
carri
ed.
Th
e ac
adem
ic o
rgan
izat
ions
may
car
ry
the
Qua
lity
Cer
tific
ate
of th
e Fo
unda
tion
for t
he A
ccre
dita
tion
of
Stud
y Pr
ogra
mm
es in
Ger
man
y on
ce
accr
edite
d.
- 1
9 -
certi
ficat
ion
or g
ive
stro
ng
pref
eren
ce to
cer
tifie
d pl
anne
rs in
th
eir h
iring
pra
ctic
es.
8. C
ost o
f
Cer
tific
atio
n Th
e ac
cred
itatio
n co
sts a
re
gene
rally
cov
ered
by
the
inte
rest
ed in
divi
dual
s and
in
stitu
tions
that
ben
efit
from
ce
rtific
atio
n. T
he o
pera
tiona
l co
sts o
f the
ass
ocia
tions
(APA
, A
ICP
and
AC
SP) a
re m
ainl
y fin
ance
d by
ann
ual m
embe
rshi
p fe
es, i
n ad
ditio
n to
the
spec
ific
fees
for t
he se
rvic
es th
at th
ese
asso
ciat
ions
pro
vide
. Th
e ac
cred
itatio
n co
sts a
re p
rimar
ily
asso
ciat
ed w
ith th
e ve
rific
atio
n of
cr
eden
tials
for t
he a
cade
mic
in
stitu
tions
and
indi
vidu
al
plan
ners
. Fee
s are
equ
ival
ent t
o ab
out h
alf a
per
cent
(0.5
%) o
f the
an
nual
sala
ry o
f a C
PP. F
or n
ew
prof
essi
onal
s the
fee
is $
145
(APA
$70
and
AIC
P $7
5). T
he
cost
of t
he A
ICP’
s Exa
m
Prep
arat
ion
Cou
rse
& C
D is
$15
0.
Mem
bers
hip
fees
in th
e O
ntar
io
Prov
ince
(OPP
I), f
or in
stan
ce, a
re
divi
ded
into
five
cat
egor
ies:
Pr
ovis
iona
l Mem
bers
hip,
Pub
lic
Ass
ocia
te, m
embe
r rei
nsta
tem
ent
(whi
ch in
clud
es p
rofe
ssio
nal
liabi
lity
insu
ranc
e), f
ull m
embe
r ap
plyi
ng fo
r rei
nsta
tem
ent,
and
stud
ent m
embe
rshi
p. E
ach
cate
gory
in
clud
es m
embe
rshi
p to
CIP
, whi
ch
is $
142.
06 a
nnua
lly, e
xcep
t for
st
uden
ts, f
or w
hom
it is
$14
.33.
O
PPI m
embe
rshi
p ra
nges
bet
wee
n $2
03.6
9 an
d $2
60.4
1. O
ther
ann
ual
fees
rang
e be
twee
n $3
66.4
9 an
d $6
80.1
7 a
year
, exc
ept f
or st
uden
ts,
for w
hom
it is
$60
.28.
The
ex
amin
atio
n co
st is
$15
0 fo
r non
-re
side
nts.
Adm
issi
on a
nd a
nnua
l fee
s of P
IA
cove
r PIA
’s o
pera
tiona
l cos
ts, a
s w
ell a
s the
cos
t of c
ertif
icat
ion,
am
ong
othe
r act
iviti
es.
PIA
has
two
basi
c fe
e st
ruct
ures
, on
e fo
r Aus
tralia
-bas
ed m
embe
rs
and
the
othe
r for
mem
bers
out
side
of
Aus
tralia
, as i
llust
rate
d in
A
ppen
dix
H. I
n ad
ditio
n th
ere
is a
on
e-tim
e ad
mis
sion
fee
of $
65.0
0 to
bec
ome
a m
embe
r and
the
annu
al m
embe
rshi
p fo
r yea
r 07-
08 is
$46
5.00
.
Not
spec
ified
9. C
ertif
icat
ion
Q
ualit
y
Con
trol
AIC
P pr
ovid
es le
ader
ship
in
setti
ng n
atio
nal s
tand
ards
for t
he
plan
ning
pro
fess
ion.
Pla
nner
s w
ho d
emon
stra
te th
at th
ey m
eet
high
stan
dard
s of t
echn
ical
, th
eore
tical
, his
toric
al, a
nd e
thic
al
know
ledg
e in
the
field
ear
n A
ICP
Cer
tific
atio
n.
Qua
lity
of c
ertif
icat
ion
is p
ract
ical
ly
enfo
rced
at t
he p
rovi
ncia
l lev
el b
y th
e A
ffili
ate
and
over
seen
at t
he
natio
nal l
evel
by
the
CIP
- su
bjec
t to
spec
ific
natio
nal s
tand
ards
.
Seve
ral i
nter
este
d pa
rties
on
both
si
des o
f the
pro
cess
ove
rsee
the
reco
gniti
on o
f qua
lific
atio
ns. O
n th
e PI
A si
de, t
here
are
abo
ut
seve
n ad
min
istra
tors
resp
onsi
ble
for d
iffer
ent s
teps
in th
e ac
cred
itatio
n pr
oces
s. Th
ey
incl
ude
the
natio
nal c
ounc
il of
PI
A, w
hich
ove
rsee
s the
ent
ire
proc
ess a
nd re
view
s eac
h re
ques
t; th
e na
tiona
l edu
catio
n co
nven
or
of P
IA, w
ho a
ppoi
nts t
he th
ree
mem
bers
of t
he V
isiti
ng B
oard
; an
d th
e na
tiona
l edu
catio
n sp
ecia
list o
f PIA
, who
coo
rdin
ates
App
licat
ions
for a
ccre
dita
tion
shou
ld
incl
ude
• a b
rief u
nive
rsity
pro
file
incl
udin
g in
form
atio
n on
its n
atio
nal,
regi
onal
, or
urba
n co
ntex
ts if
thes
e af
fect
the
educ
atio
nal
prof
ile
• a sh
ort d
escr
iptio
n of
the
prog
ram
me’
s his
tory
and
its
deve
lopm
ent i
nto
a m
ulti-
stag
e co
urse
of s
tudi
es
• inf
orm
atio
n on
the
depa
rtmen
t’s
theo
retic
al a
nd d
idac
tic a
ppro
ache
s, ed
ucat
iona
l ta
sks a
nd v
isio
ns
- 2
0 -
the
revi
ew w
ith th
e he
ad o
f the
pl
anni
ng p
rogr
am a
nd th
e th
ree
mem
bers
of t
he V
isiti
ng B
oard
. O
ne o
f the
m is
usu
ally
the
pres
iden
t of s
tate
PIA
, one
is a
PI
A m
embe
r, an
d th
e th
ird m
ust
be b
oth
from
a d
iffer
ent s
tate
and
a
full-
time
acad
emic
in th
e pl
anni
ng fi
eld.
From
the
univ
ersi
ty a
nd p
lann
ing
prog
ram
side
the
proc
ess i
s m
ainl
y ov
ervi
ewed
by
the
head
of
the
prog
ram
, the
staf
f, an
d st
uden
t re
pres
enta
tives
.
• inf
orm
atio
n on
stud
ents
’ bac
kgro
unds
in
so fa
r as t
hese
aff
ect t
he n
atur
e an
d go
als o
f the
cou
rses
in q
uest
ion
• a se
lf-ev
alua
tion
rega
rdin
g th
e un
iver
sity
’s e
duca
tiona
l pol
icy
and
the
exis
ting
or re
quire
d ch
ange
s in
its e
quip
men
t w
ith e
duca
tiona
l too
ls, a
s wel
l as a
cr
itica
l ass
essm
ent o
f the
cou
rses
’ and
en
tire
prog
ram
me’
s ove
rall
educ
atio
nal
goal
s • d
ata
on c
onta
cts w
ith a
lum
ni a
nd h
ow
succ
essf
ul th
ey a
re in
thei
r car
eers
Ev
alua
tions
car
ried
out i
n th
e pa
st
shou
ld b
e lis
ted,
dis
tingu
ishi
ng
betw
een
exte
rnal
and
inte
rnal
ev
alua
tions
. In
terd
isci
plin
arity
is a
n es
sent
ial p
art
of th
e pr
ofes
sion
al a
ctiv
ities
of u
rban
an
d re
gion
al p
lann
ers a
nd m
ust
ther
efor
e fo
rm a
n eq
ually
ess
entia
l par
t of
the
resp
ectiv
e hi
gher
edu
catio
n. In
pa
rticu
lar,
desi
gn a
nd p
lann
ing
proj
ects
invo
lvin
g a
grea
t num
ber o
f pr
ofes
sion
al d
isci
plin
es c
o-op
erat
ing
are
suita
ble
field
s of a
ctiv
ities
. D
ocum
ents
shou
ld g
ive
proo
f of h
ow
inte
rdis
cipl
inar
ity is
take
n in
to a
ccou
nt
in th
e st
udy
prog
ram
me
of th
e ap
plic
ant u
nive
rsity
or d
epar
tmen
t, an
d sh
ould
spec
ify th
e te
achi
ng ‘i
mpo
rts’
and
‘exp
orts
’ bey
ond
and
betw
een
prof
essi
onal
su
bjec
ts.
10
. Int
er-
J
uris
dict
iona
l
Rec
ogni
tion
The
APA
reco
gniz
es a
nd re
spec
ts
exis
ting
stat
e lic
ensi
ng o
r cr
eden
tial r
equi
rem
ents
and
su
ppor
ts it
s mem
bers
pra
ctic
ing
the
prof
essi
on o
f pla
nnin
g in
th
ose
stat
es.
The
CIP
reco
gniz
es p
lann
ing
prog
ram
s tha
t hav
e be
en a
ccre
dite
d by
the
US-
base
d PA
B. I
n tu
rn, A
ICP
reco
gniz
es C
anad
ian
plan
ning
pr
ogra
ms t
hat h
ave
been
app
rove
d by
CIP
. A
lso,
mem
bers
of a
The
Plan
ning
Inst
itute
of
Aus
tralia
wor
ks in
coo
rdin
atio
n w
ith P
IA’s
Sta
te/ T
errit
ory
Div
isio
n re
pres
enta
tives
in th
e re
view
of p
lann
ing
prog
ram
s na
tionw
ide.
Pla
nnin
g pr
ogra
ms
The
Ger
man
Acc
redi
tatio
n C
ounc
il w
orks
in c
oord
inat
ion
with
the
Foun
datio
n fo
r the
Acc
redi
tatio
n of
St
udy
Prog
ram
mes
in G
erm
any
(ASA
P), w
hich
form
ulat
es th
e qu
ality
cr
iteria
, as w
ell a
s with
oth
er re
gion
al
- 2
1 -
prov
inci
al in
stitu
te, f
or in
stan
ce th
e O
ntar
io P
rofe
ssio
nal P
lann
ers
Inst
itute
(OPP
I), a
re a
lso
mem
bers
of
the
CIP
and
are
reco
gniz
ed a
s pr
ofes
sion
al p
lann
ers n
atio
nwid
e.
The
CPL
Com
mitt
ee p
rom
otes
co
nsis
tent
Nat
iona
l sta
ndar
ds &
po
rtabi
lity
acro
ss a
ll A
ffili
ates
, and
w
orks
tow
ards
eve
ntua
l, un
iform
co
mpl
ianc
e m
echa
nism
s/di
scip
line
prot
ocol
acr
oss a
ll A
ffili
ates
.
are
reco
gniz
ed a
t the
nat
iona
l le
vel.
Ther
efor
e, g
radu
ates
from
a
parti
cula
r pro
gram
are
reco
gniz
ed
acro
ss a
ll ju
risdi
ctio
ns in
A
ustra
lia –
i.e.
, sta
te a
nd lo
cal.
Furth
erm
ore,
indi
vidu
als h
oldi
ng
a C
PP fr
om P
IA a
lso
enjo
y na
tiona
l rec
ogni
tion
as
prof
essi
onal
pla
nner
s.
asso
ciat
ions
(i.e
. SR
L) a
nd th
e Fe
dera
l st
ate
Cha
mbe
rs o
f Arc
hite
ctur
e an
d U
rban
Pla
nnin
g. T
hus,
inte
r-ju
risdi
ctio
nal r
ecog
nitio
n is
war
rant
ed.
Urb
an P
lann
ing
Cer
tific
atio
n M
atri
x –
deve
lopi
ng c
ount
ries
T
AB
LE
2. U
rban
Pla
nnin
g C
ertif
icat
ion
Mat
rix: S
umm
ary
for s
elec
ted
deve
lopi
ng c
ount
ries
K
EY
E
LE
ME
NT
S G
uate
mal
a C
hina
Ph
ilipp
ines
1.
Cer
tifyi
ng
In
stitu
tion
RED
GU
APL
AN
+ se
t of
dele
gate
s fro
m a
list
of
inst
itutio
ns: A
NA
M, A
GA
AI,
INFO
M, S
EGEP
LAN
, IN
API
NTE
CA
P, U
SAC
, priv
ate
univ
ersi
ties,
prof
essi
onal
col
lege
s.
The
Chi
na M
inis
try o
f Per
sonn
el
and
the
Min
istry
of C
onst
ruct
ion
are
join
tly re
spon
sibl
e fo
r the
pol
icy
form
ulat
ion,
org
aniz
atio
n/
coor
dina
tion,
qua
lific
atio
n te
st,
regi
stra
tion
and
regi
stry
, sup
ervi
sion
an
d m
anag
emen
t of t
he n
atio
nal
prac
ticin
g qu
alifi
catio
n sy
stem
for
urba
n pl
anne
rs. I
n M
arch
200
0,
appl
icat
ion,
revi
ew, t
estin
g, re
gist
ry,
cont
inui
ng p
rofe
ssio
nal
deve
lopm
ent a
nd o
ther
spec
ific
dutie
s wer
e de
lega
ted
to th
e Pr
actic
ing
Qua
lific
atio
n R
egis
tratio
n C
ente
r (th
e R
egis
try C
ente
r) o
f the
M
OC
in o
rder
to e
nhan
ce th
e se
rvic
e fu
nctio
ns o
f the
Nat
iona
l C
omm
issi
on a
nd im
prov
e th
e
Cer
tific
atio
n of
the
indi
vidu
al
urba
n pl
anne
r or t
he se
ctor
as a
w
hole
doe
s not
exi
st, b
ut
orga
niza
tions
that
cou
ld b
e a
part
of th
e pr
oces
s are
: H
ighe
r Edu
catio
n In
stitu
tions
; Th
e C
ente
r for
Exc
elle
nce;
D
evel
opm
ent A
cade
my
of th
e Ph
ilipp
ines
; Asi
an In
stitu
te fo
r M
anag
emen
t; C
onso
rtium
of
Cen
ters
for L
ocal
Gov
erna
nce;
&
the
Leag
ue o
f Citi
es o
f the
Ph
ilipp
ines
- 2
2 -
wor
king
effi
cien
cy.
2. A
reas
of
Sp
ecia
lizat
ion
Req
uire
men
ts b
ased
on
disc
iplin
es
such
as:
G
ener
al, T
errit
oria
l Pla
nnin
g,
Proj
ect M
anag
emen
t, G
IS,
Econ
omic
/Soc
ial/
Envi
ron.
Dev
elop
men
t, co
mm
unic
atio
n, a
nd e
thic
s
In c
onsi
sten
cy w
ith th
e co
re
curr
icul
um th
e na
tiona
l tes
t in
clud
es:
- U
rban
Pla
nnin
g Th
eory
-
UP
Man
agem
ent L
aws a
nd
Reg
ulat
ions
. -
Kno
wle
dge
of U
rban
Sp
ecifi
catio
ns.
- U
P pr
actic
es.
The
test
is u
sual
ly c
ondu
cted
onc
e a
year
on
the
wee
kend
s in
Oct
ober
. Th
e te
st is
car
ried
out i
n fo
ur h
alf-
days
cov
erin
g th
e ab
ove
four
su
bjec
ts. T
he te
st o
n Pa
nnin
g Pr
actic
es la
sts f
or 3
hou
rs, w
hile
the
othe
rs la
st e
ach
for 2
.5 h
ours
.
At t
his t
ime
ther
e is
just
the
Hig
her E
duca
tion
curr
icul
um a
t U
P-SU
RP
to b
ase
acad
emic
un
ders
tand
ing
of th
e fie
ld:
- Reg
iona
l Pla
nnin
g;
- Env
ironm
enta
l; - a
nd U
rban
Pla
nnin
g Fi
nanc
e
3. S
tage
of
Cer
tific
atio
n Pr
oces
s
The
mod
el o
f cer
tific
atio
n fo
r m
unic
ipal
pla
nner
s has
4
stag
es/p
hase
s 1.
Com
pete
ncie
s/ p
rofil
es
Iden
tific
atio
n 2.
Nor
mal
izat
ion
3. E
valu
atio
n an
d
4. C
ertif
icat
ion.
G
uate
mal
an c
ertif
icat
ion
proc
ess
is st
ill in
pha
se N
o. 1
.
H
as n
ot b
egun
, but
doi
ng th
e pr
elim
inar
y re
sear
ch to
dev
elop
a
proc
ess.
4. C
ertif
icat
ion
Proc
ess
(a) C
ompl
ete
regi
stra
tion
form
, (b
) Mai
l rel
evan
t cer
tific
atio
n an
d do
cum
ents
, and
(c) s
ign
the
form
.
At t
he N
atio
nal l
evel
(pol
icy
form
ulat
ion)
the
certi
ficat
ion/
accr
edita
tion
syst
em is
un
der b
oth
the
Min
istry
of P
erso
nnel
(M
OP)
and
the
Min
istry
of
Con
stru
ctio
n (M
OC
), an
d th
e N
atio
nal C
omm
issi
on.
At t
he re
gion
al le
vel t
he
adm
inis
tratio
n of
the
syst
em is
und
er
the
Urb
an P
lann
ing
Adm
inis
trativ
e D
epar
tmen
ts. T
he p
roce
ss m
ainl
y en
tails
:
No
certi
ficat
ion
proc
ess w
as
desc
ribed
in th
e ca
se st
udy
for t
he
urba
n pl
anni
ng p
rofe
ssio
n, n
or
was
a g
ener
al p
rofe
ssio
nal
certi
ficat
ion
proc
ess.
- 2
3 -
- Pas
s Nat
iona
l Pra
ctic
ing
Qua
lific
atio
ns T
est
- O
btai
n pr
actic
ing
qual
ifica
tions
ce
rtific
ate.
- A
pply
to a
utho
rized
pro
vinc
ial
agen
cy/d
epar
tmen
t for
revi
ew,
regi
stry
and
cle
aran
ce, a
nd
issu
ance
of r
egis
try a
nd
regi
stra
tion
certi
ficat
e.
- C
ompl
y w
ith C
ontin
uing
Pr
ofes
sion
al E
duca
tion
(CPE
). -
App
ly fo
r ren
ewal
at p
rovi
ncia
l le
vel r
egis
tratio
n ag
ency
thre
e m
onth
s bef
ore
the
expi
ratio
n of
the
thre
e-ye
ar p
erio
d.
The
Nat
iona
l Com
mis
sion
is in
ch
arge
, am
ong
othe
r fun
ctio
ns, o
f: -
Prep
arin
g th
e C
PD R
ecor
d H
andb
ook
for p
rofe
ssio
nal U
rban
Pl
anne
rs.
- D
esig
n an
d re
view
of t
he te
stin
g qu
estio
ns.
- A
nnot
ated
CPD
teac
hing
mat
eria
l.
- R
efer
ence
mat
eria
ls fo
r the
pr
actic
ing
qual
ifica
tion
test
.
5. C
ost o
f
Cer
tific
atio
n N
ot d
efin
ed y
et.
The
fee
for t
he te
st is
CN
Y 1
00 p
er
pers
on p
er su
bjec
t, ex
cept
for t
he
topi
c of
“U
rban
Pla
nnin
g Pr
actic
es”,
w
hich
has
a fe
e of
CN
Y 1
60.
Not
spec
ified
.
6. C
ode
of E
thic
s It
is li
sted
as o
ne o
f the
di
scip
lines
that
all
plan
ner
cate
gorie
s nee
d to
take
as p
art o
f th
e cu
rric
ulum
.
Not
spec
ified
yet
, how
ever
, mos
t ce
rtifie
d ur
ban
plan
ners
alre
ady
have
a st
rong
sens
e of
pro
fess
iona
l et
hics
and
see
the
valu
e of
pr
otec
ting
the
publ
ic in
tere
st—
qual
ities
inhe
rent
in u
rban
pla
nnin
g.
Not
-spe
cifie
d; E
xcep
t for
thos
e pr
inci
ples
taug
ht w
ithin
the
scho
ol c
urric
ulum
.
- 24 -
V. CONCLUSIONS AND LESSONS LEARNED
1. Certifying Institution
• In many countries, including the USA, Canada and Australia, the national association of urban planners is the certifying institution. The German accreditation system is organized in a decentralized manner. In the Chinese system, on the other hand, the government is in charge of certification, while in both the Philippines and Guatemala there is no certification system for individuals as of yet.
• It can be expected that developing nations with urban planners associations have a
much greater chance of success with the implementation of certification systems than those countries lacking such an institution.
• The results of international comparisons suggest that generally there are two
systems of certification, one that certifies planning schools and the other that certifies practicing planners.
• It is usually the same certifying institution that uses specialized units to certify
both planning schools and urban planners; this is the case in USA, Canada, Australia, and Germany. This conclusion can be applied to China as well, since different governmental entities are in charge of the certification of academic institutions and individuals.
2a. Certification of Academic Programs
The certification of academic programs generally involves two main requirements (as it applies to USA, Canada, Australia, to some extent to Germany, and to a great extent in China) which are:
• ONE: A Core Curriculum in Urban Planning must be operating in the planning
program (this applies to Germany)
• TWO: The program must meet the Visiting Board’s Requirements, as described in the Certifying Institution’s review document
• Certification generally involves staffs in different administrative and operational
units operating within both the national and associated regional certifying institution.
• Certification also includes representatives from the university, the planning
program, the professors, and the students.
- 25 -
• In practice, several directly interested parties (i.e., professionals, academic institutions, professional associations, and clients of the profession) oversee the certification process. This is usually the case in both developed and developing countries.
2b. Certification of Individuals
Main requirements generally include the following:
• Candidates must hold a recognized degree in urban planning.
• Candidates must have a minimum of two years of responsible and professional planning experience.
• Candidates must have completed the necessary examination to the satisfaction of
the certifying institution.
• In contrast, in China, certification is overseen and involves several governmental institutions in both the Central and the Provincial governments. Also, as it appears, the current certification system is bureaucratic.
3. Areas of Specialization
• The findings do not suggest any common set of specializations. Typically, a standard classification is made between graduates with B.A., M.A., and in some countries Ph.D. degrees.
• In China, as in other examined countries, certification focuses on the approved
core curriculum rather than on a set of specializations. • An exception is that some differentiation is made among urban planers who focus
more on: (i) Urban and Regional Planning, (ii) Social Planning, (iii) Economic Planning, (iv) Urban Design, (v) Environmental Planning, and (vi) Transport Planning, such as in Victoria Province in Australia.
4. Certification Process
• Historically, the certification process begins with the accreditation of planning
programs in colleges and universities, rather than with the certification of individuals. This has been the case in the USA, Canada, Australia, Germany, and, it seems, in China. It should be noted that in the Philippines, accreditation seems to have reached this first phase, while in Guatemala a proposal has been put forward, implying the move directly to the certification of individuals.
- 26 -
• It can be expected that developing nations already accrediting planning schools have a much greater chance of success in the certification of individuals than those countries that do not have a certification program or training institution.
5. Required Institutional Capacity
• The certification systems for individuals and for institutions (the academic
programs) rely strongly on the institutional capacity of associations of professional planners (such as the APA, CIP, and PIA in USA, Canada, and Australia, and the Accreditation Council in Germany).
• On the other hand, in China, certification relies on the capacity of governmental
institutions at both the Central and Provincial levels. Similarly, in Guatemala, current effort toward the certification of municipal planners seems to rely on the interest and institutional capacity of the central government (SEGEPLAN).
• Certification programs in developed countries seem to rely on the role of the
private sector, particularly on not-for-profit types of organizations. This is the case with the association of professional planners and academic institutions; each side benefits from the certification program and as such, both are primarily motivated by their own self-interest.
6a. Continuous Professional Learning
• Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) is a fairly new requirement among certified planners; CPL was first implemented in Canada in 2005, in Australia in 2004, and will start in January 2008 in the USA.
• Necessary requirements vary in different countries. In the USA, 32 credits must
be acquired within each consecutive two-year period; 18 yearly Learning Units must be met in Canada; and in Australia, 60 Professional Development Points need to be achieved in a two-year period. In Germany, the Bachelor’s curriculum comprises compulsory modules of 138 CPs (Credit Points) and compulsory elective modules of 42 CPs; the latter are offered in the fifth and sixth semesters and come from different areas. The Master curriculum provides for a compulsory project of 12 CPs in each semester, excluding the last semester- The students complete a total of nine modules (6 CPs each) of the specified areas.
• In China, a professional urban planner must complete a minimum of 40 credit
hours per year, attaining at least 120 credits during the effective registration period of three years. Out of the 120 credit hours, 40 are compulsory while 80 are optional.
- 27 -
• Compliance with CPL is typically a requirement to maintain one’s status as a Certified Planner in all the countries that already have a certification program in place.
6b. Renewal of Certification
• Renewal of certification is generally based on compliance with continuing professional education (CPE/CPL), which can essentially make the renewal process automatic, given that the process does not involve a fixed expiration period or re-examination.
• Failure to comply with CPE/CPL usually means losing professional planner
status; in order to re-certify, the exam must be retaken and the certification fee must be paid again.
• Successful certification programs for individual planners generally include: the
certification of the academic institutions; the approval of the set of specific training courses; and the different educational activities that may qualify for renewal of certification.
• Also, for practical purposes, the spectrum of courses and educational activities
should be fairly broad so that they are meaningful to different specialized groups within the urban planning field.
• Furthermore, if the program’s design is to be equitable, it is necessary to take into account the circumstances of working professional planners: CPE/CPL should be accessible to all certified practitioners, irrespective of their location. For this reason, different ways and means should be considered, such as regional and local educational activities, and distance learning methods to disseminate knowledge across jurisdictions (as is already done in both Australia and Canada).
• Lastly, CPE/CPL requires a reliable and credible reporting system. Such reporting may be direct or indirect, and depending on the design and the circumstances under which the program operates, both beneficiaries and providers may need to be audited in regards to the actual learning units taken.
7. Professional Recognition
• Certification allows for the setting (and maintaining) of high standards for the planning professions. For this reason, certification is in the interest of: academic institutions, certified members, employers, and professional associations. As such, all stakeholders benefit from this system of recognition.
• Certification appears to have greater credibility and recognition when operating
under the authority of an independent (non-profit) third-party. This is the case in the USA, Canada, Australia, and Germany.
- 28 -
• Salary surveys in the USA have shown that certified planners earn higher incomes than non-certified planners.
8. Cost of Certification
• Professional associations generally require membership to become certified.
Typical membership fees usually differentiate between several categories of members, such as: students, corporate members, fellows, retired members, resident and non-resident members, institutional and individual memberships.
• In addition to one-time registration fees and an examination fee, the certification
costs usually include annual membership dues. • In the USA, fees are equivalent to about half a percent (0.5%) of the annual salary
of a CPP. For new professionals, the annual fee is $145 (APA $70 and AICP $75); and the cost of the AICP’s exam (Prep & CD) is $150.
• In Canada, OPPI membership costs range from $203 to $260. In Australia, the
one-time admission fee to become a member is $65 and the annual membership fee is $465.
• Certification and membership fees are usually deductible from corporate and
individual income tax; this contributes to support certification programs. 9. Quality Control
The quality of certification is generally warranted by:
• A transparent and objective review of criteria for planning programs, and • Standardized and board approved examinations for individuals applied and
overseen by third party authority board members in the planning profession.
• In China the government does certification; the process is reviewed by an authorized governmental agency that takes care of registering, providing clearance, and issuing the certificate.
10. Inter-Jurisdictional Recognition
• In the USA there is a national certification system administered by the APA, which recognizes licensing in those states that have their own certification programs.
• In Canada there is a reciprocity agreement with the USA in regards to the
recognition of planning programs in both nations. Certification for individuals is recognized all across Canada.
- 29 -
• In Australia recognition of both planning programs and individual programs is also nationwide.
• In Germany, accreditation is carried out by the Accreditation Council, which
recognizes accreditation agencies that are themselves subject to accreditation.
• In China, certification is nationwide. There is currently an inter-jurisdictional agreement of reciprocation between the National Management Commission of the Urban Planning Practicing System of Mainland and the Hong Kong Institute of Planners. This agreement allows for the inter-acceptance of each other’s memberships, subject to specific requirements.
- 30 -
VI. SYNOPSIS
When we look at the role of certification as a mechanism for capacity building of local government institutions, we shall reflect on the two dimensions of capacity building: human and institutional.
Capacity building is “a process that involves value added instruction, the training of trainers, activities with multiplier effects, and networking. It involves both institutional capacity-building, as well as human capacity-building1.” Hence, capacity building is the process of equipping all actors to perform effectively in their own fields, and in working in collaboration with others operating in other fields and at other levels. It is an essential component of both empowering (passing responsibility to others to perform efficiently and effectively in their settings) and enabling others (ensuring that those who are empowered have the information, technology, skills and support to exercise their new authority responsibly).
Institutional development encompasses the legal and regulatory framework in which organizations, institutions and agencies at all levels and in all sectors operate. “It embraces such issues as regulations controlling the financial management, borrowing and trading capacity of government agencies and municipal authorities; the ability of local government to negotiate contracts and form partnerships with private enterprises and community organisations; centrally regulated conditions of employment, salaries and career structures; land use and building bylaws, and other development controls; and democratic legislation that allows, enables and encourages communities to take responsibility for the management of their own neighbourhoods and services.”2
Institutional development is as important as human resource development (i.e. skills building, access to information, incentive mechanisms, and opportunities for continuous learning, among others), as only the complementarity of both dimensions brings about effective change at the local government level.
Municipal and local governments and administrations are key actors in advancing the urban agenda at the sub-national level, however, they are oftentimes constrained by obsolete legislation or a legislation that does not warrant the needed decision making power. This has been a significant challenge in Guatemala’s decentralization process, as part of which the Local Development Councils were appointed to induce change at the local level while the actual decentralization of decision making was not yet happening. Divergence of interests between the local and municipal levels poses yet another challenge local government institutions have to confront. Active dialogue to overcome the information barriers is a key element in this process. On the other hand, local government institutions are constrained by inappropriately trained staff, which calls for
1 Patrick Wakely is Professor of Urban Development, and Director of Development Planning Unit, University College London; source: http://www.gdrc.org/uem/capacity-build.html 2 Ibid.
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re-building, re-tooling and re-structuring of capacities to face the changing urban environment. The human dimension is equally important in this respect.
Guatemala and its efforts to induce a certification process is a good example to reflect on the role of certification prospects for developing countries. The profession of municipal planning in Guatemala is in a period of transition. Currently, the field has very little in terms of agreed upon norms and standards for education and experience. There is a realization that standards must be set and practices codified in order for the profession to grow and for practitioners to become recognized and more highly valued for their unique skills and knowledge. This is a period in which the government should recognize the potential and draw on the already existing knowledge in other countries, which have training programs and standards already in place while also keeping in mind unique traits of Guatemala.
A critical component of the certification process is the creation of a professional association of municipal planners and/or an accreditation board. Such an association would provide a number of important resources to municipal planners ranging from career enrichment courses to networking and social opportunities, from formulating certification standards to enforcing ethics standards. A Code of Ethics would help ensure that planners are sufficiently trained to do their work, and would signal to the general public that planning is a profession dedicated to high standards. REDGUAPLAN, a newly created network of municipal planners to fortify and foment the planning profession’s practice, is an attempt to meet this idea or model, but it needs to be strengthened in order to be effective.
Another essential aspect is the breaking down of institutional barriers so that information can be shared more easily. A lot of information already exists in the country, it just needs to be compiled and standardized so that it can be widely used. The issue of data sharing is particularly important and bears special mention in disciplines like Information Systems and tools like GIS, which are integral parts of the planning curriculum (i.e. the use of open-source programs should be explored). Universities and governmental agencies should be encouraged to play an active role in paving the way for effective dialogue and information sharing.
Also, the necessity to avoid the politicization of technical professions such as municipal planning does have a bearing on the advancement of the professional practice. As municipal planners become professionalized and go through an accreditation process they should be seen as individuals committed to doing their jobs as best as they can regardless of the changes in leadership.
Certification of urban planners has been considered a significant advance in creating real incentives for sustainable urban planning and management. It is hoped that the certification processes initiated in several developing countries, such as Guatemala, will sustain the changing paradigms and prove to be successful.
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VII. BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Aguilar, Lissette (2007). Informe Avance Consultoría sobre Sistema de Certificación para Personal Oficinas de Planificación Municipal.
- Barretto, Benjamin Roberto G. (2007). Certification of Competencies: Country
Experience and Lessons for WBI Terms of Reference for Preparation of Philippines Case Study. May 7, 2007.
- Garzón, Hernando (2007a). USA: Certification of Selected Urban Functions. Washington, D.C. March 26, 2007. - Garzón, Hernando (2007b). CANADA: Certification of Selected Urban Functions.
Washington, D.C. May 6, 2007. - Garzón, Hernando (2007c). AUSTRALIA: Certification of Selected Urban Functions.
Washington, D.C. May 25, 2007. - Healey, Patsy (1998). Building institutional capacity through collaborative approaches to urban planning. Newcastle, England [Source: Environment and Planning A 1998, volume 30, pp 1531 – 1546] - Palmreuther, Sabine (2008). GERMANY: Accreditation of Urban and Regional Planners in Germany. Washington, D.C. June 25, 2008 - Restrepo, Paula et al. (2008) Advisory Services for Capacity Building of Municipal Planners in Guatemala. Washington, D.C, April 28, 2008 - Urban Planning Society of China (2007). Certification System for Urban Planning Sector in China (revised draft). Washington, D.C. August 30, 2007 Online Resources:
- Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certification)
- Foundation for the Accreditation of Study Programmes in Germany (www.akkreditierungsrat.de)
- Association for the Recognition of Studies in Architecture and Planning (http://www.asap-akkreditierung.de)
- Federal Chamber of German Architects (http://www.bak.de/site/498/default.aspx)
- Professional Association for City, Regional- and Land Use Planning (www.srl.de)
- Chamber of Architecture and Urban Planning Hessen (www.akh.de)
- Higher Education Compass (http://www.higher-education-compass.de)
- Patrick Wakely, Capacity building for better cities (http://www.gdrc.org/uem/capacity-build.html)