AICP certified planners carry a high mark of distinction because they are required to meet rigorous standards, maintain their expertise through continuing education, and serve community interests.
The AICP Certification page on the APA National website is the first place to start. This page maintains the most current information about the AICP Exam including:
- Important Registration and Exam Deadlines
- Upcoming Exam Information and How to Apply
- Exam Candidate Bulletin
- Eligibility Requirements
- Advice for Passing the Exam
- Resources and FAQ’s
AICP Certification Diversity Scholarship
Each exam cycle, APA offers scholarships to APA members who are interested in taking the AICP exam or who are interested in submitting their experience assessment. Please visit the AICP Certification Diversity Scholarship webpage for more information.
APA/AICP Exam Prep
APA offers a wealth of exam prep resources. Review the content outline, watch some training videos, explore other chapters’ exam prep materials, and much more. And don’t forget to contact your chapter’s Professional Development Officer for additional information.
APA-MA /AICP Exam Prep Course
The APA-MA Chapter prep class is always held in the spring (usually March – April). This intensive training is spread over 4 - 6 Monday nights (6:00 pm - 9:00 pm) and typically covers the following topic areas: Exam Overview and FAQ, Planning Administration, Ethics, Law, Public Participation, Land Use Planning, Advocacy Planning, Economic Development, and Transportation. Here are the links to the 2025 AICP prep classes:
04.21.25 Recent Exam Takers Panel Final Wrap-up - Bill Nemser, AICP
04.16.25 Public Participation & Advocacy Planning - Daphne Politis, FAICP 2. Research and Assessment Methods - Julia Flanary, AICP
April 7, 2025: APA Housing Policy - Jennifer Raitt Social Equity and Justice – Jacquie McPherson, AICP
March 24, 2025: Administration & Leadership - Steve Sadwick, FAICP Fundamental Planning Knowledge - Steve Sadwick, FAICP
March 17, 20205: Economic Development - Alyssa Sandoval, AICP Transportation - Natalie Press, AICP
March 10, 2025: Ethics - Ralph Willmer, FAICP Plan Implementation - Alison LeFlore, AICP
March 3, 2025: Exam overview - Bill Nemser, AICP Law - Pam Brown, FAICP
SNEAPA Exam Prep
The PDOs of CT, RI, and MA host an AICP Exam Prep session at SNEAPA every year too where we review how to apply, how to study, and other best practices for passing the AICP exam. A presentation from the 2024 SNEAPA AICP Classroom can be accessed here.
AICP also holds an Annual AICP Exam Preparation session at its National Planning Conference. For more information, go to National APA.
Study Groups
The PDO is happy to try to connect people who are interested in studying together. Send an email to the APA-MA Professional Development Officer, at pdo@apa-ma.org, including when you’re taking the exam, where you live/work, and where you’d be willing to travel for a study group.
Chapter President’s Council 2015-2016 AICP Study Manual (CD)
The APA-MA Chapter has a limited number of copies of the Chapter President’s Council (CPC) 2015-2016 AICP Exam Study Manual (CD-ROM) available for distribution to MA Chapter members who are serious about taking the AICP exam. Please contact the APA-MA Professional Development Officer, at pdo@apa-ma.org if interested.
Exam Prep Material from other Chapters
The following chapters have additional training information which you may find useful:
http://www.floridaplanning.org/treasurecoast/aicp_links.pdf – Provides a detailed list of web links to study resources based on practical areas of study, and includes links to free practice questions. Last updated for 2015 exam cycle; all links may not be current.
http://www.apacolorado.org/study-materials – Contains Study Tips and links to some other Study materials, including practice tests.
http://planningpa.org/for-planners/professional-planners/aicp-exam-prep/ – Study materials include past AICP Exam Prep sessions as YouTube videos and free online materials from the PA Chapter and elsewhere.
http://wisconsinplanners.org/learn/aicp-professional-development/ – Includes links to exam review presentations, sample questions, and other online review materials.