About the AICP exam

APA is the authority on everything on this page. Fees, testing windows, deadlines, eligibility rules, and exam policies change. Before you make plans, check the official details on the AICP certification pages at planning.org.

What the exam is

The AICP Certification Exam is the test planners pass to earn the AICP credential from the American Institute of Certified Planners, APA's professional institute. It measures whether you can apply planning knowledge and professional judgment across the full range of practice, not just recall facts.

The questions are built from APA's exam content outline, which groups the material into nine domains:

The lessons follow these nine domains in the same order.

Format

• Question type. Multiple choice, with four answer options and one best answer. Expect standalone questions, groups of questions that share a scenario, questions built around a table or chart, and a few that ask you to calculate something (such as density, floor area ratio, or a location quotient).
• Length. 170 questions in 3.5 hours (210 minutes). That works out to roughly 74 seconds per question.
• Unscored questions. Some questions are pretest items that don't count toward your score, and you won't know which ones they are. Answer every question as if it counts.
• Delivery. The exam is taken on a computer, either at a testing center or with remote online proctoring, through APA's testing vendor.
• No penalty for guessing. Your score is based on the questions you answer correctly, so never leave a question blank.

Scoring

APA reports a scaled score rather than a raw percentage, so the number of questions you need to answer correctly can differ slightly from one exam form to another. Historically, scores have been reported on a scale of 25 to 75, with 55 as the passing score.

Because the exam is scaled and APA doesn't publish a passing percentage, no practice score (ours or anyone else's) can tell you whether you will pass. Use practice scores to decide what to study, and use full-length timed exams to build pace.

Eligibility

To take the exam, you apply to APA and show a combination of education and professional planning experience. In general, the more planning-specific your degree, the less experience you need. A degree from a program accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) has historically shortened the experience requirement.

The combinations APA has used in the past look like this:

"Professional planning experience" has a specific meaning: work that applies a planning process with appropriate professional responsibility and that influences public decision-making. APA decides what qualifies, so describe your experience carefully in your application.

APA also offers a path for students and recent graduates to take the exam before they have the full experience requirement, becoming certified once the experience is complete.

You must be an APA member to hold AICP certification.

How to register

The process usually runs in this order. APA's site has the current steps, deadlines, and fees.

1. Check your eligibility against APA's current requirements.
2. Apply to APA during the application period for the testing window you want, and document your education and experience.
3. Wait for approval. APA reviews your application before you can schedule.
4. Pay the exam fee and schedule your appointment with the testing vendor, either at a test center or online.
5. Request testing accommodations at the time APA specifies, if you need them. APA provides accommodations for candidates with disabilities.
6. Take the exam during your testing window. The exam is offered in set testing windows during the year, historically in May and November.

Plan backward from the testing window. Application deadlines come well before the exam. Most candidates study for two to three months, so start studying once your application is in rather than waiting for approval.

On exam day

For pacing, question formats, and test-taking tactics, see the exam strategy guide. The basics:

• Bring the identification the testing vendor requires, and arrive (or log in) early.
• Read each question's last sentence first so you know what it's asking, then read the scenario.
• Flag questions you're unsure about, keep moving, and come back to them. Our practice exams let you flag and review in the same way.
• Watch for EXCEPT, NOT, and LEAST in the question stem.
• Check what's permitted (such as an on-screen calculator) in APA's candidate materials.

After you pass

Once you pass, you can use the AICP designation. To keep it, you earn Certification Maintenance (CM) credits: historically 32 credits every two years, including a set number in ethics, planning law, equity, and sustainability and resilience. The mentoring lesson covers CM in more detail.

Official sources

• APA: AICP certification: eligibility, applications, fees, and exam dates
• APA: AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct: the full current Code
• Planning Accreditation Board: list of accredited programs