Frequently asked questions

No. All Aboard Planning is an independent study resource. It isn’t affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the American Planning Association or the American Institute of Certified Planners. For official exam information, go to APA.

There are 40 lessons grouped under the nine domains of the AICP exam content outline. Each lesson has learning objectives, plain-language explanations, key terms, real-world examples, a summary, and original checkpoint questions written just for that lesson. See the course overview.

Take Practice Exam 1 in practice mode as your baseline, then work through the lessons, starting with your weakest domains. For each lesson: read it, answer each checkpoint as you reach it, and mark it complete. Your results rank the domains to study first. Spend ten minutes a day on flashcards.

Midway through, take Practice Exam 2 to see what has moved. In the final weeks, take full-length timed exams, reread the lessons your dashboard lists for review, and read the exam strategy guide and quick reference.

Most candidates do well with steady study over two to three months: roughly 8 to 10 hours a week for two months, or 5 to 7 hours a week for three. Take Practice Exam 1 first so you can spend extra time on your weakest domains.

No. Every question is original, written to the published content outline and in the formats APA uses: single best answer, “all of the following EXCEPT,” Roman-numeral combinations, scenario sets, calculations, and data exhibits. We never use recalled live-exam content.

No, and be wary of any product that claims it can. The real exam is scaled and APA doesn’t publish a passing percentage. Use practice scores to see which domains need work, and full-length timed exams to build pace and stamina.

Yes. Domain 9 has three lessons on the Code: how it’s organized, the Rules of Conduct, and how to work through ethics scenarios. Always read the full current Code on APA’s site as well; it’s short and it’s tested directly.

No. Everything in the course is open to anyone with an account: every lesson, all five full-length practice exams, the flashcards, the quick reference, and the exam strategy guide.

So your scores and progress are saved in one place and your dashboard can show which domains need work. Without an account you can browse the lessons and read a preview of each one (its learning objectives, first key concept, and key terms), try the sample questions, and read the exam strategy guide and quick reference.

Your account and progress are stored securely online, so you can sign in on your phone, laptop, or work computer and pick up where you left off. We keep only your name, email, and study progress. Your password is handled by our sign-in provider, and we never see it.

Yes. Each person creates their own account. Get in touch if you have questions about group use.

Practice mode has no clock and lets you check each answer and read the explanation as you go. Timed mode runs the real exam’s clock and holds all feedback until you submit, the way test day works.

No. An exam in progress is saved automatically in your browser. Open the same exam in the same mode and you’ll pick up where you left off.

Yes. Every page, lesson, and exam works on phones and tablets. For full-length timed exams we still suggest a laptop, which is closer to the real testing experience.

Please contact us with the lesson or exam name and the question text. We review every report.

APA publishes the official details, and they change from year to year. Our exam info page gives an overview and links to APA’s pages.

Fundamental Planning Knowledge and Plan and Policy Development are the largest domains at about 15% each, followed by Communication and Interaction at about 13%. See the full breakdown on the exam info page.