The American Planning Association (AICP) certifies planners through this examination. It evaluates professional knowledge across nine domains, ranging from research and assessment methods to the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. The exam tests a planner's ability to think critically, anticipate consequences, and mitigate problems within the planning profession, ensuring all certified planners share a fundamental knowledge of core competencies required for professional practice in the field.
This exam is for planners working in public or private sectors who meet the education and experience requirements for AICP certification. It is for practitioners who need to demonstrate professional knowledge of planning principles, practices, and ethics as applied nationally across the United States.
Review the exam content outline to understand the scope of the nine topic areas. Assess your strengths and weaknesses to focus your study efforts. Use multiple resources, including chapter-provided study materials, prep videos, and practice exams to familiarize yourself with the question format. Studying for multiple months is recommended to cover the breadth of national planning knowledge and ensure you are ready for the 170 questions.
This domain covers research methods, data interpretation, and spatial analysis. It focuses on acquiring knowledge through qualitative and quantitative research, mapping, and community engagement strategies to identify planning issues effectively for various projects and diverse urban environments.
This domain addresses the history of planning, legal principles, and planning theory. It covers the patterns of human settlement, natural and social systems, and the role of technology in planning practice to inform professional decisions for the built environment.
This domain focuses on communication, leadership, and social justice. It covers strategies for community engagement, consensus building, and managing complex political situations while ensuring accessibility and equity for all community members within the planning process and public outreach.
This domain covers the preparation and drafting of plans and policies. It includes scoping, goal setting, mediation, and identifying consequences of planning actions within an equity framework for diverse urban environments and local community needs across the country.
This domain focuses on the execution of plans. It covers interpreting regulations, managing projects, developing partnerships, and monitoring adopted plans to ensure they achieve intended benefits for the public and stakeholders in the built environment and local communities.
This domain covers the administrative aspects of planning offices. It includes project management, budgeting, staff training, and managing external relationships with boards and commissions to ensure efficient and effective office operations for the public sector and local government.
This domain addresses leadership in planning. It focuses on ethical advocacy, mentoring, and promoting the value of planning to the public and decision-makers to foster better outcomes for the built environment and local community development and professional growth.
This domain covers specific practice areas including planning, transportation, sustainability, housing, and urban design. It addresses the application of planning principles across diverse contexts to improve the quality of life for all residents in communities and urban regions.
This domain covers the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. It focuses on the planner's responsibility to the public, clients, employers, and the profession to maintain high standards of integrity in all professional activities and daily practice.
The exam is a 210-minute session. Candidates should arrive prepared to navigate 170 multiple-choice questions. Use the provided tutorial to familiarize yourself with the computer-based testing environment before the exam date to ensure you are comfortable with the interface.
The exam consists of 170 multiple-choice questions. These items are designed to test your professional knowledge across the nine domains of planning practice, and you must answer all items during the session to complete the assessment successfully.
The American Planning Association (AICP) does not publish a specific passing score for the exam. Please check with the American Planning Association (AICP) for information regarding certification requirements and scoring policies for your professional planning career.
The exam has a total duration of 210 minutes. This time is intended to allow candidates to complete all 170 questions within the allotted testing session provided at the center for all professional planning candidates.
For information regarding the long-term certification path or updates to the process, check with the American Planning Association (AICP) for the most current and accurate details regarding your professional journey and certification requirements.
Verified 2026-09-14
This editorial was developed by analyzing the official AICP Certification Exam Content Outline and related documentation provided by the American Planning Association to ensure accuracy and relevance for all candidates.