Thank you for your interest in our upcoming AICP Exam Prep Series. We had to make a few adjustments due to an unexpected life event with one of our volunteer instructors.
The series content will be modified from what we previously provided, and we appreciate your patience as we pivot to continue offering this free training opportunity. As we work through what our volunteers are able to offer based on their time and availability, we’ll share the updated dates and details as they are confirmed.
| Day | Time | Session Title | Instructors | Webinar Link |
| March 7 | 10 am ET | Introduction to the Exam | Melissa Dickens, AICP | bit.ly/March7AICPsessionrecording |
| May 2 | 11 am ET | History, Theory, Law | Brad Cornelius, AICP Peter Henn, AICP, Esq. |
bit.ly/5-2-AICPsession |
| May 7 | 6 pm | Q & A and Exam Practice Questions Session | Melissa Dickens, AICP Kathie Ebaugh, FAICP |
bit.ly/5-7-AICPsession |
| May 20 | 6 pm ET | Communications, Interaction, Public Participation, Facilitation | Melissa Dickens, AICP Sofia Garantiva, AICP |
bit.ly/4-23-AICPsession |
| June 18 | 6 pm ET | AICP Code of Ethics | Merle Bishop, FAICP Silvia Vargas, FAICP |
bit.ly/6-18-AICPsession |
| June 25 | 7 pm ET | Economic Development & Redevelopment, Housing | Luis Nieves-Ruiz, FAICP Brad Cornelius, AICP |
bit.ly/6-25-AICPsession |
| July 11 | 10 am ET | Q & A Session | Melissa Dickens, AICP Alissa Barber Torres, FAICP |
bit.ly/7-11-AICPsession |
| July 15 | 6 pm ET | Administration, Management, Leadership, Program & Project Management, Smart Cities | Curt Ostrodka, AICP Melissa Zornitta, FAICP |
bit.ly/7-15-AICPsession |
| Use existing recording | Environ Justice, Social Justice, EDI | Henry Bittaker, FAICP | bit.ly/ej-sj-edi | |
| Use existing recording | Institutional, Neighborhoods, Parks | Henry Bittaker, FAICP | bit.ly/neighborhood-parks | |
| Use existing recording | Spatial Area of Planning, Rural & Small Town, Waterfront Planning | Henry Bittaker, FAICP | bit.ly/spatial-rural-waterfront | |
| Use existing recording | Budget & Financing, Monitoring & Evaluating, Plan Making & Implementating | Henry Bittaker, FAICP | bit.ly/budget-monitoring-planmaking | |
| Use existing recording | Research, Census Populations, Statistical Bias, GIS Maps, Big Data | Henry Bittaker, FAICP | bit.ly/census-stats-gis | |
| TBD | TBD | Natonal EPA, Water, Hazards, Emergency Management | Brad Cornelius, AICP Dennis Smith, FAICP. |
LINK TBD |
| TBD | TBD | Energy, Green Planning, Climate Change, Food/Health Planning, Transportation | Dennis Smith, FAICP Vivian Young, FAICP Kathrin Tellez, AICP |
LINK TBD |
| TBD | TBD | Historic Preservation, New Urbanism, Smart Growth, Sustainability, Urban Design | Artie White, AICP, CNU-A Anne Rokyta, AICP |
LINK TBD |
1. Any idea when the exact date to register in April will be provided? The date has not been set. As soon as our IT team let’s us know the exact date, we will send out emails and update our website.
2. Does there need to be a gap of 1 month between the exams if one takes it multiple times in this cycle? Yes, if a member does not pass the AICP exam, they need to wait 30 days to take the exam again. From what I understand, they can register again at any time, but they will not be allowed to schedule the exam until 30 days later. See the AICP Certification Guide for more info.
3. Can you take the AICP exam this year but your experience is not enough this year so can you be a candidate and then get the certificate next year? Absolutely. See the AICP Certification Guide for more info.
4. Do internships count towards experience? Yes, as long as the internship is not required for graduation or for course credit. See the AICP Certification Guide for more info.
5. Since the exam period is longer, can you take the test several times? Yes, see answer to #2 above and review the AICP Certification Guide for more info.
6. Do you need the professional experience in order to sit for the exam? Or can you take the exam, wait the time to get the professional experience, then submit that? The only requirement to take the AICP exam is that the individual is an APA member and they feel prepared to take it. See the AICP Certification Guide for more info.
7. Do you get scratch paper or the ability to write down thoughts during the computer-based exam? Yes, Appendix 2 of the AICP Certification Guide provides info about test-day procedures and allowable items.
8. Can you take the exam more than once in the exam time frame (April-September) if you do not pass the first time? Yes, see answer to #2 above and review the AICP Certification Guide for more info.
9. How many attempts does a candidate have to pass the exam each year? If more than one, what are the costs of retaking the exam? Members can take the exam up to three times in the regular window per year but must wait 30 days between each attempt. In 2026, we also have the pilot exam in November. Members can take that exam also, so essentially four times in 2026. The cost is $305 for each attempt in the regular window and $100 for the pilot window. Exam results in the regular window are immediate. Exam results in the pilot window will be delayed 6-8 weeks.
10. Does professional experience outside of the US count at all? Yes, international experience and education follow the same requirements as domestic experience and education.
11. How much is the fee to take the exam multiple times during the exam window? $305
12. If you take the regular exam and don’t pass, can you take the pilot exam right after? Yes, see #9 above.
13. Would work – teaching or research during a phd count as experience? It was in a planning program. I highly recommend joining AICP Office Hours where we discuss experience and members can ask specific questions about their experience. The linked documents on this page can help the member assess if their experience is considered professional planning according to APA.
14. Do you anticipate that more information on the Pilot Exam will be revealed/presented at the national conference in April? If not, any ideas when we might learn more about the pilot? We will probably discuss the pilot exam at conference, and we definitely talk about it during AICP Office Hours. The exam format is the same as the regular window. It’s just different questions than the regular exam based on the recent job analysis survey APA sent to members. The questions from the pilot exam help determine the questions for the new exam in 2027. We expect the content outline to be very similar. Unlike the regular exam where results are immediate, members who take the pilot exam will receive their results 6-8 weeks later due to analytics Prometric needs to perform to determine the cut score. The pilot exam is limited to 300 people.
15. Do you know if you are able to pay for the exam well in advance of the scheduled test? My work is paying for it, but will only pay by a certain date but I would like to take it in Payment must be made at the time of purchase. Members can register for the exam in, say, May (or whenever the window opens) but schedule their exam at a later time in the 2026 window.