1. AICP Candidate Pilot Program
Overview
Introduce yourself
I’m going to talk about AICP and a program we developed especially for students and recent graduates just like you-
The AICP Candidate Pilot Program

2. Benefits of APA membership
Career services
Get strategies, tactics, and tips for building a career
Distinguish yourself
Win awards and scholarships, and showcase your work
Leadership
Build your reputation by serving on the SRC or a Young Planners Group
Networking
Connect with mentors, future employers, and industry leaders
Make a difference
Shape policy, help communities in need, and inspire the next generation
Information
Access the latest industry research and trends
Become certified
Earn the AICP certification
APA as a whole offers a ton of benefits to it’s members.
Each of these may come in handy at different times in your career

3. Why Become an AICP member?
The AICP credential demonstrates excellence
93% of AICP members agree that AICP membership is made up of leaders in the field1
"Certification definitely raised my status among co-workers who are mostly engineers, architects, and project / construction / facility managers. AICP has made me a better planner and thereby a more valuable employee." — Amy Vandeveer, AICP; Community Planner, U.S. Air Force
1McKinley Advisors APA Survey
I’m going to start by telling you about the benefits of AICP in general – and how it can help your career
AICP Demonstrates Excellence
The first benefit I’d like to discuss is that it demonstrates excellence.
AICP tells employers, clients, elected officials, colleagues, and other planners that you have a high degree of professional standing and expertise in the field of planning.

4. Why Become an AICP member?
The AICP credential is an assurance of quality – which is rewarded by employers
AICP members get paid on average $16,100 more than non-AICP members2
"I'm an employer. I look for the AICP credential in our screening process to find the best and most qualified employees for our planning positions." — Rodger Lentz, AICP; Director of Planning and Development Services, Wilson, North Carolina
2APA/AICP Planners Salary Survey, 2016
AICP can only be attained through a combination of working experience, high-level education, and by successfully passing a very lengthy, and some might say, challenging examination.
For these reasons people familiar with AICP know that it establishes excellence in our field and are compensated accordingly.

5. commitment and excellence
Demonstrates
commitment and excellence
AICP members are committed to their profession and the community
59 AICP members have volunteered to serve on 27 Community Planning Assistance Team projects since 20093
AICP members demonstrate leadership and excellence
AICP-certified planners were involved in over 50% of designated Great Places in America from 2016 and 20174
3https://
4American Planning Association data, 2018
AICP puts planners on equal footing with other processionals we work with including architects, engineers, and other credentialed professionals.
It shows other professions that we as planners also have the ability to achieve credentials when we gain a high level of expertise.

6. Paths to AICP
For someone who may not be familiar with AICP let alone our new program, this graphic is very helpful-
Review the traditional steps to becoming AICP
Then show how the steps for the Candidate Program provides them with a path to start earlier — the criteria to become AICP are the same.
With the AICP Candidate Pilot Program, eligible members are able to take the exam fresh out of school and prior to earning professional planning experience.
After passing the exam, they can use the “AICP Candidate” designation on their resume, etc.
After earning the required number of years of professional planning experience, they submit essays and upon approval, they pay dues and become AICP.

7. Benefits Start Early AICP Candidate Pilot Program
Here are some benefits of participating in the Candidate Pilot Program to earn your AICP.
Take the exam fresh out of school
You’re still in the studying and test taking frame of mind
Receive tips experience based and ethics questions

8. Benefits Optional mentoring AICP Candidate Pilot Program
Mentoring starts when enrolled and is available throughout the program
Be matched with an AICP mentor for career advice and to grow your network

9. Certification Maintenance
AICP Candidate Pilot Program
Benefits
Certification Maintenance
Take advantage of education outside of the classroom
Learn side by side with professional planners
AICP signals that you are current in professional practice and knowledge through the APA’s required certification maintenance course. CM encourages networking.
I think one of my most important benefits of being an APA member is that there are tremendous opportunities to meet other planners – not only within your State but also from throughout the Country.
Because AICP designation requires CM credits – and the best place to get CM credits in my opinion is by attending conferences – we can say that AICP encourages networking which is important to our profession and our own careers.

10. Graduate, take and pass the exam
AICP Candidate Pilot Program
Benefits
Graduate, take and pass the exam
Once you graduate and take and pass the AICP exam, you have earned the AICP Candidate designation.
You can stand out by using the AICP Candidate on Linked In, etc. When looking for a job, make sure to let potential employers know that the AICP candidate designation means you passed the AICP exam, so you just need to earn the planning experience in order to become AICP. This may help land a position that requires AICP be earned by a deadline.
When you enroll in the program, you are asked to commit to the same AICP Code of Ethics as full AICP members
It’s a pledge to uphold high standards of practice, ethics, and professional conduct and is worth mentioning on a job interview
Selling point to your potential employer- it shows that you are an ethical practitioner
Familiarizing yourself with the code as a participant helps on ethics questions on the exam

11. Benefits Payment Plan $20 $100 $375 AICP Candidate Pilot Program
$ $ $375
This program is tailored for students and recent graduates including the fee schedule. Participation in the program ends up being the same as the exam fees, but the fees for the program are divided amongst the steps in the program:
To enroll, it’s only $20
To take the exam it’s only $100
The balance is due at the end, presumably when you’re in a better position to pay the fees.

12. AICP! Benefits AICP Candidate Pilot Program
Already in the practice of ongoing education, familiar with the Code of Ethics

13. Step 1: Enrolling in the Program
AICP Candidate Pilot Program
Step 1: Enrolling in the Program
Open enrollment year-round
Students and graduates of PAB-accredited programs
Open enrollment year-round
Graduates:
Submit PAB graduation documentation
Allow 6 weeks for review
Here are more details about how the AICP Candidate Pilot Program works…
(Next few slides review the program in a little more detail- use this if they show interest and if you have the time to go into it.)
If you don’t have time, or it’s not the right environment, focus on the high level explanation. Then refer them to the webpage.

14. Enrollment Approved = Program Participant
AICP Candidate Pilot Program
Step 1: Participation Details
Enrollment Approved = Program Participant
Code of Ethics
Certification Maintenance
Optional Mentoring
Here are features of the program that start once enrolled.
Ethics
Certified planners are required to uphold the highest standards of ethics and behavior among our profession.
Being familiar with, and memorizing the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct is pretty much mandatory to pass the examination, but even more importantly, understanding the code helps us negotiate tough ethical and moral dilemmas.
Said another way, understanding the Code can keep us out of trouble.
I’ll provide more information about CM and Mentoring later

15. Step 2: Taking the AICP Exam
AICP Candidate Pilot Program
Step 2: Taking the AICP Exam
Graduation is required to register for the Exam
If you graduate in
The first exam you can take is
December
May
November
The biggest thing potential participants want to know is how soon can they take the exam

16. (deadlines apply for exam registration)
AICP Candidate Pilot Program
Step 2:
AICP Exam Step Timeframes
Step
Graduate in December
take Exam in May
Graduate in May take Exam in November
Program enrollment
Year-round
(deadlines apply for exam registration)
Exam Registration Window Opens
Beginning of December
Beginning of June
Graduation documentation deadline
(for participants who enrolled as students and have graduated)
First Monday March
First Monday of September
Program enrollment deadline (for graduates)
First Monday in March
Exam Registration Deadline
End of April
End of October
Testing Window
During May
During November
This is a great resource on the timing of enrollment and how that relates to when they can take the exam.

17. Step 3: Planning Experience/AICP
AICP Candidate Pilot Program
Step 3: Planning Experience/AICP
Submit 3 Essays Addressing
Professional Planning Experience Criteria
Make sure to review guidance provided
Chapter PDO can be a resource
Once essays are approved
Pay AICP Dues
Earn AICP
After they earn their professional planning experience, candidates complete the process by submitting essays. Once their essays are approved and their dues paid, they become certified, join AICP, and may use the “AICP” credential.

18. www.planning.org/aicp/candidate/ For More Information:
AICP Candidate Pilot Program
For More Information: