AICP Exam Prep SessionAPA National ConferenceSan Antonio, TXApril 22, 20061:00 – 6:00 PM

Schedule•1:00 – 1:30

–AICP Exam Basics–Studying for the exam

•1:30 – 2:45–Land Use Planning–Plan Implementation Part I

•2:45 – 3:00 Break•3:00 – 4:15

–Exam Tutorial–Plan Making–Plan Implementation Part II

•4:15 – 5:30–Transportation –Ethics–History, Theory, Law

•5:30 – 6:00–Sample test

–Questions

Presenters• Anna Breinich, AICP

– Pennsylvania Environmental Council– Former Pennsylvania APA Professional

Development Officer

• Jennifer Evans-Cowley, PhD, AICP– Ohio State University– Ohio APA Professional Development Officer

• Veronica Rosales, AICP– City of Sunland Park, New Mexico– Texas APA Professional Development Officer

• Mary Margaret Shaw, PhD, AICP– American Planning Association– Professional Development Program Manager

Purpose of this session• To improve understanding of the AICP exam

process, purpose and content

• To encourage participants to make informed decisions about taking the exam

• To present some substantive information and some advice but not all of the information you will need to know to pass the exam

• To present information that will be useful to majority of people in audience

Notes available online

To get copies of presentation slides, after the conference, go to www.planning.org/2006conference and follow instructions to session S401, AICP Exam Prep

Who may take the exam• Member of the APA• Meeting education/experience

requirements– MA/MS from PAB program

•2 years experience– BA/BS in planning or MA/MS from

non-PAB program •3 years experience

– Other BA/BS/MA/MS •4 years experience

– No degree •8 years experience

Professional experience means•Influencing public decision making in the public interest•Employing a comprehensive point of view•Applying appropriate planning processes •Having professional level of responsibility

Why take the AICP exam• Enhanced opportunities for jobs

– AICP preferred • Enhanced salaries

– 2004 median for non-AICP was $52,000– 2004 median for AICP was $65,000– Of course, other variables matter

greatly •Experience, type of employer, region of country

• Prestige– Recognition of achieving professional

level of skills, knowledge, and abilities

How to apply• Application is online

– Go to: www.planning.org > AICP logo > Certification

– Suggestion: Read the FAQ’s• Cost is now $425• Must send verifications of

employment/education to APA office– Allow ample time…

• Receive Authorization to Test from test administration company

When and Where•Exam is given over 12 days in each of May and November•Exam is given at about 350 different commercial testing centers •May take test only once during each window

What happens during the exam•Exam is on computer•Exam is 4 hours

–½ hour tutorial–3 and ½ hours for 170 questions

•20 are pre-test questions

•Easy to mark questions to return to them before submitting•No penalty for incorrect answers•Receive unofficial results immediately•Receive official results after testing window closes•Note: problems do happen

What to study

• Exam tests knowledge (40%) and skills (60%)

• List of reference books is on website– Bookstore price at conference is 20%

discount– Conference price on study manual & CD

is $156– Most available through libraries/inter-

library loan

• There are many free resources available online (following slides)

Distribution of exam topics•Plan-making (20%)

•Plan implementation (20%)

•Ethics (15%)

•History, theory, law (15%)

•Emerging issues (10%)

•Functional topics (20%)

Environment, land-use, infrastructure, transportation, economic development, community redevelopment, design, preservation, housing, rural planning

How to study• Keep in mind that it is a multiple-choice

exam• Keep in mind that it is a national exam• Do memorize • Study in whatever way has worked for

you in the past– Read and re-read– Form study group– Make flash cards– Write notes, outlines

• Look for exam prep session offered by your APA chapter PDO

When studying functional topics (Slide 1 of 3)• Look for historical figures

– Daniel Burnham, Frederick Law Olmsted (Sr. and Jr.), Clarence Perry

• Look for theories– Of what cities should be (Ebenezer Howard;

Stein and Wright; Le Corbusier; new urbanists)

– Of how planning should be done (Advocacy planning; Rational planning)

• Look for federal programs– NEPA; NFIP; National Interstate and Defense

Highways Act

Studying functional topics (Slide 2 of 3)

• Look for legal decisions and principles– Mt. Laurel; Euclid v Ambler; eminent domain;

takings; right to farm• Look for techniques and trends

– Urban growth boundaries; TIF; environmental impact assessment; TOD; inclusionary housing; deed restrictions; façade easement; TAZ; secondary containment; concurrency; cost-benefit analysis; CDC’s; adaptive reuse; CPTED; charrette

Studying functional topics (Slide 3 or 3)

•Look for measurements

–Mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation–Floor to area ratio–Location quotient

Exam results 2004 & 2005•Total number examinees•2,531•Overall pass rate 63.4%

Repeating the exam•71.3% of people taking exam for first time passed•35.7% of people repeating exam passed•Suggestion

Study Differently for a Different Result!

Exam scoresPassing scaled score is 55

Day before the exam

• Get directions to testing center• Know how long it will take to arrive

assuming delays• Know where you will park; which

subway exit to take…• Check for correct spelling on your

ID and your authorization to test• Pack your photo ID• Generally not a good idea to cram• Get plenty of sleep

On Exam day• Be rested and well fed• Be confident• Focus on what you must do – others in test

center have their own agendas• You are not penalized for incorrect answers

– If you do not know an answer, narrow down the choices to improve probability of guessing correct answer

– In dire situations, guess (25% chance of being correct)

• It may be one of the 20 pre-test questions

• It is a national exam – Do not concentrate on how things might be

done or expressed in your particular community

Exam administration questions

• Questions about special needs, special circumstances

• Contact AICP Exam Administrator, Lydija Saric in the APA Chicago office– 312-431-9100 ext. 6384– AICPexam@planning.org

Moving on• Other presenters with substantive

information on– Plan making and implementation– Land Use and Transportation planning– Ethics– History, Theory , Law

• Sample test 5:30-5:45• Your questions 5:45 – 6:00