North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association2017 State Planning Conference

Hanna Cockburn, AICP | City of Greensboro Planning Vice President for Professional Development

https://www.planning.org/aicp/candidate/

APPLICATION PROCESSES

SUBJECT MATTER

EFFECTIVE TEST STRATEGIES

oHave you joined APA?oMeet the education &

experience requirementoGather verification

documentso Employment verification

for each jobo Transcript or notarized

diploma

o Start earlyoUse early bird for feedbackoReflect the criteriaoUse the APA checklisto It’s about YOU

Approval is valid for up to six testing windows

1. Planning Process

a) Plan Making & Implementation

b) Functional Area of Practice

c) Research, Analysis & Teaching

3. Public Decision-Making

a) Specific example of influencing decision making

b) Clearly identify who was influenced and the benefit to the public interest

2. Comprehensive View

a) Use specific examples

b) Describe how a comprehensive view was used

c) Discuss multiple impacts, stakeholders

o Eligibilityo FormsoRegistration Detailso Site SchedulingoPractice Exams

http://www.planning.org/certification/bulletin

http://www.planning.org/policy/guides

Agricultural Land

Preservation

Homelessness

Smart Growth

Impact Fees

Provision of Child Care

Food Planning

Energy

Public Redevelopment

Billboard Controls

http://www.planning.org/library/greatbooks/

o KNOW THE CODEo Communications only through the Ethics Officero Adopted 2005; revised in 2009 & 2016o Five Sections:

A. Aspirational PrinciplesB. Rules of ConductC. Advisory OpinionsD. Adjudication of Complaints of MisconductE. Discipline of Members

https://www.planning.org/ethics/ethicscode.htm

Source: ICMA

o FL-APA Treasure Coast Section Study Linkswww.floridaplanning.org/treasurecoast/aicp_links.pdfo Study Stackwww.studystack.como APA tutorial & reading listwww.planning.org/certification/examprepo Planning Prepplanningprep.como Planning Peepsplanningpeeps.weebly.com/quizzes.html

oAPA Exam Prep 3.0 ($249)oPlanetizen AICP Exam Prep Class ($245-$689)oOthers?

Source: PlanetizenSource: APA

Final Notification September 28, 2017

Registration Deadline October 31, 2017

Transfer Deadline October 31, 2017

Testing Window November 6-20, 2017

SUBJECT MATTER

o Fundamental Planning Knowledge (25%)

oPlan Making & Implementation(30%)

oAreas of Practice(30%)

http://www.planning.org/certification/examprep/subjectmatter.htm

o Leadership, Administration & Management (5%)

oAICP Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct(10%)

Fundamental Planning KnowledgeoHistory, movements &

influenceso Theoryo Legal principles &

decisionsoPatterns of human

settlemento Terminology & principles

oNatural, social & economic systems

oCore values of planning

Source: newworldencyclopedia.com

Plan Making & ImplementationoConducting research o Spatial analysisoPublic engagementoCommunicationoPreparing to plano Formulating plans &

policiesoPlan implementation

oMonitoring & assessmentoProject & program

managemento Social justice

Source: Greensboro Planning

Areas of PracticeoComprehensive, sector,

community & subareaoCurrent planningo Sustainabilityo Transportationo InfrastructureoHazards, mitigation &

resiliencyo Environmental & natural

resource

o Economic developmentoUrban designoHousingoParks, recreation & open spaceoHistoric & cultural resourceso Institutionalo FoodoHealthoRural & small town

Leadership, Administration & ManagementoLeadershipoManaging external relationships

oInternal organizational management

oTechnology and related applications

Source: Collaborative Family Healthcare Association

Code of EthicsoSection A Aspirational principlesoSection B Rules of conductoSections C, D & E Procedural provisions

Source: Stevens First Principles

BEFORE THE TEST

oStudy early & oftenoUse practice testsoBe strategic• Focus on weak areas• Scenario, multi-part ?so Schedule your test site

ASAP

FOR THE TEST

oGet a good night’s sleep

oArrive early oBring 2 forms of IDoDress comfortably

(in layers)oBring a survival kit oDON’T FREAK OUT

o BREATHEo 15 minute tutorial at test site occurs before test beginso 170 questions (but only 150 count)o Keep a rhythm, pace yourselfo ANSWER EVERY QUESTIONo Mark questions to come back to latero When in doubt, guesso 55+ is passing, tests are scaled, questions vary in value

http://www.planning.org/_offsite/certification/tutorial/

Julia Zweifel, AICP

oDON’T PANIC!oYou are not alone• US pass rate: 65% • NC pass rate: 53% (May 2017)oSchedule your retake, re-apply if neededoReview your score report, identify weak areasoSTUDY, STUDY, STUDY

Source: Creative Commons

North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association2017 State Planning Conference

Hanna Cockburn, AICP | City of Greensboro Planning DepartmentVice President for Professional Development