High School
A good foundation for future transportation planning work includes classes in mathematics, environmental sciences, geography, economics, and computer science. Strong research and writing skills are needed, so be sure to take English and communications classes also.
Postsecondary Education
A bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement for transportation planning jobs, particularly for entry-level positions. Bachelor's degree coursework usually covers civil engineering, urban and regional planning, economics, geography, architecture, ecology, and political science. Many employers prefer to hire planners with a master's degree in transportation planning. Many colleges and universities offer transportation planning degree programs. Courses include traffic management, transportation systems analysis, behavior analysis, urban forecasting, environmental impact, and statistical modeling. Students also learn computer-aided design software programs and geographic information system mapping.
Certification
Some colleges and universities offer undergraduate and graduate certificate programs in transportation planning, public transit planning and management, transportation planning and policy, sustainable transportation, and related fields. For example, the University of Iowa offers a certificate in transportation planning. To earn the certificate, students must complete the following required courses: Transportation, Urban Form & Sustainability and Transportation Planning Studio. They also must complete elective courses such as Transportation Research Methods and Analysis; Transportation Policy and Planning; Special Topics in Transportation Planning; Global Road Safety; and Public Finance and Budgeting. Certificate programs typically last six months to a year and are available in online, in-person, and hybrid formats. Contact schools in your area for information about available programs.
Other Education or Training
Continuing education seminars, webinars, and other learning opportunities are provided by the American Planning Association, other professional associations, colleges and universities, and for-profit online learning platforms. Contact these organizations for more information.
- Air Traffic Controllers
- Airplane Dispatchers
- Airport Security Personnel
- Airport Service Workers
- Ambassadors
- App Services Workers
- Armored Truck Drivers
- Autonomous Vehicle Safety and Test Drivers
- Aviation Safety Inspectors
- Avionics Engineers
- Avionics Technicians
- Baggage Porters and Bellhops
- Bailiffs
- Bank Examiners
- Boilermakers and Mechanics
- Border Patrol Agents
- Campaign Workers
- Citizenship Reclamation Specialists
- City Managers
- Civil Engineers
- Congressional Aides
- Construction Inspectors
- Cryptographic Technicians
- Customs Officials
- Demographers
- Deputy U.S. Marshals
- Diesel Mechanics
- Driverless Car Engineers
- Economists
- Emergency Management Directors
- Engineers
- EPA Special Agents
- Export-Import Specialists
- FBI Agents
- Federal and State Officials
- Fish and Game Wardens
- Fleet Maintenance Technicians
- Flight Attendants
- Flight Instructors
- Foreign Service Officers
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators, and Analysts
- Futurists
- Green Transportation Careers
- Health and Regulatory Inspectors
- Hypersonics Engineers
- Hypersonics Technicians
- Industrial Traffic Managers
- Intelligence Officers
- Interpreters
- Land Trust or Preserve Managers
- Lobbyists
- Locomotive Engineers
- Logistics Analysts
- Logistics Engineers
- Marine Engineers
- Marine Services Technicians
- Mechanical Engineering Technicians
- Mechanical Engineers
- Merchant Mariners
- Military Recruiters
- Military Workers, Enlisted
- Mobility Managers
- National Park Service Employees
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Occupational Safety and Health Workers
- Park Rangers
- Pilots
- Policy Analysts
- Political Consultants
- Political Scientists
- Press Secretaries
- Public Transportation Operators
- Race Car Drivers
- Railroad Conductors
- Recycling Coordinators
- Regional and Local Officials
- Reservation and Ticket Agents
- Secret Service Special Agents
- Ship's Captains
- Signal Mechanics
- Space Pilots
- Stevedores
- Supply Chain Managers
- Taxi Drivers
- Toll Collectors
- Traffic Engineers
- Translators
- Transportation Engineers
- Truck Dispatchers
- Truck Drivers
- Urban and Regional Planners