Certification, Licensing, and Special Requirements
Certification or Licensing
Certification in urban and regional planning is not required but can lead to more challenging, better-paying positions. The American Institute of Certified Planners, a division of the American Planning Association (APA), grants certification to planners who meet certain academic and professional requirements and successfully complete an examination. The exam tests for knowledge of the history and future of planning, research methods, plan implementation, and other relevant topics.
As of 2016, the state of New Jersey was the only state that required planners to be licensed. Contact your state department of labor for more information on licensing requirements.
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