American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

The American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) exam is a nationwide certification program that validates an individual's knowledge and skills in the field of urban planning. Earning the AICP certification demonstrates your commitment to professional excellence and adherence to ethical practices in planning.

Who Should Take the AICP Exam?

This certification is ideal for:

• Professional Planners: Those seeking to establish themselves as qualified professionals in the field of urban planning.
• Recent Graduates: Graduates with a degree in planning or a related field aiming to launch their careers in urban planning.
• Experienced Planners: Individuals with experience in planning who want to validate their expertise and enhance their career prospects.

Benefits of Earning AICP Certification

• Increased Job Opportunities: The AICP certification is a recognized credential and can give you a competitive edge in the job market.
• Professional Recognition: Earning the AICP designation demonstrates your commitment to the profession and adherence to ethical standards.
• Enhanced Credibility: The AICP certification signifies your expertise and strengthens your credibility with clients, employers, and colleagues.
• Continuing Education Benefits: AICP certification holders are required to participate in ongoing professional development, ensuring you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in urban planning.

Exam Details 

• Exam Duration 3.5 hours
• Exam Format Multiple Choice
• Exam Type professional
• Number of Questions 170 Questions
• Pass Score 150

Course Structure

The American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) exam covers the following topics - \

Domain 1 - Understanding the Research and Assessment Methods (11%)

• Learning to conduct research and acquire knowledge 
• Learning about data source interpretation and evaluation 
• Learning about Spatial analysis 
• Learning about community involvement and engagement for developing a sound understanding of a community
• Learning about data collection strategies and identify planning issues 

Domain 2 - Understanding Fundamental Planning Knowledge (15%)

• Learning about the history of planning, planning movements, and influences on contemporary planning 
• Learning about patterns of human settlement
• Learning about foundational legal principles and the basis of planning 
• Learning about Planning Theory 
• Learning the general terminology, practices, and principles of related professions
• Learning about natural, social, and economic systems 
• Learning about core values of planning
• Learning the ways of using technology to advance planning 
• Learning about Information technology tools 

Domain 3 - Overview of Communication and Interaction (13%)

• Learning about the concept of Communication and its principles
• Learning about the strategies and techniques to offer non-discriminatory electronic media free of obstacles and/or barriers to accessibility. 
• Learning about the concept of listening, comprehension, and reflection of needs and ideas 
• Learning about Leadership techniques 
• Learning about Social justice
• Learning about culturally appropriate and respectful communication 
• Learning about the processes and techniques towards consensus for decision making
• Learning about the role of organizational structures and functions 
• Learning about outreach strategies and techniques 
• Learning about the evaluation of how well the planned outreach strategy engages targeted communities/populations 
• Learning about evidence-based argument formulation and articulation 
• Learning about sensitive or complex political situation management 

Domain 4 - Understanding the concept of Plan and Policy Development (15%)

• Learning about preparing to plan 
• Learning about planning by sequential steps and multi-variate analyses
• Learning about states' and federal laws 
• Learning about formulating and drafting policies 
• Learning about vision, goal, objective, policy, and priority statement 
• Learning about objectives and actions for addressing identified needs within an equity framework
• Learning about stakeholder and community inclusion in scoping a plan, policy, and project
• Learning about mediation, negotiation, facilitation, or arbitration to address conflicting interests 
• Learning about applying innovations and best practices suitable to place and context
• Learning about identifying and evaluating consequences 
• Learning about funding and financing considerations
• Learning about community character and form 
• Learning about identifying, quantifying, and addressing incidence and burden, past and future
• Learning about conversance with related disciplines 

Domain 5 - Understanding Plan Implementation (12%)

• Learning to develop and interpret rules, regulations, policies, and programs 
• Learning about aligning and activating funding and financing options 
• Learning about the proposal or project assessment 
• Learning about identifying and mitigating challenges and obstacles for plan implementation
• Learning about drafting action steps and assigning responsibility 
• Learning about monitoring, evaluating, and updating adopted plans and policies 
• Learning about integrating multiple projects to achieve efficiency, effectiveness, and synergy 

Domain 6 - Overview of Administration and Management (6%)

• Learning about project or program management 
• Learning about internal organizational management 
• Learning about the management of external relationships 
• Learning about mentoring and motivating staff to develop their skills optimally
• Learning about results-oriented management and accountability 

Domain 7 - Understanding Leadership and its principles (6%)

• Learning about leadership in support of plan making, participation, recognition of needs, and commitment action 
• Learning about ethical aspects of advocacy
• Learning about best practices and their potential applications
• Learning about accountability to the profession, ethical principles and the public interest
• Learning about Institutional structures
• Learning about a planner's comprehensive approach 
• Learning about the ethics of equity, diversity, and inclusivity in practice 
• Learning about coaching and mentoring 
• Learning about discerning and promoting the public interest related to a proposed action
• Learning about professional development expectations 
• Learning about discerning and promoting the value of planning 
• Learning about opportunities to promote and volunteer in professional planning organizations 

Domain 8 - Understanding Areas of Practice (12%)

• Learning about comprehensive and long-range planning 
• Learning about geographically-focused, subarea planning 
• Learning about Current planning (e.g., legal procedural applications, equity, codes and regulations, zoning administration, plan review, impact analysis, design review, site planning)
• Learning about sustainability and resilience planning
• Learning about transportation mobility and access planning
• Learning about infrastructure and service planning 
• Learning about hazard mitigation and resiliency planning 
• Learning about natural resources planning 
• Learning about economic development 
• Learning about urban design 
• Learning about housing planning 
• Learning about parks, recreation, and open space 
• Learning about historic and cultural resource planning 
• Learning about facility and services planning 
• Learning about food planning 
• Learning about health planning
• Learning about rural and small-town planning 
• Learning about equity and advocacy planning 
• Learning about regional and multijurisdictional planning 

Domain 9 - Understanding AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (10%)

• Learning about overall Responsibility to the Public 
• Learning about responsibility to Clients and Employers 
• Learning about responsibility to the Planning Profession and Colleagues 
• Learning about the responsibility of the planner to uphold the AICP rules of conduct, compliance, and administration