Transcript Preparing for the AICP Exam - APA-NC

North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association
2016 State Planning Conference
Hanna Cockburn, AICP | City of Greensboro Planning Department
Vice President for Professional Development
Aaron Bland, AICP | Shelly Mayo, AICP
APPLICATION PROCESS
SUBJECT MATTER
EFFECTIVE TEST STRATEGIES
o Have you joined APA?
o Start early
o Meet the education &
o Use early bird for feedback
experience requirement o Reflect the criteria
o Gather verification
o Use the APA checklist
documents
o Employment verification o It’s about YOU
for each job
Approval is valid for up
o Transcript or notarized
to six testing windows
diploma
1. Planning
Process
a) Plan Making &
Implementation
b) Functional Area
of Practice
c) Research,
Analysis &
Teaching
2. Comprehensive
3. Public Decision-
a) Use specific
a) Specific example
View
examples
b) Describe how a
comprehensive
view was used
c) Discuss multiple
impacts,
stakeholders
Making
of influencing
decision making
b) Clearly identify
who was
influenced and
the benefit to the
public interest
o Eligibility
o Forms
o Registration Details
o Site Scheduling
o Practice Exams
http://www.planning.org/certification/bulletin
http://www.planning.org/policy/guides
http://www.planning.org/library/greatbooks/
o KNOW THE CODE
Source: ICMA
o Communications through the Ethics Officer
o Adopted 2005; revised in 2009 & 2016
o Five Sections:
A. Aspirational Principles
B. Rules of Conduct
C. Advisory Opinions
D. Adjudication of Complaints of Misconduct
E. Discipline of Members
https://www.planning.org/ethics/ethicscode.htm
o FL-APA Treasure Coast Section Study Links
www.floridaplanning.org/treasurecoast/aicp_links.pdf
o Study Stack
www.studystack.com
o APA tutorial & reading list
www.planning.org/certification/examprep
o Planning Prep
planningprep.com
o APA Exam Prep 3.0 ($249)
o Planetizen AICP Exam Prep Class ($245-$689)
o Others?
Final Notification
September 21, 2016
Registration Deadline
October 31, 2016
Transfer Deadline
October 31, 2016
Testing Window
November 7-20, 2016
SUBJECT MATTER
o History, Theory & Law
(15%)
o Plan Making &
Implementation
(30%)
o Functional Areas of
Practice
(15%)
o Spatial Areas of Practice
(15%)
o Public Participation &
Social Justice
(10%)
o AICP Code of Ethics &
Professional Conduct
(5%)
http://www.planning.org/certification/examprep/subjectmatter.htm
History, Theory & Law
Plan Making &
Implementation
o Key dates
o Planning processes
o Case law
o Planning theory
o Patterns of human
settlement
Source: newworldencyclopedia.com
o Research, data &
analysis (including GIS)
o Environmental analysis
o Development regulation
o Growth management
o Budgets & financing
o Stakeholder involvement
o Policy making
Functional Areas
of Practice
o Community
development
o Comprehensive
o Design
o Economic
o Environmental
o Facility
o Energy
Spatial Areas
of Practice
o Food
o Hazard
o Historic
o Housing
o Land Use
o Public health
o Transportation
o Urban/Rural
Sources: City of Raleigh, Lego, State of NC, Realtor.com
National
Multi-state
State
Urbanized area
County
City
Town
Small area
Specialty
Public Participation &
Social Justice
Code of Ethics
o Public involvement
o Aspirational principles
o Techniques
o Rules of Conduct
o Engaging underserved
o Procedures
communities
o Social justice issues &
practices
o Working with diverse
communities
o Coalition building
o Suspension of Certification
Source: ICMA
BEFORE THE TEST
o Study early & often
o Use practice tests
o Be strategic
• Focus on weak areas
• Scenario, multi-part ?s
o Schedule your test site
ASAP
FOR THE TEST
o Get a good night’s sleep
o Arrive early
o Bring 2 forms of ID
o Dress comfortably (layers)
o Bring a survival kit
o DON’T FREAK OUT
o BREATHE
o 15 minute tutorial at test site occurs before test begins
o 170 questions (150 count)
o Keep a rhythm, pace yourself
o ANSWER EVERY QUESTION
o Mark questions to come back to later
o When in doubt, guess
o 55+ is passing, tests are scaled, questions vary in value
http://www.planning.org/_offsite/certification/tutorial/
Aaron Bland, AICP | Shelly Mayo, AICP
o DON’T PANIC!
o You are not alone
• US pass rate: 69%
• NC pass rate: 73% (May 2016)
o Schedule your retake (re-apply if needed)
o Review your score report, identify weak areas
o STUDY, STUDY, STUDY
North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association
2016 State Planning Conference
Hanna Cockburn, AICP | City of Greensboro Planning Department
Vice President for Professional Development
Aaron Bland, AICP | Shelly Mayo, AICP