One Path to AICP

AICP Certification brings value to your career, your organization, and the communities you serve. Do you want to demonstrate your expertise, show your commitment to professional ethics, distinguish yourself in the job market, and keep your planning skills in tip-top shape? Good news! One Path to AICP streamlines the certification process.

View the Two Annual AICP Certification Windows

Take These Steps to AICP Certification


Fall 2025 AICP Certification Cycle

STEP 1: REGISTRATION

Opens: Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at 9:00 am CST

Closes: Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 3:00 pm CST

Transfer Deadline: Monday, November 24, 2025, at 3:00 pm CST

STEP 2: EXAM

Exam Window: November 3-30, 2025

STEP 3: EXPERIENCE

Opens: Monday, December 1, 2025, at 9:00 am CST

Closes: Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at 3:00 pm CST

Upcoming Member Events

AICP Office Hours

Join APA staff for one or all of our upcoming AICP Office Hours sessions to get your questions answered and connect with others preparing for the AICP exam. Registration is required. Please click on the links below.

Wednesday, August 6, 2025 | 10:00–11:00 AM CT

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 | Noon–1:00 PM CT

AICP Exam Prep

Join APA staff and AICP exam prep experts Jordan Yin, AICP, and Andy Cross, AICP, for an engaging discussion on APA's exam preparation resources and strategies for success on the AICP exam. Registration is required. Please click on the link below.

Friday, August 22, 2025 | 11:00 AM–Noon CT

Members and non-members are welcome to register for the above events.

Eligibility Pre-Check

Visit Are You Eligible? to review the experience requirements for AICP Certification, download the AICP Certification Guide, and use the Eligibility Pre-Check resources designed to help you understand how your experience fits into AICP Certification.

APA members can request an exam accommodation for ESL considerations or a disability. Please view Appendix 2 in the AICP Exam Certification Guide.

STEP 1: REGISTER ($305)

All members of APA are eligible to take the AICP Exam. When preparing to test, confirm you'll abide by the AICP Code of Ethics, agree to the Certification Agreement, and schedule your in-person or online remote appointment to test for the upcoming AICP Certification Exam with Prometric.

Learn more about registration

STEP 2: Test ($0)

See APA's tips for exam preparation and links to resources to help you succeed.

Passing the exam earns you the AICP Candidate designation to use until you complete the three steps to achieve AICP certification. Exam results do not expire, so you can take the time to obtain your experience. The AICP Candidate designation will distinguish you and can be leveraged with your employer.

Learn more about the exam

Learn more about the value of AICP to employers

STEP 3: Apply ($305)

After passing the AICP exam and earning the required professional planning experience, submit your education and employment verifications and demonstrate that your experience meets the AICP's definition of professional planning experience. When the portal opens, all information is submitted online.

Download the Experience Assessment Template to review the professional planning experience requirements for certification.

Learn more about applying

Frequently Asked Questions

We've gathered some commonly asked questions to help make your certification experience a breeze.

Learn more about certification


AICP Certification Fees1
Registration Fee $305
Transfer Fee $100
Planning Experience Assessment Fee $305
Appeal Fee $100

1 All fees are non-refundable. To expedite and smooth the certification process, the schedule of fees for the exam and assessment has shifted slightly. The sum of the fees remains the same.