What Is CM?
Starting January 1, 2008, all professional planners who are members of APA's professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), are required to engage in mandatory continuing education. The requirement took effect following an April 13, 2007, meeting of the AICP Commission at which commissioners approved a measure known as Certification Maintenance (CM). Their vote affirmed a central principle of AICP membership: the importance of remaining current in the practice of planning and demonstrating professional credibility through continuing education.
AICP's Certification Maintenance program is a direct result of that principle. It links you to training opportunities that will keep you up to date on the latest trends, technologies, and best practices. It also strengthens the value of certification, demonstrating your ongoing commitment to excellence to elected officials, community leaders, and employers.
Program Details
AICP members must earn a total of 32 CM credits (1 hour = 1 CM credit) within their two-year reporting period. AICP members may report credits for activities that were registered since April 14, 2007 and will have a four month-grace period beyond their reporting period to complete the CM requirement.
A minimum of 1.5 credits must be on the topic of ethics, and another 1.5 credits must be on the topic of current planning law. AICP members can carry over a maximum of 16 credits from one reporting period into the subsequent reporting period; however, ethics and planning law credits cannot be carried over to the next two-year reporting period. AICP members who do not meet CM requirements within four years will lose AICP certification and will be obliged to seek recertification in order to regain the AICP credential.
All professional development activities must be approved and registered to be eligible for CM credit and recorded into your online CM log. The list of registered events is growing every day, so please bookmark the CM website and check back to see whether an event you attended has been added.
Exemptions
View my CM Log
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Each month in Chicago, APA hosts a free after-work lecture and discussion in which practicing planners and researchers discuss innovative ideas and concepts or present their latest projects. These programs offer Certification Maintenance (CM) credit for attendees. They are also recorded and offered for CM credit through distance education. AICP members listen to the audio recording and follow along with a provided PowerPoint.
Learn more
Symposium:
1909 - 2109: Sustaining the Lasting Value of American Planning CM I 4.0
This symosium brought together federal officials, planners, academics and grassroots advocates to focus on the achievements of America's first 100 years of planning. Certification Maintenance (CM) credit may be earned by viewing all four parts of the symposium video.
AICP Certification Maintenance (CM) Credit will be provided generally for all California Chapter programs and the annual APA California conference, APA-AICP National workshops and the annual APA conference. California Planning Foundation programs and Section Programs are generally provided credit as well and must be pre-approved in advance of the program. Please check with the California Chapter Vice-President of Professional Development, Carol D. Barrett for pre-approval of other workshops, seminars, conferences, and courses offered by other organizations and academic institutions or any questions about AICP/CM credit. Please note that AICP/CM credit is provided based upon hour for hour instruction and does not include lunch breaks or other breaks in instruction. The program booklets for APA and APA California conferences indicate the amount of AICP/CM credit that each session or mobile workshop is eligible for. Please login to the National APA website to view the list of current, upcoming and past approved CM activities.
APA California Chapter Conference
APA California has an annual conference that is held in the Fall that offers many sessions and mobile workshops that are eligible for CM credit. In addition to providing education for planning professionals, the APA California annual conference provides Planning Commissioner training. APA California is also developing sessions that will cater to the needs of students for upcoming conferences.
California Planning Foundation (CPF) Workshops
CPF periodically sponsors workshops on topical issues. All revenue from registration fees in excess of nominal workshop expenses goes to the Foundation’s scholarship endowment. Go to APA California - CPF web page link or link below for upcoming CPF workshop information.
www.californiaplanningfoundation.org
Sections of California Chapter Workshops
The eight Sections of APA California Chapter periodically sponsor workshops on topical issues. Please check their web-sites below for specific program information or visit the National APA calendar here:
APA/AICP Workshops, Online Courses, CD-ROMs, Audio/Web Conferences, Annual Conferences , BroadcastAPA and Newsletters.
APA and AICP periodically sponsor workshops on topical issues. Additionally, APA and AICP offer videotape and audiotape programs. APA has an annual conference that is held in the Spring that offers many sessions and mobile workshops that are eligible for CM credit. In addition to providing education for planning professionals, the APA annual conference provides a Student Track of sessions and Planning Commissioner training.
Self-Directed Study
Self-paced instruction to fit your busy schedule.
Online Courses
APA now offers convenient, affordable online courses in a variety of pertinent planning topics — including interactive law and ethics training that allows you to meet your CM reporting requirements.
At the online course homepage you may view the catalog, register for courses, and access your training. The online course homepage and registration site is hosted by Captus Press, APA's trusted online course program partner.
AICP Workshops
Plan to attend Planners Training Service workshops sponsored by AICP. Find details and register at http://www.planning.org/pts/index.htm.
Programs Sponsored by Other Professional Organizations
Many professional organizations (see some key organizations listed below) conduct their own workshops and annual conferences that provide additional continuing education opportunities for practicing planning professionals on planning related topical issues. Some programs may be eligible for AICP/CM credit. If they are not pre-approved in the program materials please check with the Vice President of Professional Development.
Other professional organizations: League of California Cities, California Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP), American Institute of Architects (AIA), American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), ULI, The Great Valley Center.
UC Extension Programs and Discounts
UCLA Extension has a Public Policy Program that offers a number of 1-day and 2-day workshops for planning professionals. The workshops offered through the Public Policy Program are eligible for CM credit.
APA members get a 10% discount for some courses at the UC Riverside Extension. The University offers a variety of courses, programs and conferences for Land Use and Natural Resources professionals. Please note, if this discount is available it will be listed in the course description. http://classes.extension.ucr.edu/
UCSD Extension offers an annual Law and Ethics Seminar. For details click here and select AICP CM Credits - Law and Ethics Seminar to download the flyer.
Certification Maintenance strengthens the value of certification, demonstrating your ongoing commitment to excellence to elected officials, community leaders, and employers.