How to Become a Community Planner in Alberta

• 9 steps without a listed fee

1. Complete PSB assessment

   You must complete an assessment from the Professional Standards Board, choosing among the accredited degree, reciprocal agreement, or prior learning assessment recognition options.

   Source

   “In order to become one, you must complete an Assessment from the Professional Standards Board. There are three types of assessment: Accredited Degree, Reciprocal Agreement, Prior Learning Assessment Recognition (PLAR)”

   albertaplanners.com/content/road-rpp
2. Pay assessment fee

   You must pay a separate assessment fee directly to the Professional Standards Board.

   Source

   “The member must pay a Separate Assessment Fee directly to the Professional Standards Board.”

   albertaplanners.com/content/road-rpp
3. Get Candidate membership vetted

   Once the PSB finds you eligible, it advises APPI and the APPI Registration Committee vets your Candidate membership.

   Source

   “Once the PSB has assessed the applicant as eligible to proceed to Candidate membership, the PSB will advise APPI and the APPI Registration Committee will vet your Candidate membership.”

   albertaplanners.com/content/road-rpp
4. Receive acceptance and dues invoice

   APPI notifies you by email of your official Candidate membership acceptance and issues a separate invoice for the current year member dues.

   Source

   “APPI will advise you by email of your official Candidate membership acceptance and issue a separate invoice for the current year member dues.”

   albertaplanners.com/content/road-rpp
5. Select a mentor

   Once confirmed as a Candidate Member, you must select a mentor and submit their information through the candidate portal on PSB, with the mentorship period lasting a minimum of one year.

   Source

   “Once you have been confirmed as a Candidate Member, you must select a mentor and submit their information through the candidate portal on PSB. A Mentor will help in your professional growth and your development of specific competencies. Your mentorship period will last a minimum of one year.”

   albertaplanners.com/content/road-rpp
6. Log work experience

   You must document and demonstrate a minimum amount of practical professional planning work experience verified by a Registered Member sponsor, with the minimum years depending on your assessment route.

   Source

   “Candidate members must document and demonstrate a minimum amount of practical professional planning work experience, verified by a Registered Member sponsor. The minimum number of years of full-time (or equivalent) experience required for individuals will vary depending on which route they achieved Candidate membership through.”

   albertaplanners.com/content/road-rpp
7. Complete Ethics course

   You must successfully complete the Ethics & Professionalism Course and its multiple-choice test at any time after Candidate membership is confirmed, but before sitting the Professional examination.

   Source

   “You may take the Ethics & Professionalism Course and test at any time after we have confirmed your Candidate membership, but it must be successfully completed before you are eligible to sit the Professional examination”

   albertaplanners.com/content/road-rpp
8. Pass Professional Examination

   You apply to PSB to write the Professional Examination, which is offered twice a year, and can only do so after successfully completing all other requirements.

   Source

   “You will need to apply to PSB to write the Professional Examination and can only do so if you have successfully completed all the other requirements.”

   albertaplanners.com/content/road-rpp
9. RPP membership confirmed

   After you pass the examination, PSB advises APPI and the APPI Registration Committee vets and confirms your RPP membership and you receive an official letter.

   Source

   “The PSB will advise APPI once you have passed the examination, and the APPI Registration Committee will vet and confirm your RPP membership. You will receive an official letter.”

   albertaplanners.com/content/road-rpp

Official page for this route

• 2 steps without a listed fee

1. Request transfer from PTIA

   You make a transfer request with your existing Provincial and Territorial Institutes and Associations to transfer your membership to APPI.

   Source

   “If you would like to transfer your membership from another PTIA to APPI, simply make a transfer request with your existing PTIA.”

   albertaplanners.com/content/changing-member-status-and-transfers
2. Transfer processed and approved

   In most cases, transfer applications are fully processed and approved within five business days or less.

   Source

   “In most cases, transfer applications are fully processed and approved within five business days or less.”

   albertaplanners.com/content/changing-member-status-and-transfers

Official page for this route

• 2 steps without a listed fee

1. Pursue PLAR route

   If you hold a non-accredited degree and are employed in professional planning, you can acquire the competencies for the profession through the Prior Learning Assessment Recognition route.

   Source

   “The PLAR route offers those with a non-accredited degree who are employed in professional planning to acquire the competencies for the planning profession via professional experience.”

   albertaplanners.com/content/categories
2. Follow Road to RPP

   After the PLAR assessment, you proceed through the same Road to RPP steps of mentorship, logging work experience, the Ethics and Professionalism Course, and the Professional Examination.

   Source

   “There are three types of assessment: Accredited Degree, Reciprocal Agreement, Prior Learning Assessment Recognition (PLAR)”

   albertaplanners.com/content/road-rpp

Official page for this route