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If you've searched "urban planning certification," you've probably landed on a handful of different terms: AICP, certified planner, planning credential. They all point to the same thing. AICP, the American Institute of Certified Planners, is the recognized certification for urban and regional planners in the United States, and it's the credential most people mean when they talk about becoming a "certified planner."

Passing the AICP exam feels like the finish line, but it's actually step two of three. Step three, the Experience Assessment, is where a lot of otherwise qualified planners stumble, not because their experience falls short, but because of how they present it. Here's what the assessment actually evaluates, what counts as qualifying experience, and the single most common reason submissions get sent back.

A side-by-side look at what you get and what you pay with Planning Certification versus Planetizen's AICP Exam Prep Class.