The most reliable resource for AICP exam preparation.
About the AICP Exam Prep Class
90% of students who studied with the Planetizen AICP Exam Prep Class achieved AICP certification in November 2025. The national pass rate for the AICP exam is only 65%.
6 full-length
exams
50
lessons
12 hours of
video
Mobile and tablet
friendly
Pricing
Standard
$349
Enhanced
$599
Premium
$699
Essential Readings in Urban Planning
Essential Readings in Urban Planning consists of assembled readings recommended by the Planetizen AICP Exam Preparation Class instructor as the most valuable knowledge for becoming a certified planner. The reader is not required to take the class.
Local Planning: Contemporary Principles and Practice
Considered the “Green Bible” by planners, this book is a valued resource when preparing for the AICP exam. Local Planning is not required to take the AICP Exam Preparation Class.
Registration Dates
New in 2026: Updated AICP Exam Cycle
The AICP Exam cycle is changing in 2026, including a longer exam cycle, tentatively scheduled for April through September. To accommodate this change, Planetizen’s AICP Exam Prep Class access dates will be
January 15, 2026 - September 30, 2026
For students who register now and are looking to take the AICP November 2026 Pilot exam, please contact us at support@planetizen.com for an extension.
Please consult the American Planning Association for updates on exam dates.
Meet Your AICP Preparation Instructor: Jeff Levine
Jeff Levine, AICP, is an urban planner with over 25 years’ of professional experience. Currently, Levine is the owner and principal of Levine Planning Strategies, a consulting firm that specializes in bridging the gap between the development community and city planners, while also teaching housing and economic development planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Levine’s book Leadership in Planning: How to Communicate Ideas and Effect Positive Change (Routledge) was published in July 2021 and is cited by the APA as an authotative resource for preparing for the AICP Exam. Levine received his AICP certification in 1998.
From 2012 to 2019, Levine was the director of Planning and Urban Development for the city of Portland, Maine. In Portland, he oversaw the development of a new Comprehensive Plan and developed a set of tools to increase the development of low-income and workforce housing. He previously served as the director of Planning and Community Development for the Town of Brookline, Massachusetts, where he worked on several affordable housing developments and completed a Comprehensive Plan.
97% of students recommend Planetizen’s AICP Exam Prep Class.
Watch a short introduction to the Planetizen AICP Exam Preparation Class, featuring class instructor Jeff Levine.
Key Benefits
- Study at your own pace—proceed quickly, or slowly, through lessons, depending on your schedule, and retake the practice tests as often as you need.
- Test your knowledge with six full length practice exams. Explanatory feedback is provided for each practice question.
- Immerse your studies in the subjects and organization of the exam with 6 class topics and over 50 fact-filled lessons. Lessons introduce a variety of topic areas from the exam, such as History, Theory, Law, Ethics, Public Participation, and Social Justice.
- Access to over 25 summaries of APA Policy Guides.
- 12+ hours of streaming video training, with 5 hours focusing specifically on the AICP code of ethics (Carol Barrett, FAICP), code drafting (legal expert Mark White), and the Takings Clause (legal expert Thomas Hawkins).
- Interact with fellow students and the instructor, who is on hand to give advice and promptly respond to questions in the discussion forums.
- Read hundreds of comments with advice from students who have previously taken the exam.
- A once-per-term live webinar hosted by Jeff Levine, tailored to cover topics of current interest to the enrolled class.
FAQ
Planetizen AICP Exam Prep Class Outline
It’s impossible to study everything while preparing for the AICP Exam. The Planetizen AICP Exam Prep Class helps to maximize the impact of limited study time and resources by focusing on the information most likely to appear on the exam. Each topic is organized into a series of easy-to-review lessons that can be completed in approximately 20-30 minutes, making it easy for the busy planning professional to make efficient use of limited study time. Note on changes to the AICP Exam for Spring 2022: Planetizen is aware of changes to the AICP Certification Exam Outline, as announced on December 9, 2021. The Planetizen team is working diligently to bring all Planetizen AICP Exam Prep Class materials completely up to date. All Planetizen AICP Exam Prep Class lessons have been updated to reflect the changes to the tests. Updated flashcards and practice exams will be available very soon.
Reviews
This course certainly made studying extremely efficient and I felt like I could tailor it to my needs and weaknesses. Phillip Hu, AICP
This class builds confidence and provides a great framework for exam preparation. Roberto Zuniga, AICP (Coppell, TX)
The Planetizen course was the best, most comprehensive overview of material. The test-taking guidance and practice tests were the best. Ron Whitmore, AICP
Planetizen is a great resource because it helps you train your mind to think in a way that makes you able to navigate the actual exam. I absolutely would not have passed without this course. Ashley Powell, AICP
My advice to potential test takers: enroll in this course as soon as it becomes available. Don't hesitate. This is the tool that will help you pass the AICP exam. Ruben Flores-Marzan, AICP (Manati, PR)
This course is definitely the reason why I passed! Elise McDermott, AICP
This class really helped me focus my studies and was a great resource overall. Erika Martin, AICP (Long Beach, CA)
This class gave a much needed structure and the practice exams give a good idea of the scope and type of questions. Krtui Bhati, AICP (Ventnor City, NJ)
This class was incredibly helping in knowing what to study and how to study it. Cara Kelly, AICP (Bellbrook, OH)
Copyright
*AICP is a registered trademark of the American Planning Association (APA) and the APA’s Institute. Neither APA nor AICP are affiliated with Planetizen or this class.
**These are practice questions. They are not real exam questions.