PLAN-310: Planetizen AICP* Exam Preparation Course

PLAN-310: Planetizen AICP* Exam Preparation Course


Term
January 15 - June 15, 2008

Instructor
Jennifer Evans-Cowley, PhD, AICP

Registration
$99.00

Please Note:
This course is now open for enrollment. Course access ends on June 15, 2008.

Are you ready to take the AICP* exam? Planetizen offers a convenient, self-paced online preparation course to help you successfully prepare for the exam. The Planetizen AICP* Exam Preparation Course provides step-by-step, progressive, and interactive instruction that leads you through specific methodologies, lessons, exercises and sample questions. Join hundreds of other students who have successfully used the Planetizen AICP* Exam Preparation Course to prepare for the American Planning Association's AICP* exam. The Planetizen AICP* Exam Preparation Course has been completely redesigned to align the course with the new computer-based testing format, and now also includes over six hours of streaming video. (Please note that at this time the video portion of the training is only compatible with a Windows PC, and not a Mac.)

Updated for Revised 2008 Exam

In January 2008, AICP* announced revisions to the content of its certification exam, and Planetizen's online AICP* Exam Preparation Course has been updated to comprehensively cover everything you'll need to know to study to pass the test. The new version of the course includes expanded coverage of AICP's* Code of Ethics, as well as an in-depth discussion of public participation and social justice issues in planning. This update also includes detailed information on such spatial planning topics as downtown planning, historic district planning and waterfront planning, providing a comprehensive and rounded planning review that will help you get ready for the AICP* Exam.

Features

• Eight course topics, each with a series of 20-30 minute lessons to help you organize your studies
• Three practice exams (170 questions each)
• Pretest evaluation (50 questions) to help you determine your level of readiness
• Ten practice questions for each topic to help you demonstrate mastery of the topic
• New in June, 2006 - Over six hours of streaming video training on nine topics (requires a fast Internet connection (DSL/Cable/T1-3) and Windows XP/2000), recorded during the Planetizen/USC AICP Seminar in April, 2006
• A total of over 600 unique sample questions
• Six discussion forums to interact with other students and course staff, and ask any questions you might have as you prepare for the exam. All questions are answered within three days (but usually faster)
• Over 30 fact-filled lessons introduce a variety of topics, from History, Theory, and Law (Topic 2) to Ethics, Public Interest, and Social Justice (Topic 7)
• Discussion forum posts can be set to be emailed to you, keeping you notified about course activity, even when you're too busy to login
• Voluntary weekly online student chats provide an opportunity to interact with other students studying for the exam
• A scheduled course chat with the course instructor several weeks before the exam, allowing real-time discussion with the course instructor and fellow students
• See who else is online while you are studying
• 100% web-based. You can access the course anywhere you have a web browser and access to the Internet
• Special video introduction from the course instructor and video introduction to the course
• Four course staff members available to help you. Course staff includes the course instructor, the course facilitator, a course manager (who handles billing, account setup and administrative matters) and a course technical support specialist
• Comments from students who have previously taken the exam
• Access to the course for 30 days after you take the exam in order to post comments and read about the experiences of other test-takers

• Course Instructor
• Course Outline
• Registration Options
• Purchasing Information

Course Instructor

Jennifer Evans-Cowley, PhD, AICP, has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners for the last six years and is an Assistant Professor of City and Regional Planning at the Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture at The Ohio State University. Dr. Evans-Cowley regularly teaches courses to prepare candidates to take the AICP* exam and serves as the professional development officer for the Ohio Chapter of the American Planning Association. Prior to becoming a professor she worked as a planner in several cities. Her research regularly appears in planning journals and she is the author of three Planning Advisory Service Reports for the American Planning Association.

What People Are Saying About The Course

"The course was a huge help! I wouldn't have passed without it." --Lisa Koch, AICP (Lawrence, KS)

"I definitely attribute this course to helping me prepare. Thanks Jennifer! Thanks Planetizen! I will definitely recommend this course to others!" --Jason Gaines, AICP (Smyrna, GA)

"I want to let you know that your Planetizen videos are amazing! I can't tell you how many times I have reviewed specific definitions and then I watched your video explanation and examples, and I finally get it! They were immensely helpful!" --Susan Lesser (Boca Raton, FL)

"Initially I was all over the place in studying for this exam, but I found this course extremely helpful in breaking down the study topics. The videos were an excellent resource. Thank you, Jennifer." --Allen Tai, AICP (San Jose, CA)

"The Planetizen course was extremely helpful for all of the history and law questions on the exam... It was also a great review for the project management and citizen participation techniques questions... Thanks for a fantastic course!" --Robyn Welch, AICP (New York, NY)

"This course was very helpful in preparing, especially with a full time job and a 2 year-old at home." --Scott Gustin, AICP (Bristol, Vermont)

"Thank you for making an accessible and affordable course that truly helped me prepare for this test... I was happy to have learned quite a bit during the process. Thank you again!" --Heather Burton, AICP (Los Angeles, CA)

"This course is the best source to get overall knowledge of the test. You could probably just use this course and pass if you study enough." --Rachel Friede, AICP (Vail, CO)

"Thanks, Planetizen! ... I was learning a lot of the detailed planning history/theory and economic development stuff for the first time. This course was so well-organized -- thank you! I went through each of the topics of the course first and took detailed notes, then in the last week before the exam, I watched the videos -- it was a very nice relaxing way to review the material, and I learned some new stuff." -- Teresa Crean, AICP (Newport, RI)

"I really think this course was excellent. There is so much information to get through to prepare for this exam, and this course really helped to get started and provide a basis for organizing my own materials. Also the test exams were very useful. I literally felt it the minute that I started really 'getting' the way to read the questions to find the right answer... Thanks again to Jennifer and the Planetizen Prep Team!" --Erin Miller, AICP (Oakland, CA)

"The practice exams did an excellent job of putting me into the right frame of mind to succeed." --Stan May, AICP (Seattle, WA)

"I want to thank the staff at Planetizen. Your course inspired me to continue studying when I thought that perhaps I should postpone taking the exam. The video training brought clarity to many concepts. Jennifer, you are a great instructor!" -- Diane Bentley, AICP (Oxnard, CA)

"Thanks Jennifer and Planetizen! The online course and sample exams were a huge help and I'd recommend them to anyone considering taking the exam." --Jeffrey Hook, AICP (Atascadero, CA)

"The Planetizen course definitely provided the support and structure required to pass the AICP exam.... Planetizen facilitated in providing the structure and foundation of knowledge needed to think through and solve the questions on the AICP* exam." -- Mary Shearill-Thompson, AICP (Silver Spring, MD)

"...The practice exams were helpful to me in posing situational questions in a format that was similar to many of those on the actual AICP* exam." -- Anthony Fusarelli, AICP (Orange, CA)

"I loved the course and it definitely helped me to pass the AICP* test... I have already recommended your course to many others!" -- Allan Calder, AICP (Boulder, CO)

"Thank you Professor Evans-Cowley and Planetizen - this course was a great asset and I felt connected to others in my situation. I would not have passed or known what to study without your help." -- Richard Miller, AICP (Fort Bragg, CA)

"The Planetizen course does a good job of immersing you in the areas that need to be covered. The course helped me to 'compartmentalize' the topical areas of the exam and that to me was worth the cost of the course alone." --Charles Hall, AICP (Augusta, GA)

"I thought the lectures and the practice exams were really valuable tools... Thanks for a solid review course that I could take as my time allowed." -- Robert Palladino, AICP (Edison, NJ)

"The course is invaluable in summarizing the key essential elements involved and opening the veil into the mystery of the test. I highly recommend to anyone." -- Joseph Scott, AICP (Prescott Valley, AZ)

"Thank you, Professor Evans-Cowley -- the base of my studies was this course. I did not know most of this material prior to the course, since my education was mostly outside of the U.S." -- Lani Ravin, AICP (Burlington, VT)

"With the online course you're able to study during your lunch hour at work and at home without needing to haul materials back and forth to study." -- Aaron Sorrell, AICP (Dayton, OH)

"If you do not belong to a local study group this course is a must. This course allows busy planners who may not have time to meet regularly to get the benefits of a study group." -- Kimberly Moreland, AICP (Tacoma, WA)

"Planetizen presents an effective strategy for passing the test and he gives you the nuts and bolts needed to do it ... head and shoulders above the APA prep materials." -- Frank V. Giblin, AICP (Washington, D.C.)

"I just wanted to send you a note and thank you for the excellent Planetizen AICP* Exam Preparation Course... I will recommend your course to anyone I meet who contemplates taking the AICP exam in the near future." -- Barry Pearl, AICP, MPA (San Francisco, CA)

"Thank you so much for a great prep course. I would not have passed without it - I am convinced! It provided a great structure to studying for a test that covered so much information." -- Kristine Edens, AICP (Shoreline, WA)

"Thanks to Professor Evans-Cowley and the Planetizen staff for this wonderful AICP prep course. It was very useful indeed!!!" -- Philip Banea, AICP (Las Vegas, NV)

"Your study materials were great! I would not have known where to start or what to study otherwise! The practice exams were very helpful, both for content as well as timing..." -- Susan Rosner, AICP (San Francisco, CA)

"This course was very helpful in preparing for the exam. Thank you, Planetizen." -- Janki Patel, AICP (Middletown, NJ)

"I thought the lectures and the practice exams were really valuable tools. Thanks for a solid review course that I could take as my time allowed." -- Robert Palladino, AICP (Edison, NJ)

"I think the Planetizen course was very, very helpful -- it really got across the correct level of detail needed to answer the questions.... I got both the course readers, which were an excellent resource. They sometimes went into a lot more detail than I think is needed on the exam, but in doing so really drive home the general concepts you need to know." --Anne Morrison (Dhaka, Bangladesh)

Course Outline

While preparing for the AICP* exam, it is simply not possible to study everything. The Planetizen AICP* Exam Preparation Course helps you to focus your limited time and resources by focusing the information most likely to appear on the AICP* exam. The course includes a course introduction and eight topics. Each topic is organized into a series of easy-to-review lessons which can be completed in approximately 20-30 minutes. This lesson-based approach makes it easy for the busy planning professional to fit in a lesson anytime -- during a lunch break, early in the morning before heading off to work, or after putting the kids to bed for the night. Course Introduction This introductory topic includes a variety of orientation materials, including introductions to the course staff, instruction on how to participate in the weekly course chats with students and the scheduled course chat with the instructor. Details are also provided about how to participate in the six discussion forums.

Topic 1: How To Prepare For the AICP* Exam

• Lesson 1: The Structure of the Exam
• Lesson 2: The Nature of the Exam
• Lesson 3: Commentary from AICP* Candidates
• Lesson 4: Before the Exam
• Lesson 5: During the Exam
• Lesson 6: The "New" AICP* Exam -- Computer-Based vs. Hardcopy
• Lesson 7: References
• Lesson 8: Other Recommended Study Guides
• Video Training: AICP* Exam Overview
• Video Training: How To Study
• Pretest Quiz
• How Well Did You Perform The Pretest?

• Lesson 1: Introduction to History, Theory, and Law
• Lesson 2: History
• Lesson 3: Theory
• Lesson 4: Law
• Lesson 5: Application of Legal Principles
• Video Training: History, Theory, and Law of Planning
• Sample Questions: History, Theory, and Law (10 Questions**)

• Lesson 1: Introduction to Spatial Areas of Planning
• Lesson 2: Planning at Different Scales
• Lesson 3: Corridor Planning
• Lesson 4: Neighborhood Planning
• Lesson 5: Waterfront Planning
• Lesson 6: Historic Districts
• Lesson 7: Downtown Planning
• Sample Questions: Spatial Areas of Planning (10 Questions**)

• Lesson 1: Introduction
• Lesson 2: Strategic Planning and Visioning
• Lesson 3: Goal Setting
• Lesson 4: Data Collection
• Lesson 5: Quantitative Analysis (Site Analysis)
• Lesson 6: Quantitative Analysis (Statistics)
• Lesson 7: Quantitative Analysis (Population Estimation)
• Lesson 8: Quantitative Analysis (Economic Analysis)
• Lesson 9: Demographics
• Lesson 10: Information Systems
• Lesson 11: Fiscal Impact Analysis
• Lesson 12: Introduction to Plan Implementation
• Lesson 13: Environmental Impact Analysis
• Lesson 14: Budgeting
• Lesson 15: Project and Program Management
• Video Training: Plan Making
• Video Training: Plan Implementation - Part 1
• Video Training: Plan Implementation - Part 2
• Sample Questions: Plan Making and Implementation (10 Questions**)

• Lesson 1: Introduction
• Lesson 2: Natural Resources and Environmental Quality
• Lesson 3: Energy
• Lesson 4: Transportation
• Lesson 5: Housing
• Lesson 6: Land Use Regulations (Subdivisions) Resource
• Lesson 7: Land Use Regulations (Zoning)
• Sample Questions: Functional Areas of Practice (10 Questions**)

• Lesson 1: Introduction to Public Participation and Social Justice
• Lesson 2: Multicultural and Gender Issues Resource
• Lesson 3: Public Participation Resource
• Lesson 4: Negotiation and Coalition Building Resource
• Sample Questions: Public Participation and Social Justice Quiz (10 Questions**)

• Lesson 1: Ethics
• Lesson 2: Ethics Questions
• Video Training: Planning Ethics
• Sample Questions: AICP Code of Ethics (10 Questions**)

• Lesson 1: Introduction
• Lesson 2: Examples of Emerging Issues and Trends
• Video Training: Emerging Issues and Trends
• Sample Questions: Emerging Issues And Trends (10 Questions**)

• Video Training: Questions and Answers
• Sample Exam #1 (**170 Questions)
• Sample Exam #2 (**170 Questions)
• Sample Exam #3 (**170 Questions)
• Course Evaluation

Registration

Online Course - $99

This option includes access to the course January 15 through June 15, 2008, enabling you to study for the May 2008 exam.

Purchase This Option Now

Course Account Activation

Your course account will be activated within 1 business day of the time you sign up (Usually within 4 hours if you sign up Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm Pacific). Questions? Please email us at info@planetizen.com

Course Registration Policies

• November Exam: Course registration for the November exam opens on May 15, and your account will become active on July 16. You will have access to the course through December 15.
• May Exam: Course registration for the May exam opens on December 15, and your account will become active on January 15. You will have access to the course through June 15.
• At this time we do not offer discounted extensions on the course for the next session. For example, if you register for the online course in March, you will only have access through June 15, and will have to re-register (and pay the course fee) to have access until December 15.
• A bulk discount on readers will be offered only if both course readers are purchased at the same time.

Purchasing Information

To purchase this course, please add it to your shopping cart. Please note that you must be a registered Planetizen user to purchase this course. If you are not a registered user, please take a few seconds and register for free.

* 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 website. ** These are practice questions. They are not real exam questions.