How to Earn Certification Maintenance Credits
The following represents the latest information on how AICP members can earn CM credits.
This list does not represent the types of activities that are eligible for CM credit (e.g. workshops, lectures, online courses, etc.), but rather the mechanism by which AICP members may earn CM credits.
For questions, please contact customer service at AICPCM@planning.org.
CM-Activities
Ways to Earn CM credits
By attending an activity that is registered for CM credit by an educational provider
Eligibility
- All activities must meet the CM eligibility criteria for approval.
- AICP members may begin earning credits from the time AICP membership is officially granted.
Members may not claim credits for courses in which they participated before becoming an AICP member.
Credit Details
Members will receive CM credits for the duration of the activity.
Partial CM credit may not be claimed.
How to Log these Credits
Please visit the Certification Maintenance page of APA's website and click View My CM Log to claim your credits.
Speaking or Instructing
Ways to Earn CM credits
By speaking / instructing at an activity that is registered for CM credit by the educational provider.
Eligibility
- AICP members may receive credit for volunteer, unpaid planning instruction for instructing/speaking at an activity that is registered for CM credit by the educational provider.
- Credit may be earned only once for the same presentation or instruction.
Credit Details
Members will receive CM credits for the duration of the activity plus 1 hour (CM) for preparation, regardless of activity length (e.g. speaking at a 4-hour workshop = 5 CM credits).
How to Log these Credits
To claim CM credits from a registered activity using the online calendar, find and select the activity by clicking on the title. Select "I was a speaker / instructor with this activity or product," and answer all required fields within the pop-up box. Then click submit.
Self-Reporting
Ways to Earn CM credits
By self-reporting attendance, pro bono planning service or speaking / instructing at an activity that is not registered for CM credit by the provider but meets CM criteria and is approved by APA staff.
Eligibility
- All activities must meet the CM eligibility criteria for approval. To self-report attendance of an activity, please see details about CM criteria on the self-reporting information page. To self-report for pro bono planning service conducted from April 1, 2016, going forward, please see details about CM criteria on the pro bono planning service information page.
- AICP members may report credits for activities from the time their AICP membership is officially granted.
- On demand education is not eligible for self-reporting. However, live events and activites are eligible to self-report.
Credit Details
- Members may self-report up to 8 CM credits per two-year reporting period.
- While the credits will immediately be added to a member's log, CM staff may contact you to provide further documentation.
How to Log these Credits
These credits are claimed electronically by filling out and submitting an online form that is accessed from the CM member log.
Article Author
Ways to Earn CM credits
Eligibility
The article:
- Must be planning related.
- Published in a periodical that is published at a consistent, defined interval; for example, monthly, quarterly, or annually.
- Aimed at advancing planning through leadership in education, research, advocacy, and ethical practice.
- Published in print, online, or both.
- Looking for opportunities to earn authoring credit? Learn more about contributing to Planning magazine.
Credit Details
- Members will receive 4 CM credits per article, regardless of length.
- Total credits for authoring cannot exceed 16 CM credits per two-year reporting period.
- While the 4 CM credits will immediately be added to a member's log, CM staff may contact you to provide further documentation.
- CM ethics and CM law credits are not eligible to be applied toward the authoring credit.
How to Log these Credits
These credits are claimed electronically by filling out and submitting an online form that is accessed from the CM member log.
Journal Author
Ways to Earn CM credits
By authoring a published journal article
Eligibility
The article:
- Must be planning related.
- Published in a journal that is published at a consistent, defined interval; for example, monthly, quarterly, or annually.
- Aimed at advancing planning through leadership in education, research, advocacy, and ethical practice.
- Double-blind peer-reviewed. The double-blind process is one in which the names of the reviewer(s) are not known to the author and vice versa. Journal articles are written by experts, for experts.
- Published in print, online, or both.
Credit Details
- Members will receive 8 CM credits per article, regardless of length.
- Total credits for authoring cannot exceed 16 CM credits per two-year reporting period.
- While the 8 CM credits will immediately be added to a member's log, CM staff may contact you to provide further documentation.
- CM ethics and CM law credits are not eligible to be applied toward the authoring credit.
How to Log these Credits
These credits are claimed electronically by filling out and submitting an online form that is accessed from the CM member log.
Book Author
Ways to Earn CM credits
Eligibility
The book:
- Must be planning related.
- Must provide facts and information about planning or planning-related issues.
- Must be nonfiction; it is about a true historical event or a topic or issue that really exists.
- May include illustrations (pictures) and words.
Credit Details
- Members will receive 16 CM credits per book, regardless of length.
- Total credits for authoring cannot exceed 16 CM credits per two-year reporting period.
Credit Details
- Members will receive 16 CM credits per book, regardless of length.two-year reporting period.
How to Log these Credits
- While the 16 CM credits will immediately be added to a member's log, CM staff may contact you to provide further documentation.
- CM ethics and CM law credits are not eligible to be applied toward the authoring credit.
- These credits are claimed electronically by filling out and submitting an online form that is accessed.