As you are likely aware, the AICP Commission approved a plan for Certification Maintenance (CM) on April 13, 2007. The program details can be found at: http://www.planning.org/certification/maintenance.htm. APA recognizes the need to keep PDOs informed with the most comprehensive information currently available on CM program details. As such, we ask you to carefully read the following announcement. It includes program information currently available on the web, new information on the transition between the existing CPD program and CM, and an overview of questions and answers from the PDO Exchange in Philadelphia.

Here are some of the program components (please refer to the full program on the the web):

2.0 Certification Maintenance Launch

2.1 CM Program Start Date

The Certification Maintenance program will begin on January 1, 2008. The first two-year reporting cycle will be January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009.

2.2 Extended Credit-Earning Period

In the period of transition between April 14, 2007 and January 2008, AICP members may start accruing CM credits for the first CM cycle which will begin on January 1, 2008. This gives members a head start of eight months to start accruing credits. The CPD online log system will be taken offline in May and will no longer be accessible to members for credit entry. When the credit entry system is back online, it will be programmed for Certification Maintenance.

2.3 CM Recording

Credits will be reported by each qualifying AICP member into the CM online logging system. The online CM system for entering credits is expected to be operational in August, 2007. Certified planners attending educational programs between April 14, 2007 the time the CM online logging system is launched should record their activities on a personal paper log. Once the CM online logging system is operational, planners should enter those credits online based on their personal paper log.

NOTE: Please note the importance of maintaining paper logs during this period of transition. Members should maintain details of the course name, date, location, sponsoring organization, faculty and number of credits offered. Please use the criteria in Section 3 of the CM program to determine if the professional development offerings of interest are likely to earn CM credits. CM credit approval will be done retroactively.

If, after the end of the CM reporting cycle (including the four-month grace period) CM credit requirements have not been satisfied, the online CM logging system will no longer be accessible.

2.4 Registered Provider Program

2.4.1 Basic Requirement

Educational providers, including APA and its components, will be required to register with APA/AICP in order to become qualified professional development providers. This means that the providers and all their eligible educational offerings will be reviewed and, upon approval, will be entered into the online directory of approved CM credits that all members may access. These courses will also be entered into the APA/AICP online educational calendar so that all members may become aware of these approved programs.

2.4.2 Fee

There will be a registration fee for all approved CM educational providers. Fee amounts have not been determined at this time.

2.4.3 Program in Development

The Registered Provider program of Certification Maintenance is currently in development. Educational providers are not able to register at this time. APA will make more information, including registration fees and other administrative details, available as the information becomes available. Should you receive questions about the program from educational providers, please inform them that registration is not available at this time and refer them to Sections 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4 on our website for general guidelines.

3.0 Existing CPD Program

3.1 CPD Program Closing Date

The existing voluntary CPD program ended on April 13, 2007. Members will have the opportunity to enter and submit their CPD credits until May 22, 2007. Once the CPD log is taken offline, the ability to add courses to individual online CPD logs will no longer be available.

NOTE: Requests for CPD approval (for courses completed prior to April 14, 2007) will not be accepted after May 10, 2007.

3.2 CPD Certificates Honored for CM Requirements

Certified planners holding valid CPD certificates will be exempt from CM requirements through the end of the calendar year in which the certificate expiration date occurs or until December 31, 2009 – whichever comes first. The two-year CM reporting cycle for said planner would begin on January 1^st of the following year, but no later than January 1, 2010. Starting on January 1, 2010, everyone will be responsible for upholding Certification Maintenance requirements.

Example 1: The expiration date on a CPD certificate is August 31, 2008. The planner who has earned that certificate would be exempt from CM requirements through the 2008 calendar year. All CM requirements would begin for this planner on January 1, 2009, with the first two-year reporting cycle starting at that time and ending on December 31, 2010.

Example 2: The expiration date on a CPD certificate is November 15, 2007. The planner who has earned the certificate would not be exempt from any CM requirements since the CM program officially begins January 1, 2008.

Example3: The expiration date on a CPD certificate is March 30, 2010. The planner who has earned the certificate would be exempt from CM requirements through the 2009 calendar year. All CM requirements would begin for this planner on January 1, 2010.

3.3 Obtaining Outstanding CPD Credits

3.3.1

Certified planners who had an active CPD log by April 13, 2007 and who wish to obtain CPD credit for educational activities completed by April 13, 2007 must have their CPD courses approved and logged no later than May 22, 2007.

NOTE: The request for all CPD credits claimed by April 13, 2007 must be made no later than May 10, 2007.

3.3.2

If, by April 13, 2007, an AICP member earned enough eligible CPD credits to earn a CPD certificate, this certificate will be issued and the expiration date honored – up to December 31, 2009 - so long as the CPD certificate claim is submitted by May 22, 2007.

NOTE: Credits for CPD only count up to and including April 13, 2007. Eligible CM credits earned on or after April 14, 2007 will count towards CM.

3.3.3

No credit toward, nor partial exemption of, CM requirements will be given to certified planners with partial, or incomplete, CPD logs.

4.0 Additional Information

An initial FAQ document was circulated at the PDO Exchange and is posted on the PDO webpage at: www.planning.org/pdo/member/index.htm  Information can be found online at: www.planning.org/certification/maintenance.htm.