NEWS
RTPI {
RTPI news pages are edited by Josh Rule at the RTPI, 41 Botolph Lane, London EC3R 8DL
Becoming a Chartered Member from January 2017: new routes to membership launched Following an extensive review of the membership process by a working group of Chartered Members with a wide range of professional experience, we have launched the new routes to membership that will be in place from January 2017, as announced at June’s Planning Convention. As a working group, our attention in 2016 has been on producing the guidance needed to launch our streamlined routes. Member feedback during the 2015 consultation period was invaluable for shaping and developing proposals that reflect the different ways people come into the planning profession and enable all candidates, including those who gained qualifications and experience outside the UK, to demonstrate that they meet the high standards required for Chartered membership.
How will the routes to membership look from 2017? From January 2017 there will be three routes to Chartered membership. Though the destination is the same for all routes, the choice of route depends on candidates’ educational background and experience. All three routes are based on the established competencies of the Licentiate Assessment of Professional Competence. Licentiate Assessment of Professional Competence (L-APC) This route is unchanged: it is for those who graduated from a fully RTPIaccredited degree in 2005 or afterwards. To apply through this route, the first step is to become a Licentiate straight after completing the course. Licentiates spend one to two years in that class, depending on their experience, before applying for Chartered membership. The L-APC builds on the skills, knowledge and understanding that graduates have acquired during their accredited qualification. It is a structured process of
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WORKING GROUP MEMBERS: Keith Thomas Tony Crook Janet Rangeley Iram Mohammed John McCarthy Wei Yang
work-based learning designed to assess their competence. Associate Assessment of Professional Competence (A-APC) This route already exists but will be modified – the modified route comes in from January 2017. This route is for those who do not have a fully RTPI-accredited degree. The first step is to become an Associate and from there gain at least a further two years’ experience in that class before applying for Chartered membership. The A-APC builds on the years of experience already gained, and the partial professional qualification of Associate membership. It assesses candidates’ competence in additional areas of knowledge, and ability to progress to the next step – Chartered membership. Experienced Practitioner Assessment of Professional Competence (EP-APC) This is a new competency-based route to enable experienced planning professionals to apply directly for Chartered membership. The EP-APC builds on the considerable skills, knowledge and understanding that a candidate has acquired over an extended period of time. This route provides a way for experienced planners from all over the world to become Chartered Members, providing more opportunities to widen and diversify the institute’s
future membership. This route includes an optional leadership competency for those who can demonstrate significant strategic level spatial planning experience.
What else is changing? • Updated experience requirements will be in place from January 2017, including options for those undertaking the RTPI Town Planning Technical Support Apprenticeship and for those without a degree or other qualification (who will be able to use their additional experience to demonstrate how they meet the required standards). • Competencies will be introduced from January 2017 for those applying to become an Associate. These will be proportionate to the partial professional status of the class and not at the same level as required for Chartered membership. • From January 2017, the Affiliate class will be broadened to welcome those working in planning who are waiting to gather the experience they need to progress to another class. n For detailed guidance documents and experience requirements for new or modified routes: www.rtpi.org.uk/membership. Contact: Routes To Membership project manager catherine.middleton@rtpi.org.uk and Membership Team +44 (0)20 7929 9462
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