Urban planning education

The primary body for accrediting educational institutions that offer urban planning programs in Canada is the Professional Standards Board for the Planning Profession in Canada (PSB). Established in 2012, the PSB is responsible for certification of urban planners across Canada and "administering accreditation reviews of university planning degree programs based on the accreditation program principles, policies and administrative arrangements".[1] The PSB accredits programs that offer undergraduate and masters level degrees.

Canadian institutions may apply to the PSB for accreditation for a period of five years, following a successful initial accreditation.[2] Programs are evaluated annually to ensure compliance with accreditation standards. For new programs, or after the five year period has elapsed, an intensive review takes place that ensure programs meet criteria for accreditation. To be eligible for accreditation institutions must meet the following criteria:

1. The university offering the program must be recognized by a province in Canada
2. The degree must be in the field of planning as defined by the Canadian Institute of Planners:  “the scientific, aesthetic and orderly disposition of land resources, facilities and services with a view to securing the physical, economic and social efficiency, health and well-being of urban and rural communities.”
3. Undergraduate degrees must be four years of full-time studies. Graduate degrees should require two years of full-time study.
4. The word “Planning” or the French equivalent must appear in the title of the degree or parenthetically to define the discipline.
5. The program offering the degree shall be a recognized administrative unit within the university, in the direct charge of an individual whose primary area of activity is planning and a department chair or similar.
6. The administrative unit must have appropriate administrative capacity and academic independence.
7. The faculty shall include at least four (4) academic members whose major appointments are in the planning program.
8. A program must have a minimum number of certified full-time members on faculty.
   1. For a program with 7 or fewer faculty, at least three must be certified members of a PTIA;
   2. For a program with 8 or more full-time, at least four must be certified members of a PTIA.
9. Faculty members shall have educational and professional backgrounds appropriate for the program level, with a relevant mix of credentials (i.e. degrees in planning, significant experience in planning, PhDs in planning, degrees and experience in related fields).
10. The course must provide sufficient coverage of the functional and enabling competencies to allow students to enter the planning profession with a broad base of understanding of the profession and with the ability to continue to develop, gain knowledge, and specialize.[3]

Graduation from a PSB accredited program allows a graduate to apply for certification as a planner, and for candidate membership in their Provincial or Territorial Association. Following a two-year period of supervised work experience, candidates then write their professional exams. Upon successful completion of the exams, work experience, and a mentorship program, candidates are granted full certification as Register Professional Planner by their Provincial or Territorial Association and the Canadian Institute of Planners.[4]

The PSB also recognizes degrees conferred by institutions accredited by the American Planning Accreditation Board in the United States, and the Planning Institute of Australia as eligible for the certification process.[5]

^{(** candidate for accreditation)}

Though Planning as a Profession is not a recognized profession under Indian law, the profession was started long back with School of Planning and Architecture in 1941 as a Department of Architecture of Delhi College of Engineering now the Delhi Technological University. It was later integrated with the School of Town and Country Planning which was established in 1955 by the Government of India to provide facilities for rural, urban and regional planning. On integration, the School was renamed as school of planning and architecture in 1959. Today it is one of the premier schools of pursuing planning studies at bachelor, masters and post doctorate levels. The Institute of Town Planners, India set up on the lines of the [Royal Town Planning Institute, London] is the body representing planning professionals in India. A small group formed itself into an Indian Board of Town Planners which after three years of continuous work formed the Institute of Town Planners, India. The Institute which was established in July 1951, Today, has a membership of over 2,800, apart from a sizable number of student members, many of whom have qualified Associateship Examination (AITP) conducted by ITPI. Institutes under ITPI offers a 4-year undergraduate degree in Planning.

Planning is a complex issue in UK law, therefore there are several regulatory bodies that exist. The bulk of degrees are accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute, often abbreviated to RTPI. Degrees accredited by this professional body are generally four years and are therefore master's degrees — the majority of these degrees are prefixed MPlan. The RTPI requires that accredited degrees involve some form of work placement in a relevant profession, such as working with local authorities or planning offices. The majority of universities offering these courses ensure the placement is done during half-term and/or holidays.

Some degrees, such as the University of Sheffield's "MPlan Urban Studies and Planning" are accredited by both the RTPI and RICS — the Royal Institute for Chartered Surveyors.[8] This degree is unique given its dual-accreditation, however requires that students on the degree undertake certain compulsory modules.

The Planning Accreditation Board is the sole accreditor of planning programs in the United States. The Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) accredits graduate and undergraduate planning programs in the United States and Canada.

As of 1 January 2016, PAB accredits 15 undergraduate programs and 71 graduate programs in 75 North America Universities.[6] Graduation from a PAB accredited program allows a graduate to sit for the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certification Exam earlier in their career than a student with a degree from a non-accredited program or school.

Programs that desire accreditation through the PAB must apply for candidacy status. The program seeking candidacy must demonstrate that they meet the five preconditions to accreditation.[9] The five preconditions are:[10]

• Program graduation of at least 25 students in the degree.
• Program's parent institution must be accredited by an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
• Formal title of program and degree offered must include the term "Planning".
• Undergraduate programs must offer 4 full-time years of study or equivalent, while graduate programs must be 2 full-time years of study or equivalent.
• Program's primary goal is to educate students to become practicing planning professionals.

Once the preconditions have successfully been met by the program, the program must complete and submit a Self-Study Report.[11] Through the Self-Study Report, the program assesses their performance and compliance with PAB's accreditation standards. This report serves as the basis of review for the Planning Accreditation Board, along with a formal meeting with the Program Administrator at the Board meeting.[9]

If candidacy is awarded, the Planning Accreditation Board will send a three-member team to visit and formally review the program during a semester. The three member team will meet with faculty, staff, students, and members of the local planning community. The team will then submit a Site Visit Report to the Planning Accreditation Board. During the meeting of the Planning Accreditation Board, the board will review the Self-Study Report, Site Visit Report and other documentation and meet with the Program Administrator. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Board decides if the program is awarded accreditation and the length of accreditation.[9]

Accreditation length is dependent on the extent the program complies with requirements of the Planning Accreditation Board, with the maximum length awarded is 7 years.[12] Programs must re-apply for accreditation in the year their accreditation term expires.

While there is no official ranking of the graduate programs for planning, planning-community site Planetizen publishes periodic lists of the Top US planning graduate programs and the AICP provides a listing of currently- and formerly-accredited programs sorted by proportion of recent graduates passing its certification exam.