Membership - Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about PIBC Membership eligibility and the Registered Professional Planner (RPP) certification process by reading these frequent asked questions. For additional information, please contact our office at info@pibc.bc.ca.
Use of RPP, MCIP Designations
Only fully qualified professional, or Certified members, of PIBC in good standing have the exclusive right and privilege to utilize the professional title 'Registered Professional Planner' and designation 'RPP' in British Columbia and the Yukon. They may also use the designation 'MCIP' to indicate their professional status nationally with the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP).
Click here to learn more about the RPP, MCIP designations.
Registered Professional Planners (RPP) Accreditation
The Planning Program Accreditation process is managed & approved by the Professional Standards Board (PSB) for the planning profession in Canada. Once your application is processed and your eligibility is confirmed, the PSB will copy the appropriate local affiliation (for example, PIBC for BC & Yukon Candidates) on your Candidate Membership eligibility email. PIBC can then follow up directly with you on your membership.
- Read the Professional Standard Committee (PSC) Planning Scope of Practice for the current definition of planning and identify a scope of practice for the profession.
- For eligibility information for current members of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), learn more about the Reciprocal Professional Membership route.
- Planners who are professionally certified by a foreign professional planning organization other than AICP & PIA can learn more about eligibility through the Prior Learning Assessment (PLAR) route.
You must be a current Candidate Member of the affiliation in the province you are living and/or working in while you are going through the process with the PSB. If you move to another province during this process, you must be transferred into the affiliation of that province; the PSB will be informed of the Membership Transfer, but the Certification Process itself would stay the same.
- Visit https://psb-planningcanada.ca for more information.
- Learn more about the PSB Certification process by watching this PIBC webinar.
- Visit the PIBC Membership Transfers & Status Changes page for more information on transferring membership from another province, out-of-province (joint) membership, or changing current membership status.
- Please find the PIBC Membership Fee Schedule here: https://www.pibc.bc.ca/fee-schedule.
Click on the links below for more information on membership eligibility.
If you are not employed in Planning:
Pre-Candidate Membership
- You have an Accredited Planning University Degree, and
- No Employment in Planning
- Click here for the Pre-Candidate information and application via PIBC
If you are employed in Planning:
Candidate Membership
- You have an Accredited Planning University Degree, and
- Employment in Planning
- Click here for the Candidate Membership information and application via the Professional Standards Board
Who to Ask What:
Contact PSB directly for certification related inquiries.
The Professional Standards Board (PSB) manages the Planning Certification Process Canada-wide. Once your application is processed and your eligibility is confirmed, the PSB will copy the appropriate local affiliation (PIBC - for BC & Yukon candidates) on your Candidate Membership eligibility email, who would then follow up with you.
Contact PIBC for membership related inquires.
You must be a current Candidate Member of the affiliation in the Province you are living and/or working in, while you are going through the process with the PSB. In case you move to another Province, you must be transferred into the affiliation of the other province; the PSB would be informed of the Membership Transfer, but the Certification Process itself would stay the same.
If you are not employed in Planning:
Public Subscriber
- You have a non-accredited (non)Planning University Degree,
- No Employment in Planning
- Click here for the Public Subscriber information via PIBC
If you are employed in Planning:
Pre-Candidate Membership
- You have a non-accredited University Degree,
- Employment in Planning, and
- Less than 5 years of responsible professional planning experience
- Click here for the Pre-Candidate Membership information and application via PIBC
Candidate Membership
- You have a non-accredited University Degree,
- Employment in Planning, and
- More than 5 years of responsible professional planning experience
- Click here to learn more about the Prior Learning Assessment Recognition (PLAR) route with PSB
Please note: if you work as a Planner in BC & Yukon, you are not allowed to use the designation RPP or the title Registered Professional Planner as the RPP designation is only permitted for active PIBC Certified Member in good standing.
Who to Ask What:
Contact PSB directly for certification related inquiries.
The Professional Standards Board (PSB) manages the Planning Certification Process Canada-wide. Once your application is processed and your eligibility is confirmed, the PSB will copy the appropriate local affiliation (PIBC - for BC & Yukon candidates) on your Candidate Membership eligibility email, who would then follow up with you.
Contact PIBC for Membership & CPL Reporting related inquires.
You must be a current Candidate Member of the affiliation in the Province you are living and/or working in, while you are going through the process with the PSB. In case you move to another Province, you must be transferred into the affiliation of the other province; the PSB would be informed of the Membership Transfer, but the Certification Process itself would stay the same.
For information on transferring your membership from another province, applying for out-of-province (joint) membership or status changes, please visit the PIBC Membership Transfers & Status Changes page.
Only full-time accredited planning degree programs at the following academic institutes are eligible for PIBC student membership for British Columbia and Yukon:
• Simon Fraser University
• University of British Columbia
• University of Northern British Columbia
• Vancouver Island University
For complete information on PIBC Student Membership eligibility, visit https://www.pibc.bc.ca/pibc-student-membership.
Please note: Langara’s Applied Planning program is not an accredited planning degree program per the PSB certification process. Langara students with an unaccredited university degree are eligible to apply as a PIBC Public Subscriber (student rate).
Universities in BC & Yukon offer various courses and lectures on planning law in Canada and some law firms specialize in land-use and planning law offer their own lectures and courses to update planners. These include:
• University of British Columbia - School of Community and Regional Planning
• Simon Fraser University City Program
• Langara College Applied Urban & Rural Planning Program
• Vancouver Community College Zoning & Development By-Law Program
• Young Anderson Barristers and Solicitors*
• Stewart McDannold Stuart Barristers and Solicitors
• Carvello Law Corporation*
• Lidstone & Company
• Owen Bird Law Corporation
*Young Anderson and Carvello Law offer annual courses and workshops.
Please note: We do not recommend any of the above organizations over any other organization. This is a list for those interested in additional resources.
Professional Training Courses
Capilano University - MATI (Municipal Administration Training Institute) courses.
The MATI courses will be of particular interest if you are looking to move into the public sector. MATI’s Community Planning for Local Government Professionals focus on strengthen knowledge of land-use processes and legislation in BC.
Planning Jobs in BC & Yukon
Current planning job opportunities are posted on PIBC’s website at https://pibc.bc.ca/all-jobs.
Please check, when you apply for a new job or are changing jobs, if the annual Membership Fees will be covered by your new employer or not to avoid payment issues.
You can find planning-related publications on these websites:
PSC Planning Scope Guide
In 2014, the Professional Standards Committee (PSC) initiated a process to prepare a new definition of planning and identify a scope of practice for the profession. This work was undertaken in recognition that the current definition contained in the Membership Policy Manual had not been changed for over] 25 years.
The PSC Planning Scope Guide describes the Scope of Planning Practice that resulted from this extensive consultation and research and that was subsequently supported by all 7 signatory parties to the PSC Agreement. The Scope of Planning Practice presents an overview of the breadth of contemporary planning practice, and is far from exhaustive. It is expected to evolve as planning itself changes over time.
Lexis Nexis
Select “Shop by Practice Area”, then “Planning Law”.
Recommended read: BC Planning Law and Practice by William Buholzer RPP, FCIP
You can find other books about planning law for other Canadian provinces on the same website.
Crown Publications
Search publications printed by the BC provincial government related to land-use and local government. Recommend searching for "planning" and "local government". You can find copies of relevant legislation such as the Vancouver Charter Act, the Local Government Act, and the Community Charter.
