PIBC Accredited Student Membership
PIBC is a membership-based professional organization with opportunities for professional practitioners in the planning field, students and others alike to join or get involved.
Become an Accredited Student Member
Becoming a non-corporate Accredited Student Member of PIBC is an excellent opportunity for post-secondary planning students to get connected with the planning profession, network with established professional planning practitioners, take advantage of the services and benefits of the Institute offered to Accredited Student Members, and build their future career in planning.
For a complete overview of the benefits of Accredited Student Membership please download the following
Eligibility for Accredited Student Membership.
An Accredited Student Member is a post-secondary planning student who:
- Is currently enrolled in a university planning school/program which is formally accredited by the Professional Standards Board (PSB) - the national assessment body that is recognized by the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP)/PIBC. For information on which university planning schools/programs are currently recognized by the PSB, click here.
- Agrees to abide by the Institute’s bylaws.
Applying for Accredited Student Membership
Accredited Student Membership includes equivalent joint membership with the CIP. Eligible students wishing to apply for Accredited Student Membership should complete and submit the following application form:
- Application for Accredited Student Membership
- University of Fraser Valley: *until further notice: as just currently accredited - please apply still with the Non-Accredited Student application form: we will switch you to the correct category in the backend, when the application was received.
To be eligible: you need to be currently enrolled in an accredited degree program. (SFU Bachelor of Environment - REM Planning: Accredited)
If your university is not in BC: If you want to join a 2nd affiliation, that would be then an Out of Province (Joint) or Non-Resident Membership. It’s preferred that your main PTIA will be the PTIA, where your university is located and PIBC would be a Non-Resident Membership as 2nd PTIA. Please apply at the same time with both PTIAs, so that PIBC staff will know, that it will be a Non-Resident Membership with them. CIP Student Membership will be connected with your main PTIA.
Options for Non-Accredited Students
Non-Accredited Students enrolled in other schools or programs which are not CIP recognized Planning programs can join PIBC as non-corporate Non-Accredited Student Subscribers. Becoming a Subscriber provides a connection to the profession and some of the same benefits and services.
Accredited Student Membership Renewal (current process until new changes apply)
For New PIBC Accredited Student Members Who will join in Summer 2026 and Later:
All new Accredited Student members who applied and joined as members of PIBC in Summer 2026 or later will be automatically renewed and continue as Student members until December 31, 2027.
We will check for the annual Renewal with each University and, when confirmed that they are still in the Planning Program, we will renew all Accredited Student Members (who applied before Summer 2026) until December 31, 2027.
Accredited Student Members with Expiring Eligibility:
Continuing as a Accredited Student member requires that an individual be currently enrolled as a student in an accredited university planning program.
Individuals who's eligibility to remain an Accredited Student member expiring at the end of the year will be notified from PIBC of the expiry of their eligibility. If this applies to you, there are some actions you can and should take now.
Please review the following:
A Student member graduating with an accredited Planning degree is now eligible to apply for Candidate membership through the PSB at any time after graduation (per Bylaw 2.13.1).
We encourage all Student members who have graduated with an accredited Planning degree to move forward with their career and professional membership to ultimately become a Certified Member and Registered Professional Planner (RPP), starting with applying for and attaining Candidate membership.
A Student member graduating with an accredited Planning degree, who is not yet employed in planning continues to be eligible to remain a Student member for up to 12 months following graduation, OR until they find employment in planning and start working (if that occurs before the end of the 12 month post-graduation period) (per Bylaw 2.15.2).
- After 12 months following graduation with an accredited planning degree, eligibility to remain a Student member expires, and all such individuals must move forward to the next eligible category of PIBC membership (i.e. Candidate membership).
- If you no longer wish to continue with membership in PIBC, you should contact PIBC in writing (by email - office@pibc.bc.ca) to notify us.
Those to be expired Accredited Student members who wish to request an extension to their Accredited Student membership eligibility should contact PIBC (office@pibc.bc.ca) at their earliest convenience. Thank you.
