Information on Certification Process for Human Resource Departments
Please find below useful information for human resources personnel related to accredited degrees and the certification process for Registered Professional Planners.
Be sure to click here and carefully review job posting package details including pricing options, services included and limitations before submitting your posting.
Accredited and Non-Accredited Degrees
Please find a summary of the difference between an accredited and non-accredited degree for the Canadian certification process below.
If someone with a non-accredited degree has 5 years of planning experience already, they are able to apply for the Professional Standards Board (PSB) Prior Learning Assessment Route (PLAR) similar to someone with an accredited degree. (It’s may be more time intensive for a PLAR Route application to obtain the 5 year portfolio).
To apply with the PSB, the degree must be officially received at that time (convocation).
It is always up to the universities themselves to apply for the accreditation process with the PSB to get their programs accredited for the Certification process (https://psb-planningcanada.ca/university-accreditation/). To maintain current accredited standing, it is up to the universities to renew this process as required and approved by the PSB. If this standing is not approved or requirements are not met, the program will become a non-accredited one in the future.
PSB Certification Process
Canada offers currently 3 different routes via the Professional Standards Board to go through the planning certification process.
Canada currently has agreements with the US & Australia to accept their accredited degrees or to apply through the Reciprocal Route when you are a current Certified Member in the AICP or PIA planning organization (more information on this via the Accredited Route or Reciprocal Route links below).
- Accredited Route: https://psb-planningcanada.ca/certification-process/application-process/accredited-degree/
- PLAR Route (non-accredited degree): https://psb-planningcanada.ca/certification-process/application-process/prior-learning-assessment-plar/
- Reciprocal Route (Currently certified via AICP or PIA): https://psb-planningcanada.ca/certification-process/application-process/reciprocal-advanced-standing/
Main points for the Canadian Certification process:
- Educational background (accredited or non-accredited degree).
- Currently working in planning or not (see PSC Planning Scope guide). This is especially important to be currently employed in planning when you apply for the first time with the PSB until you are officially confirmed as Candidate Member. (It is okay to have changed jobs or to have been on leave status during this time).
- If non-accredited degree and currently working in planning: relevant years of professional planning experience (at least 5 years needed for the PSB PLAR Route. Experience in Canada or abroad accepted).
- Reciprocal: currently employed in planning and a current AICP or PIA Certified member.
PSB: PSB Applications & PSB Certification process related Inquiries (Mentor & Sponsorship, Ethics course, Final exam etc.)
PIBC: Membership & CPL Reporting related Inquiries
Please be aware that Fees need to be paid to the 1-PSB (application + certification process / info on their website) + to the 2-PIBC (annual Membership fees)
A Member in good standing, who will request a Transfer between PTIAs (request via current PTIA), will take over the stand of the PSB certification process as is.
Questions?
Please click here to contact Nina Schmidt, Manager of Operations
