The Profession of Urban Planning

Urban planning is an important profession that affects the lives of everyday Americans. Planners are involved in shaping the future of cities and all of its working parts. The primary duty of urban planners is to create comprehensive plans for the jurisdiction they serve. These plans cover a diverse set of topics, including: land uses/zoning, roadways, public transit, housing, economic development, and water and waste control. Some planners are generalists, while others heavily specialize in a single topic area. Some planners are engaged in the implementation and administration of the comprehensive plan. In this wing of the field, the practitioner runs government programs and rules on citizen applications to the government.

Planning is a "jack of all trades" profession-practitioners must be able to master a wide range of skills. A planner may work with computer-based maps called Geographic Information Systems one day, and make a presentation to a board of elected officials the next. Planners must be comfortable-although not necessarily expert-with numbers, public speaking, policy research, and stakeholder outreach. Strong writing skills, a diplomatic personality, and a passion for advocacy are important character traits.

The profession strives to make decisions in the best interest of the public. Urban planners strongly believe in public input into government decision-making, so they utilize open meetings with the public to gain input from the citizens they serve. Other planners use mail and phone surveys, internet tools, or design workshops to involve the public.

The profession believes strongly in three overarching themes of practice. First is protecting the environment from unnecessary harm. The second theme is representing the interests of all people equally, regardless of their socio-economic status. Third, planners strive to deter urban sprawl-a condition where public infrastructure is not optimally used due to low density development.

The American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is the professional association of urban planners. Its function is analogous to the American Bar Association for attorneys or the American Institute of Architects. In order to become certified by the Institute, planners must satisfy a series of entry requirements. First, planners must graduate with a Masters degree from one of the 80 accredited schools of planning in the United States and Canada.

After graduation, planners must accumulate at least two years of satisfactory work experience before they are eligible to take the AICP exam. The exam tests the applicant's knowledge of history, ethics, government structure, and public responsibility. The last step in achieving AICP status is agreeing to a 25-point code of ethics of professional conduct. AICP members must undertake continuing education every two years to ensure they stay current with professional trends. Despite the stringent certification process, planners are only licensed in the State of New Jersey.

Planners work in a variety of settings. According to the American Planning Association, forty nine percent of planners work for a city or county. Twenty five percent work for consulting firms that perform contract work for government agencies. Seventeen percent are employed by a government agency with a charge area larger than a single city or county. Examples of this type of employment are state government, regional planning agencies, and metropolitan planning organizations. The remainder of planners (8%) work for other types of companies, most frequently real estate developers, law firms, or nonprofit organizations.

Urban planning is an excellent career choice for those seeking consistent work and high job security. Planners are in high demand in many growing parts of the country, and government work is famous for its job protections and excellent benefits. The average planner earns $63,000 a year. The main drawback to compensation is that earnings are limited by pay scales established in government. Overtime work and bonuses are unheard of. Overall, urban planning is worth a look for people with diverse skills who are searching for a rewarding career.