AICP Commission Approves New Mandatory Certification Maintenance Topic:

Sustainability & Resilience

The American Institute of Certified Planners’ Certification Maintenance (CM) program requires that AICP members continue their education as planners through a self-directed education program to include 32 hours of learning every two years. Credits can be earned through speaking at or attending conferences and seminars, by writing articles, and through independent study.

Four of the required 32 hours of learning must include at least one hour of law, one hour of ethics, one hour of equity, and recently one hour of sustainability and resilience, which was added by the Commission in 2019. As the climate continues to warm and dry, understanding this issue and planning for change will become increasingly critical for our profession.

The credit criteria for this topic have been updated for 2026 and CM. Service providers should ensure ensure programs are designed to meet the new criteria. AICP members will also be interested in reading the updated criteria. The existing and new criteria are on APA’s website (planning.org) at Criteria for CM Mandatory Credits.