Associate Membership was launched on 24th January 2007 by RTPI President for 2006, Clive Harridge, as one of his last duties as President. View the press release.

Associate Membership is a partial professional qualification, awarded in recognition of the applicant’s existing academic achievement and demonstrable involvement in or engagement with particular area(s) of spatial planning.

The RTPI’s vision for planning is as an inclusive activity encompassing far more than traditional statutory land-use planning. A diverse range of professionals contribute to furthering this spatial planning agenda, and Associate Membership is designed to engage with and offer recognition for these individuals.

Candidates for Associate Membership must have:

• An undergraduate degree qualification, or equivalent, and
• Eligible experience in spatial planning, of varying number of years depending on the nature of the academic and/or professional qualification held.

Associate Membership is designed to offer a membership class for those who do not hold an accredited planning degree but have demonstrable experience in spatial planning in its broadest sense. Associate Membership might therefore appeal to:

• UK planners who do not hold an accredited qualification;
• Planners whose initial professional education was conducted overseas;
• Teachers and researchers in planning and its related fields;
• Members of other allied built environment professional Institutes engaged with spatial planning

Associate Membership is not available to candidates who are eligible for Chartered Membership. Details of all the routes to Chartered Membership are available here.

Candidates for Associate Membership are required to submit evidence of their previous academic attainment, as well as a report describing and reflecting on their experience in spatial planning. Candidates will be required to demonstrate a varying number of years experience depending on their prior academic achievement. Full guidance on becoming an Associate Member is available in the Associate Membership Candidate Guide, and applications should be made using the application form. Please ensure when printing the form that all information entered is clearly visible.

Benefits and Services

Associate Members have access to the full range of RTPI Membership benefits and services. Full details of all services, covering information, knowledge, professional development and professional networking, please visit the Member Services and Events & Networking pages.

Successful candidates are able to describe themselves as Associate Members of the RTPI to employers, colleagues, clients and the public. They must not describe themselves as Chartered Planners, and there are currently no designatory post-nominals associated with Associate Membership.

Application fees and subscription rates

The application fee, submitted with the application for Associate Membership, is £50. Subscription rates are subject to change annually: current subscriptions can be found in the Subscriptions Booklet. Associate Members will be invoiced for their proportional annual subscription following successful election to Associate Membership.

Progression to Chartered Membership from Associate Membership

The RTPI is working to develop a structured, progressive route from Associate through to Chartered membership. This is designed ultimately to replace the existing Special Entry to Chartered Membership arrangements. The route will provide greater support and ensure that the same degree of rigorous assessment is applied to all candidates for Chartered Membership. 

This route is currently not yet developed, and is thus not yet available to candidates. Once developed the proposals will be consulted extensively, including with current Associate Members, before being launched. Information will be made available through these pages.

Author:

Philip Woodward

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

09-Jan-07

Categories:

How to Become a Member 

Sections:

Join the RTPI

This article has been read 27897 times.