The Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) is the route to Chartered Membership for all graduates who successfully completed their accredited degrees in or after 2006. The APC is an essential component of planning education, designed to build on the skills, knowledge and understanding that graduates have acquired during their accredited qualification, and to test their ability to apply these in a practice, teaching or research context.

The final assessment is competence-based and graduates are supported in working towards this assessment through a structured programme of work-based learning.

Through this programme the APC:

• fosters independent learning and career direction
• raises standards of professional competence
• empowers graduates to drive their own development
• encourages networking and participation
• instills a habit of lifelong learning and continuing professional development

The APC programme comprises:

• Two years experience in planning – of which at least one must be gained following successful completion of an accredited qualification, as a Licentiate Member of the RTPI.
• Log book – a reflective record of work undertaken, skills developed and learning outcomes, kept over the period of eligible experience.
• Mentor  – paired with each Licentiate to offer support and guidance, the Licentiate should meet with the mentor over the course of the period of experiential learning.
• Professional Development Plan  – composed at the start of the period of Licentiate Membership and updated regularly, in consultation with the mentor. The PDP should form the basis of meetings with the mentor.
• Written submission – a written document reflecting on the Licentiate’s experience and competencies, submitted to the RTPI for assessment by RTPI-nominated Assessors.

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