Membership

Associate

Why become an Associate member?

Becoming an Associate member of the RTPI gives you professional recognition. It demonstrates that you have achieved a certain level of knowledge, understanding and competence in your chosen spatial planning field. Associate membership also provides a pathway to progress towards becoming a Chartered Town Planner.

Associate membership may be also available to professionals who:

Are full members of an overseas planning body and can demonstrate that the planning body applies a similar degree of rigour in membership election as the RTPI
Are full members of other related built environment professional Institutes (such as the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors or Chartered Institute of Housing)
Hold a non-accredited planning degree or a degree with acceptable planning content
Hold a non-planning degree.

Becoming an Associate provides a vehicle to membership for planners whose initial professional education was conducted overseas, to planners who are members of recognised overseas professional planning Institutes, as well as to teachers and researchers in planning and its related fields.

Eligibility

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.

Benefits

Associate Members have access to most of the RTPI's membership benefits and services.

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 Town Planners.

Progression to chartered town planner from associate membership

The RTPI has developed a structured, progressive route from Associate to Chartered Town Planner 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.

For Associates who want to become Chartered Town Planners : Associate Assessment of Professional Competence

Costs

There is a £60 administration fee to process your application and an annual subscription rate of £127. Fees can be paid online or via cheque.

Associate Membership Application Form

Associate membership candidate guide