Licentiate

Licentiate membership is for graduates who have completed a fully RTPI accredited qualification.

Becoming a Licentiate member is the first step towards Chartered membership through the Licentiate Assessment of Professional Competence (L-APC). There are other routes to Chartered membership for those who have not completed a fully RTPI accredited qualification.

Eligibility

To be eligible to become a Licentiate you must have a fully RTPI accredited qualification.

To be fully RTPI accredited you must have either (i) a 'combined' qualification, or (ii) 'spatial' and 'specialist' qualifications.

Please view our course listings to check the accreditation status of your degree/s. For any specific queries please email education@rtpi.org.uk.

Any graduate from an RTPI planning course prior to 2005 cannot become a Licentiate, unless previously a member of this class, as their degree is now considered recognised rather than accredited. These graduates are advised to follow either the Associate or Experienced Practitioner route to Chartered Membership.

Benefits

Licentiates have access to the RTPI's range of membership benefits and support services.

Member profile

"My mentor meetings help me think strategically about the projects I should get involved in."  Jenny Adams, Graduate Planner, Arup Planning, Policy and Economics

Read Jenny Adams' full profile

How to become a Licentiate

Download the Licentiate Application Form.  Please include a copy of your degree certificate/s or official final transcript/s for your fully RTPI accredited qualification with your application form. We will not be able to process your application without this proof that you have obtained a fully RTPI accredited qualification. 

Costs

There is a £45 administration fee to process your application which should be paid at the time of application. You will then be invoiced for your annual subscription after you have been elected. Fees can be paid online or via cheque.

Progression to Chartered membership

Before applying for Chartered membership via the L-APC, Licentiates must have the equivalent of a minimum of 24 months' full-time planning experience – at least 12 months of this needs to be as a Licentiate.
All Licentiates must maintain a log book covering the equivalent of a minimum of 12 months' full-time planning experience in addition to producing a written submission for their L-APC application. Licentiates should also identify a suitable mentor to support them during this important stage of their career.

More information on preparing for the L-APC can be found in our L-APC Guidance and resources on the L-APC webpages.