If you are an experienced planner you have a number of potential membership options.
Affiliate
If you are waiting to gather enough experience for one of our other membership classes, or have an interest in planning and want to be kept up to date on planning issues, you can become an Affiliate and access our benefits and services. As an Affiliate, you do not require any professional planning qualification, experience or educational attainment.
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Licentiate
If you have graduated with a fully RTPI accredited degree, you can apply for Licentiate membership. This bridges the gap between student and Chartered membership and is the first step to becoming a Chartered Town Planner via the Licentiate Assessment of Professional Competence (L-APC).
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Associate
If you are a professional working in a related discipline, or a planner working towards Chartered membership, you can apply for Associate membership. A diverse range of professionals are engaged in planning and can join the RTPI as an Associate.
Becoming an Associate member gives you a partial professional qualification; it demonstrates that you have achieved demonstrable involvement in, or engagement with, particular areas of planning. Associate membership therefore indicates that you have achieved a certain level of knowledge and experience in your chosen planning field.
Associate membership also provides a pathway to Chartered membership through the Associate Assessment of Professional Competence (A-APC). We also have a resource centre to help with your application, and we run regular webinars.
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Chartered membership
If you can demonstrate skills, knowledge and competence in spatial planning through your experience, you may be eligible to become a Chartered member.
Chartered membership is the hallmark of professional expertise and integrity. The designation MRTPI after your name is an achievement that is respected around the world. As a Chartered Town Planner, you demonstrate to employers and colleagues that you maintain your professional development and adhere to a code of conduct specifying high standards of professional ethics.
We recognise that planners may enter the profession in different ways, which is why we offer four competency-based routes to Chartered membership based on your academic qualifications and experience. We have a resource centre for each of the fours routes to help with your application, and we run regular webinars.
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Fellow
If you are a Chartered Town Planner who has made a major personal contribution to the planning profession for the benefit of the public, you can apply to become a Fellow. Fellow membership is the highest professional membership grade offered by the RTPI.
