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Skills, Education, and Experience

Skills

  • strong written and oral communication skills
  • leadership, negotiation and problem solving
  • project management and team project work
  • making presentations
  • knowledge of geography and the environment
  • interest in social and economic issues

Education and Experience

To be an urban and land use planner you must have a Bachelor's degree in urban and regional planning, geography, architecture, engineering or related discipline. Also, a Master's degree in one of these disciplines may be required.  

Qualifications

Urban and Land Use Planner is not a regulated profession in BC.

This occupation is non-regulated, which means that individual employers set employment qualification requirements. Most employers require:

Membership in the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP)
Membership in the Planning Institute of British Columbia (PIBC)
Certification offered by the Canada Green Building Council may be required
Registered Professional Planner (RPP) certification may be required

Internationally Trained Urban and Land Use Planners

There are three routes by which you can become a Registered Professional Planner. Candidate membership with the Planning Institute of British Columbia is mandatory before applying for RPP Certification in BC.

  • Accredited Planning Degree Route: requires a university degree in planning from a program accredited by the Canadian Institute of Planners
  • Prior Learning Assessment Recognition (PLAR) Route: for internationally trained planners or planners who hold any academic degree other than a university degree in planning and have completed at least five years of responsible professional planning experience gained through employment.
    Note: internationally trained Urban and Land Use Planners must provide an evaluation of your degree(s) from a recognized international credential evaluation service.
  • Reciprocal Professional Membership Route: available if you are fully professionally certified by a foreign professional planning organization with which Canada maintains a formal reciprocal membership agreement