APA AICP - American Institute of Certified Planners Exam

TheAICP Code of Ethics(2022), Section E, Procedure 5, states, “After a complaint is issued, the Ethics Officer may negotiate a settlement with the Respondent to resolve the matter.” This makes option B (Ethics Officer and the Respondent) correct, as the Ethics Officer oversees the process. Option A (Charging Party and Respondent) is incorrect, as direct negotiation bypasses the formal process. Option C (Ethics Officer and Charging Party) is not specified in the Code. Option D (Charging Party and Ethics Committee) is incorrect, as the Committee adjudicates, not negotiates. TheCPC Study Manual(2024) confirms, “Settlements after a complaint are negotiated between the Ethics Officer and the Respondent to ensure fairness,” supporting option B.

TheAICP Code of Ethics(2022), Section B, Rule 5, states, “We shall not fail to disclose a conflict of interest or even the appearance of improper influence.” The planner’s role on the conservation society board, which opposes growth, creates a potential conflict with their public duty on the reservoir committee. Option C (inform the city planning director) is the first step to disclose the potential conflict, ensuring transparency. Option A (resign) or B (abstain from votes) may be subsequent actions but aren’t the first step. Option D (participate in the society’s decisions) exacerbates the conflict. TheCPC Study Manual(2024) states, “Planners must first disclose potential conflicts, such as board memberships, to their supervisor to maintain transparency,” supporting option C.

Social media surveys are prone to selection bias, as the sample may not represent the broader population—social media users skew younger and may exclude non-users (e.g., elderly, low-income groups). Option A (selection bias) is the most important to address. The APA’sAICP Certification Exam Content Outline(2022), under “Research and Assessment Methods,” states, “Selection bias is the most critical concern in social media surveys, as the platform’s user base may not reflect the general population.” Option B (non-response bias) is a concern but less dominant than selection bias in this context. Option C (framing bias) relates to question wording, not the platform. Option D (decision-making bias) is unrelated to survey design. TheCPC Study Manual(2024) confirms, “Social media surveys primarily face selection bias due to unrepresentative user demographics,” supporting option A.

TheAICP Code of Ethics(2022), Section A, Principle 1(b), states, “We shall provide timely, adequate, clear, and accurate information on planning issues,” and Section B, Rule 3 prohibits “knowingly providing inaccurate information.” The planner’s disagreement stems from the project’s inconsistency with the comprehensive plan, a valid concern. Option C (meet with the director and discuss problems) is the first step, as it addresses the issue professionally within the chain of command, ensuring accurate information is presented. Option A (letter to the newspaper) and D (supplying information to community leaders) violate confidentiality under Rule 10, which prohibits public disclosure without authorization. Option B (calling commission members) bypasses the director and may be seen as unprofessional. TheCPC Study Manual(2024) states, “Planners should first address ethical concerns, like plan inconsistencies, with their supervisor to ensure accurate information is provided,” supporting option C.

The city council’s directive to “limit or reduce energy use by the city and its residents” focuses on a broad goal of energy reduction across the entire community. Option D (need to reduce energy use throughout the city) best reflects this comprehensive objective. The APA’sAICP Certification Exam Content Outline(2022), under “Plan and Policy Development,” states, “When addressing energy concerns, the goal should encompass reducing energy use citywide, covering both municipal and resident consumption.” Option A (residents’ concerns) is a motivation, not the goal. Option B (bus ridership) is a specific strategy, not the goal. Option C (municipal expenditures) is too narrow, as the directive includes residents. TheCPC Study Manual(2024) confirms, “The goal of reducing energy use should address both city and resident consumption, focusing on the entire community,” supporting option D.

The starting point for planning activities is to gather relevant background information to inform the process, ensuring that plans are based on evidence and best practices. Option C (researching experiences of similar communities) provides a foundation by learning from comparable situations, which helps identify strategies, challenges, and opportunities. The APA’sAICP Certification Exam Content Outline(2022), under “Fundamental Planning Knowledge,” states, “The planning process begins with research, including studying the experiences of other communities with similar issues, to establish a baseline for planning.” Option A (brainstorming intuitively) lacks a research basis and risks being uninformed. Option B (past local responses to different situations) is less relevant than studying similar situations elsewhere. Option D (public meeting) is a later step for engagement, not the starting point. TheCPC Study Manual(2024) notes, “Planning begins with researching how other communities have addressed similar challenges to inform the process,” supporting option C.

Overlay districts and Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) both impose additional regulations beyond standard zoning to achieve specific goals (e.g., historic preservation for overlays, mixed-use flexibility for PUDs). Option B (require an additional degree of review) is correct, as both involve extra scrutiny to ensure compliance with their unique standards. The APA’sAICPCertification Exam Content Outline(2022), under “Plan and Policy Development,” states, “Overlay districts and PUDs require additional review beyond conventional zoning to meet specialized objectives.” Option A (board of zoning appeals) is incorrect, as approvals typically involve planning commissions or councils. Option C (residential developments) is too narrow, as both can apply to various uses. Option D (Standard Zoning Enabling Act) is incorrect, as the Act (1920s) doesn’t specifically authorize these modern tools. TheCPC Study Manual(2024) confirms, “Both overlay districts and PUDs require additional review to ensure alignment with their goals,” supporting option B.

A design charrette is a collaborative, hands-on workshop where community members work with planners to provide input on a project, such as a park design, ensuring their ideas shape the outcome. Option A (design charrette) is most likely to generate useful input, as it directly involves residents in the design process. The APA’sAICP Certification Exam Content Outline(2022), under “Communication and Interaction,” describes design charrettes as “a participatory method to gather detailed community input on design projects like parks.” Option B (information campaign) informs but doesn’t collect input. Option C (park cleanup) fosters engagement but not design input. Option D (research trends) is a planner-led activity, not community-driven. TheCPC Study Manual(2024) states, “Design charrettes are highly effective for generating useful community input on park design by involving residents directly,” supporting option A.

Assessing physical conditions like sidewalks and bikeways requires direct observation. Option B (use a smartphone to video log and take photos) is the most appropriate, as it allows the planner to document conditions accurately and visually within the specified area. The APA’sAICP Certification Exam Content Outline(2022), under “Research and Assessment Methods,” states, “Assessing physical infrastructure conditions, such as sidewalks, is best done through direct observation methods like video logging and photography.” Option A (Google Maps) may provide outdated or incomplete data. Options C (phone calls) and D (surveys) rely on subjective resident feedback, not objective assessment. TheCPC Study Manual(2024) confirms, “Direct observation via video and photos is the most appropriate method for assessing sidewalk and bikeway conditions,” supporting option B.