November / December 2009 CM Updates

Certification Maintenance (CM)

Reminder about Evaluations and Recording Attendance
Providers are required to use mechanisms to evaluate and record attendance at CM events but do not have to do so for each session within a multi-part activity.  For example, if your chapter conference has several sessions, one registration list (e.g. sign in sheet or electronic registration) and evaluation mechanism (e.g. survey) will suffice.

Coming in December – CM Chapter Comparison Reports
In December staff will provide the latest statistical reports before the end of the first CM reporting period. Each chapter will receive a breakdown reporting of members who have logged CM credits for the 2008 and 2009 reporting periods compared with the national average.

Included will be a report of all names, IDs and email addresses for those members with less than 16 CM credits logged during the 2008-2009 reporting period.  Please note that chapters are to use this information only for the purpose of contacting these members about CM and information is not to be shared with others.

1st Quarter CM Itemized Disbursement Report Coming in January
In January 2010 each chapter will receive the itemized CM disbursement report for the 1st quarter (months Oct-Dec 2009).

Please Share with Members – Free CM Education and Training Opportunities
Staff has developed a webpage designed to assist member with locating free CM credits offered by APA and its Chapters. The FREE CM online education webpage is easy for members to find at www.planning.org/cm/free

  • Currently, there are more than 32 CM credits available to members (excluding law and ethics).
  • Staff will add free distance education opportunities as they become available, so please ask members to check this page frequently for the most current information.

Please note:  If any chapter is sponsoring a free online training available to all AICP members, please send the information to Alisa Moore, for future posting to the FREE training webpage.

New APA Online Course Offerings

  • CM Ethics & Law Requirement Package – members can save 10% when ordering the CM Ethics and Law Requirement Package (package includes both Ethical Practice for Practicing Planners and Hot Topics in Planning Law courses) – CM | 5.0 meets the ethics and law requirement
  • The Transportation/Land Use Connection – CM | 6.0

To register, please visit the Self-Directed study site, and select
online courses” at: http://www.planning.org/education/selfdirected/index.htm

Certification Maintenance (CM) Logging Demonstrations
There’s still time for members to register for the bi-weekly webinar demonstrations to learn how to record their CM credits, verify their CM progress and status on the CM log, and use the online program calendar.  Following the demonstration, staff will answer questions about Certification Maintenance (CM).

Upcoming Demonstrations:
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM EST
Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM EST
Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM EST

Registration details will be in the December edition of APA Interact for Certified Planners or please request members contact CM customer service by email at AICPCM@planning.org to receive the link to register.

End of CM Reporting Period Reminders

  • Grace Period: Members have a four-month grace period ending April 30, 2010.
  • Members who have not fulfilled their requirement by the end of the reporting period (December 31, 2009) should use the grace period to complete their requirements by attending and recording CM-eligible activities.

    Please note that a more detailed explanation about the grace period was included with the November chapter comparison reports.  You can find the template titled “CM Grace Period – What you need to know” on the PDO webpage http://www.planning.org/certification/pdo/.

  • Carryover Credit: Members may carry over a maximum of 16 excess CM credits from one reporting period to the next. These cannot include the required law and ethics credits.

    For example, a member on the 2008-2009 reporting period earned 30 CM credits prior to the start of the reporting period, then earned an additional 20 CM credits during 2008-2009 for a total of 50 CM credits (including ethics and law). The member has satisfied the 32 CM credit requirement for this reporting period and may carry over a maximum 16 of the excess credits to the 2010-2011 reporting period.  The member will begin their 2010-2011 reporting period with 16 credits.

Certification Maintenance Member Exemption Options
If a member is finding it difficult to meet their Certification Maintenance requirements, there is an option to apply for an exemption.  There are exemptions for a variety of personal and professional reasons for both retaining an active membership status or inactive membership status

If there are members who are retired from planning, they may qualify for an exemption from CM. To learn more about the criteria for retired exempt status from CM and to download a Retired Status Exemption Form, please request members visit www.planning.org/cm/exemptions.htm.

Reminder to Sign-up for your 2010 Registration and Payment Plan
The end of the calendar year is fast approaching and many chapters have already completed a registration for 2010 and selected a payment plan. Chapters must renew their plan. Please note that the system will not automatically renew your registration and payment plan.  Please log in to your provider dashboard and under “Active Payment Plan” select “Register for 2010.” Should you have any further questions regarding renewing or selecting the most appropriate payment plan, please contact Alisa Moore, CM Coordinator at amoore@planning.org.

Published:  November 25, 2009
Back to:  AICP Information