Urban Planner Business Cards for AICP Certified City and Regional Planning Professionals

Urban planners and city/regional planners are the professionals who shape how communities develop — developing comprehensive plans, land use regulations, zoning codes, transportation master plans, housing studies, environmental reviews, and community engagement processes that guide where development occurs, how density is distributed, how people move through cities, and how communities balance growth with environmental and social equity concerns.

What Urban Planner Cards Include

Your Credentials and Certifications

• AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) — APA (American Planning Association); the primary credential for professional planners in the US; requires education, work experience under an AICP-certified planner, and passing the AICP examination; the most recognized planning credential
• APA member (American Planning Association) — the primary professional organization for planners; "APA member" signals professional engagement
• AICP Fellow (FAICP) — honorary Fellow status in APA; significant distinction recognizing lifetime contribution to the planning profession
• AICP CTP (Certified Transportation Planner) — APA specialty credential for transportation planning
• PP (Professional Planner) — New Jersey's state-licensed planner credential
• AICP CUD (Certified Urban Designer) — urban design specialty
• AICP CM (Certified Mediator) — for planners with mediation and facilitation credentials
• PE (Professional Engineer) — for planners with civil or traffic engineering backgrounds (common in transportation planning)
• PMP (Project Management Professional) — PMI; relevant for planners managing large multi-year projects
• LEED AP (LEED Accredited Professional) — US Green Building Council; for planners with sustainable development focus

Specialty planning certifications:

• Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) — ASFPM (Association of State Floodplain Managers); for planners in hazard mitigation and floodplain management

Your Planning Specialties

Land use planning:

• Comprehensive/general plan preparation and update
• Zoning ordinance development and amendment
• Specific plans and area plans
• Design standards and guidelines
• Mixed-use and transit-oriented development (TOD) planning
• Infill and redevelopment planning

Transportation planning:

• Transportation master plans
• Multimodal transportation studies
• Active transportation (bike/pedestrian) planning
• Transit planning and service analysis
• Traffic impact analysis (TIA)
• Complete streets policy development
• Vision Zero planning

Environmental and sustainability planning:

• Environmental impact review (CEQA in California, NEPA)
• Climate action plans / greenhouse gas reduction
• Hazard mitigation plans (LHMP)
• Floodplain management
• Sea level rise adaptation planning
• Urban greening and tree canopy plans
• Stormwater management and green infrastructure

Housing planning:

• Housing element preparation (CA)
• Affordable housing policy
• Inclusionary zoning
• Housing needs assessment (RHNA)
• Anti-displacement and rent stabilization analysis

Economic development planning:

• Redevelopment and revitalization planning
• Business improvement districts (BIDs)
• Economic impact analysis
• Downtown and commercial corridor planning

Community engagement:

• Public participation program design
• Community visioning
• Equity and environmental justice analysis
• Multilingual outreach

Urban design:

• Streetscape design standards
• Form-based codes
• Design review processes
• Placemaking and public space planning
• Historic preservation planning

Design for Urban Planners

Professional Public Sector, Civic, Analytical

Color palette:

• Dark teal + white: planning and civic professionalism
• Navy + white: public sector authority
• Forest green + white: sustainability-focused planner

Back of Card

1. "Urban Planner | AICP | APA | FAICP (if) | [State PP if applicable] | [Specialty credential]"
2. "[Specialty: Land use | Transportation | Environmental | Housing | Urban design | Econ dev]"
3. "Comprehensive plans | Zoning | TOD | EIR/CEQA/NEPA | Climate action | Housing element"
4. "Transportation | Multimodal | Active transportation | Housing policy | Urban design | LHMP"
5. "[email] | [LinkedIn] | [Organization or consulting firm] | [phone]"

Checklist

• [ ] AICP (APA)
• [ ] APA membership
• [ ] FAICP (if Fellow)
• [ ] AICP CTP (if transportation specialty)
• [ ] CFM (if floodplain/hazard specialty)
• [ ] PP (if New Jersey)
• [ ] LEED AP (if sustainability focus)
• [ ] PE (if transportation/engineering background)
• [ ] Land use specialty (comprehensive plans, zoning, TOD)
• [ ] Transportation specialty (multimodal, active, transit)
• [ ] Environmental / CEQA / NEPA
• [ ] Climate action planning
• [ ] Housing policy (housing element, affordable housing)
• [ ] Urban design / form-based codes
• [ ] Public agency vs. private consulting
• [ ] LinkedIn (essential for public agency and consulting networking)