• 50 questions

AICP Test

Fifty questions in the nine content areas of the AICP Certification Exam, each answered from a public source.

What population does the Census Bureau give as the optimum size of a census tract?

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Exam mode: 50 questions, 62 minutes.

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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with the American Planning Association. Bank checked October 14, 2026.

The real exam, as the American Planning Association describes it

Questions
170
Time limit
210 minutes
Format
170 multiple-choice questions: 150 scored and 20 unscored, which are not identified. Traditional and scenario-based questions.
Pass mark
No number is printed. The score report shows a scaled score, which is not a percentage, and pass or not pass.
Where
Prometric test centers, or remote testing through Prometric.
Results
An Official Score Report from Prometric immediately after the exam.
Retakes
Up to three attempts in an exam window, at least 30 days apart.
Outline in force
AICP Certification Exam Content Outline, updated October 2026: nine content areas.

Checked October 14, 2026 against the One Path to AICP Certification Guide of the American Planning Association. Rules change, so confirm with the agency itself before your test.

The American Planning Association's exam page

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All 50 questions

Research and Assessment Methods 5

  • A population projection usually starts from the latest census and adds assumptions about which three things? Wikipedia, "Population projection", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Research and Assessment Methods.
  • How often does the American Community Survey provide information about the nation and its people? US Census Bureau, About the American Community Survey, read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Research and Assessment Methods.
  • In economic base analysis, what marks an industry as basic? Wikipedia, "Economic base analysis", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Research and Assessment Methods.
  • What population does the Census Bureau give as the optimum size of a census tract? US Census Bureau, Geography Program Glossary, read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Research and Assessment Methods.
  • Which forecasting method questions a panel of experts in rounds and gives them an anonymised summary after each round? Wikipedia, "Delphi method", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Research and Assessment Methods.
Show all 50 questions (45 more)

Fundamental Planning Knowledge 7

  • The advisory committee that drafted the Standard State Zoning Enabling Act in the 1920s sat in which federal department? Wikipedia, "Standard State Zoning Enabling Act", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Fundamental Planning Knowledge.
  • Advocacy planning, formulated in the 1960s by Paul Davidoff and Linda Stone Davidoff, asks planners to do what? Wikipedia, "Advocacy planning", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Fundamental Planning Knowledge.
  • Penn Central Transportation Co. v. New York City (1978) is a landmark decision on which subject? Wikipedia, "Penn Central Transportation Co. v. New York City", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Fundamental Planning Knowledge.
  • What did Kelo v. City of New London (2005) hold about eminent domain? Wikipedia, "Kelo v. City of New London", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Fundamental Planning Knowledge.
  • What did the Supreme Court find in Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co.? Wikipedia, "Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co.", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Fundamental Planning Knowledge.
  • Which city adopted the first citywide zoning code in the United States, in 1916? Wikipedia, "1916 Zoning Resolution", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Fundamental Planning Knowledge.
  • Which theory, developed by Charles E. Lindblom, sees broad policy change as built from many small changes over time? Wikipedia, "Incrementalism", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Fundamental Planning Knowledge.

Communication and Interaction 5

  • In the nominal group technique, how is the final decision reached? Wikipedia, "Nominal group technique", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Communication and Interaction.
  • Sherry Arnstein's 1969 article gave planners which model of public involvement? Wikipedia, "Sherry Arnstein", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Communication and Interaction.
  • Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin in which programs? US Department of Justice, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Communication and Interaction.
  • Under the ADA, which bodies are the title II entities that must communicate effectively with people who have communication disabilities? US Department of Justice, ADA Requirements: Effective Communication (ADA.gov), read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Communication and Interaction.
  • What is a charrette? Wikipedia, "Charrette", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Communication and Interaction.

Plan and Policy Development 8

  • Under Dillon's Rule, what powers does a municipality have? Wikipedia, "Dillon's Rule", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Plan and Policy Development.
  • What backs a general obligation bond? SEC, Municipal Bonds (Investor.gov), read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Plan and Policy Development.
  • What does a form-based code use as its organizing principle? Wikipedia, "Form-based code", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Plan and Policy Development.
  • What does the Bureau of Indian Affairs mean by tribal sovereignty? Bureau of Indian Affairs, Frequently Asked Questions, read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Plan and Policy Development.
  • What was the original intent of a tax increment financing program? Wikipedia, "Tax increment financing", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Plan and Policy Development.
  • Which clause of the US Constitution is the basis of federal preemption of state and local law? Wikipedia, "Federal preemption", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Plan and Policy Development.
  • Which of these is a basis on which the Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination? US Department of Justice, The Fair Housing Act, read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Plan and Policy Development.
  • Which zoning practice does the Justice Department give as an example of what RLUIPA addresses? US Department of Justice, Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Plan and Policy Development.

Plan Implementation 7

  • The Community Development Block Grant program works principally for the benefit of whom? HUD, Community Development Block Grant Program, read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Plan Implementation.
  • Dolan v. City of Tigard applied a two-prong test to exactions. After an essential nexus, what does the second prong ask? Wikipedia, "Dolan v. City of Tigard", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Plan Implementation.
  • In land use regulation, what is a variance? Wikipedia, "Variance (land use)", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Plan Implementation.
  • Nollan v. California Coastal Commission requires what between a permit condition and a legitimate state interest? Wikipedia, "Nollan v. California Coastal Commission", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Plan Implementation.
  • What does a capital improvement plan identify? Wikipedia, "Capital improvement plan", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Plan Implementation.
  • What does an impact fee pay for? Wikipedia, "Impact fee", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Plan Implementation.
  • Which law created the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit? HUD User, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Plan Implementation.

Administration and Management 3

  • In procurement, what is a request for qualifications typically used for? Wikipedia, "Request for qualifications", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Administration and Management.
  • In project scheduling, how is the critical path determined? Wikipedia, "Critical path method", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Administration and Management.
  • What does the federal Freedom of Information Act give the public? US Department of Justice, FOIA.gov Frequently Asked Questions, read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Administration and Management.

Leadership 3

  • The AICP Code asks planners to contribute time and effort to their communities through pro bono planning. Which groups does it single out? American Planning Association, AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Leadership.
  • Under the AICP Code's aspirational principles, what should planners contribute to students, interns and beginning professionals? American Planning Association, AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Leadership.
  • Who is APA's statement Ethical Principles in Planning written for? American Planning Association, Ethical Principles in Planning, read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Leadership.

Areas of Practice 7

  • Federal law requires a metropolitan planning organization for each urbanized area above what population? 23 U.S.C. 134, Metropolitan transportation planning (Cornell Legal Information Institute copy), read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Areas of Practice.
  • How does the EPA define a brownfield? EPA, About the Brownfields Program, read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Areas of Practice.
  • In a transfer of development rights program, where do developers use the rights they buy? Wikipedia, "Transfer of development rights", read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Areas of Practice.
  • In the National Flood Insurance Program definitions, what is the base flood? 44 CFR 59.1, Definitions (Cornell Legal Information Institute copy), read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Areas of Practice.
  • Under 44 CFR 201.6, within how many years must a local hazard mitigation plan be reviewed, revised and resubmitted to stay eligible for mitigation project grants? 44 CFR 201.6, Local Mitigation Plans (Cornell Legal Information Institute copy), read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Areas of Practice.
  • Under NEPA, federal agencies prepare detailed statements on the environmental impact of what? EPA, What is the National Environmental Policy Act?, read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Areas of Practice.
  • Which law authorized the National Register of Historic Places? National Park Service, What is the National Register of Historic Places?, read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, Areas of Practice.

AICP Code of Ethics 5

  • A planner is asked to publicly advocate a position significantly different from one advocated for a previous client. How far back does the Rule of Conduct look? American Planning Association, AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
  • Before taking other employment in planning, what must an employed planner normally do under the Rules of Conduct? American Planning Association, AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
  • Which of these is a form of discipline the Ethics Officer may impose for a violation of the AICP Code? American Planning Association, AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
  • Which section of the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct holds the Rules of Conduct that AICP enforces? American Planning Association, AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
  • Who gives informal advice on the AICP Code, and in what form? American Planning Association, AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, read 2026-10-14. Outline: AICP exam content outline, AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.

How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the nine content areas of the AICP Certification Exam Content Outline that the American Planning Association posts at https://www.planning.org/certification/examprep/subjectmatter/ (updated October 2026, read 2026-10-14): Research and Assessment Methods 9 percent, Fundamental Planning Knowledge 14, Communication and Interaction 11, Plan and Policy Development 16, Plan Implementation 14, Administration and Management 7, Leadership 6, Areas of Practice 13, AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct 10. This bank of 50 holds 5, 7, 5, 8, 7, 3, 3, 7 and 5. Every fact was read on 2026-10-14 in the public text its question names: the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, federal agency pages, the Code of Federal Regulations, the United States Code and Wikipedia. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.

How it works

This AICP exam practice test asks 50 questions of our own across the nine content areas of the American Planning Association's exam outline, from research methods to the Code of Ethics. Unofficial: not affiliated with or endorsed by the American Planning Association.

Read the full guide

The nine content areas and their weights

APA's content outline, updated October 2026, weights the exam as Research and Assessment Methods 9 percent, Fundamental Planning Knowledge 14, Communication and Interaction 11, Plan and Policy Development 16, Plan Implementation 14, Administration and Management 7, Leadership 6, Areas of Practice 13 and the AICP Code of Ethics 10. This bank holds 5, 7, 5, 8, 7, 3, 3, 7 and 5. APA's exam page still prints the 2022 weights, each within two points of these.

Plan making and implementation

Plan and Policy Development and Plan Implementation hold 15 of the 50 questions: preemption, form-based codes, fair housing, exactions, capital improvement plans and housing finance.

A timed run

The timed test asks all 50 in 62 minutes, the real exam's pace of 3.5 hours for 170 questions.

  • Every ethics question on the real exam is based on the 2022 AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, posted in full by APA.
  • APA says to study planning knowledge and practice that apply nationally, not rules unique to one region, state or locality.

Questions and answers

How many questions are on the AICP exam?

170 multiple-choice questions in 3.5 hours: 150 scored, and 20 unscored questions that are being considered for future exams and are not identified. Some are scenario-based, with three to five questions tied to one planning scenario.

What is the passing score for the AICP exam?

APA's certification guide prints no passing number. The Official Score Report, sent by Prometric right after the exam, shows a total scaled score, which is not a percentage, and whether you passed.

Is this the actual AICP practice test?

No. These practice tests for the AICP are ours, written from APA's public outline, and no question is taken from the real exam. APA itself warns that questions from other sources may not closely match the structure of real exam questions.

Is there a free AICP study guide?

APA's exam page links prep videos and slides for each content area, recorded in December 2024, with the content outline, the Code of Ethics, a list of foundational land-use law cases and its policy guides. Its certification guide explains format and scoring.

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