2025 AICP Certification Exam Study Questions 2026.
Exploratory Research
Used at early stages when little is known; relies on interviews, focus groups, and literature review.
Planning: Scoping new issues (e.g. micromobility adoption).
Descriptive Research
Provides factual picture/diagrams (demographics, land use, traffic). Planning: existing conditions reports
in comprehensive plans.
Explanatory/Analytical Research
Seeks cause/effect (e.g. TOD reduces VMT). Planning: evaluate effectiveness of zoning or policies.
Experimental/Quasi-Experimental Designs
Randomized experiments vs. before and after or matched pairs. Planning: road diet or pilot project
evaluations.
3/21/2026, 8:55:01 PM 3/21/2026, 8:55:03 PM 3/21/2026, 8:54:57 PM
, 2025 AICP Certification Exam Study Questions 2026.
Rational Comprehensive Theory
(Faludi) Structured, step by step decision making; emphasizes analysis and data. Planning: foundational
but critiqued for ignoring politics and uncertainty.
Incrementalism
(Charles Lindblom) "Muddling through" small changes rather than big plans. Planning: common in real-
world local politics; protects against large errors but preserves the status quo.
Mixed Scanning
(Amitai Etzioni) Combines broad strategic review with incremental; steps. Planning: useful in
comprehensive plan updates with phased actions.
Advocacy Planning
(Paul Davidoff) Pluralism and representation; planners advocate for underrepresented groups. Planning:
basis for equity-focused planning and community engagement.
3/21/2026, 8:55:01 PM 3/21/2026, 8:55:03 PM 3/21/2026, 8:54:57 PM
, 2025 AICP Certification Exam Study Questions 2026.
Equity Planning
(Norman Krumholz) Redistribute resources to marginalized populations. Planning: shaped Cleveland
planning in the 1970's; inspires modern equity practice.
Communicative/Collaborative Planning
(Jurgen Habermas, Patsy Healey, John Forester) Concensus building, deliberative democracy,
communication as a core of planning. Planning: charrettes, collaborative governance, participatory
budgeting.
Transactive Planning
(John Friedmann) Planner learns through direct interaction with the public. Planning: Bottom-up
learning; strong in community development practice.
City Beautiful Movement
(Daniel Burnham) 1890's-1900's; emphasized monumental design, civic centers, axial boulevards.
Planning: influences Washington D.C. plan and Chicago's 1909 plan.
3/21/2026, 8:55:01 PM 3/21/2026, 8:55:03 PM 3/21/2026, 8:54:57 PM
, 2025 AICP Certification Exam Study Questions 2026.
Garden City Movement
(Ebenezer Howard) Late 1800's: self-contained towns with greenbelts and balanced land uses. Planning:
influenced New Towns, Letchworth, and Columbia, MD.
Neighborhood Unit
(Clarence Perry) 1920's: design based on walkable neighborhoods, elementary schools at the center.
Planning: foundation for zoning of residential neighborhoods.
Regionalism
(Patrick Geddes, Lewis Mumford) Planning at regional scale, integrating environment and economy.
Planning: inspired metropolitan planning and regional governance.
New Urbanism
(CNU, Andres Duany, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk) 1990's movement: mixed use, walkable, human scale
design. Planning: form based codes, Seaside FL, SmartCode.
3/21/2026, 8:55:01 PM 3/21/2026, 8:55:03 PM 3/21/2026, 8:54:57 PM
Exploratory Research
Used at early stages when little is known; relies on interviews, focus groups, and literature review.
Planning: Scoping new issues (e.g. micromobility adoption).
Descriptive Research
Provides factual picture/diagrams (demographics, land use, traffic). Planning: existing conditions reports
in comprehensive plans.
Explanatory/Analytical Research
Seeks cause/effect (e.g. TOD reduces VMT). Planning: evaluate effectiveness of zoning or policies.
Experimental/Quasi-Experimental Designs
Randomized experiments vs. before and after or matched pairs. Planning: road diet or pilot project
evaluations.
3/21/2026, 8:55:01 PM 3/21/2026, 8:55:03 PM 3/21/2026, 8:54:57 PM
, 2025 AICP Certification Exam Study Questions 2026.
Rational Comprehensive Theory
(Faludi) Structured, step by step decision making; emphasizes analysis and data. Planning: foundational
but critiqued for ignoring politics and uncertainty.
Incrementalism
(Charles Lindblom) "Muddling through" small changes rather than big plans. Planning: common in real-
world local politics; protects against large errors but preserves the status quo.
Mixed Scanning
(Amitai Etzioni) Combines broad strategic review with incremental; steps. Planning: useful in
comprehensive plan updates with phased actions.
Advocacy Planning
(Paul Davidoff) Pluralism and representation; planners advocate for underrepresented groups. Planning:
basis for equity-focused planning and community engagement.
3/21/2026, 8:55:01 PM 3/21/2026, 8:55:03 PM 3/21/2026, 8:54:57 PM
, 2025 AICP Certification Exam Study Questions 2026.
Equity Planning
(Norman Krumholz) Redistribute resources to marginalized populations. Planning: shaped Cleveland
planning in the 1970's; inspires modern equity practice.
Communicative/Collaborative Planning
(Jurgen Habermas, Patsy Healey, John Forester) Concensus building, deliberative democracy,
communication as a core of planning. Planning: charrettes, collaborative governance, participatory
budgeting.
Transactive Planning
(John Friedmann) Planner learns through direct interaction with the public. Planning: Bottom-up
learning; strong in community development practice.
City Beautiful Movement
(Daniel Burnham) 1890's-1900's; emphasized monumental design, civic centers, axial boulevards.
Planning: influences Washington D.C. plan and Chicago's 1909 plan.
3/21/2026, 8:55:01 PM 3/21/2026, 8:55:03 PM 3/21/2026, 8:54:57 PM
, 2025 AICP Certification Exam Study Questions 2026.
Garden City Movement
(Ebenezer Howard) Late 1800's: self-contained towns with greenbelts and balanced land uses. Planning:
influenced New Towns, Letchworth, and Columbia, MD.
Neighborhood Unit
(Clarence Perry) 1920's: design based on walkable neighborhoods, elementary schools at the center.
Planning: foundation for zoning of residential neighborhoods.
Regionalism
(Patrick Geddes, Lewis Mumford) Planning at regional scale, integrating environment and economy.
Planning: inspired metropolitan planning and regional governance.
New Urbanism
(CNU, Andres Duany, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk) 1990's movement: mixed use, walkable, human scale
design. Planning: form based codes, Seaside FL, SmartCode.
3/21/2026, 8:55:01 PM 3/21/2026, 8:55:03 PM 3/21/2026, 8:54:57 PM
