Education · 1 of 5

The path

A degree, two years of work under a registered planner, then an exam for the title.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Geography, math, English and civics. Go to a city council meeting once. If you find it interesting, this might be for you.

2. 2

   Degree

   4 to 6 years

   Either a 4-year accredited planning bachelor's (Waterloo, TMU (Toronto Metropolitan University, formerly Ryerson), Dalhousie, Saskatchewan), or any bachelor's followed by a 2-year planning master's (Queen's, UBC (University of British Columbia), McGill, Toronto, Dalhousie, Manitoba, Calgary).

3. 3

   Candidate member

   About 2 years

   Join your provincial institute as a candidate and work under an RPP (registered professional planner). Log two years of experience with a sponsor, spend at least a year with a mentor and pass an ethics course. Many take three years or more.

4. 4

   Professional exam

   A few months

   An exam on ethics, planning law and practice, run through your provincial institute.

5. 5

   RPP (registered professional planner)

   After the exam

   Full membership in your provincial institute and the CIP (Canadian Institute of Planners). Now you can sign planning reports under the title.