Guidance on Applying for Membership and Demonstrating Professional Experience in Membership Applications

  • The onus to provide all required information is with the applicant.
  • Application assessment may be delayed if all relevant information is not included with your application.
  • All information will be received in strictest confidence.
  • Please note, the Institute may recommend an alternative category for membership if deemed appropriate based on the information provided.
  • We will review all the information and documentation you provide as part of your application.
  • The Institute may request clarification, verification, or additional information at any stage to ensure that your application is complete and accurate. The Institute may ask you to supply more information.

Professional Experience

  • The Institute recognises that planners work in a variety of areas and that the role and work of a planner is becoming increasingly diverse, as are the organisations and settings in which we work and the types of experience planners attain.
  • Pre-qualification experience or experience gained while studying for your planning qualification cannot be considered.
  • Academic practice in planning, including academic research and publication, may be considered relevant experience but must be linked to the competences. Relevant research undertaken towards a PhD qualification may count as relevant experience provided it demonstrates the required competences.
  • Experience gained while self-employed may be considered.
  • Applicants will need to pro-rata part time experience.
  • Experience can be gained in Ireland or overseas (though noting the requirement that those applying under the Long-Standing Practitioner Pathway must have gained their experience on the island of Ireland).
  • Do not rely solely on job titles. Instead, provide a clear description of your actual responsibilities, tasks, and achievements in each role. This helps us understand your experience and assess your application accurately.
  • If you are applying for Fellowship, additional supporting evidence of contributions to the Institute or the field of planning is required.

Structuring Your Statement of Experience

It is recommended that your CV/statement of post qualification experience provides the following:

Chronological Account

List each relevant position held after obtaining your planning qualification. For each role, specify:
  • Employer name and location
  • Job title
  • Dates of employment in chronological order (provide month and year starting and finishing or to present day – Ensure you meet the minimum experience requirement for your chosen pathway)
  • A list of specific projects to demonstrate the appropriate experience
  • A detailed description of your personal involvement
  • Examples of the scope and range of your experience
  • Specific planning tasks undertaken
  • Any other relevant information

Demonstrating Core Competences

In line with the competences identified by the ECTP-CEU and AESOP, our Educational Guidelines recognise that Planners must have a set of eight core competences. Some applicants for membership will be required to demonstrate the IPI’s eight core competences as outlined in our education guidelines and explain how your experience addresses each area at an appropriate level:
Competence 1:
The Rationale of Planning: History, Theory and Principles
  • Planning theory
  • The principles of sustainability
  • Inclusion, cultural diversity, social justice, equity and equalities of opportunity
  • Planning history
Competence 2:
Socio-economic Spatial Systems
  • Housing
  • Planning and health
  • Planning and social justice
  • Community engagement
  • Arts and culture and planning
  • Rural planning
  • Real estate
  • Regeneration
  • Tourism
  • Natural resources
  • Mobility and transport
  • Retail
  • Waste
Competence 3:
Built Environment
  • Urban design
  • Architectural principles
  • Conservation
  • Archaeology and heritage
Competence 4:
Natural Environmental Spatial Systems and Climate Change
  • Planning and climate change
  • Biodiversity
  • Environmental assessment
  • MSP
  • Water quality
Competence 5:
Planning Skills and Techniques
  • Sketches and graphics
  • GIS
  • Statistics
  • Report writing
  • Negotiation
  • Presentation, oral hearings
  • Development Management
  • Site analysis
Competence 6:
Independent Research
  • Data gathering
  • Qualitative and quantitative research
  • Literature surveys and reviews
Competence 7:
Planning Instruments
  • Planning law
  • Plan making
  • Enforcement
Competence 8:
Planning Products
  • National and transnational planning
  • Regional planning
  • Spatial planning at various scales
  • Development management
Applicants do not necessarily require experience in all these competences. Refer to the education guidelines for more detail.

Final Checklist

  • Statement of experience is clear, detailed, and relevant
  • Experience is mapped to IPI core competences
  • Minimum experience requirements are met