IPI Memberships

Student

Eligibility

Student Membership is available to those completing IPI accredited planning qualifications.

Students remain in this category until they obtain the necessary qualification that makes them eligible for Graduate Membership.

Once the qualification is achieved, the individual ceases to be a Student Member and may apply for Graduate Membership in accordance with the Institute’s requirements.

Graduate

Eligibility

Graduate Membership is open to individuals who have successfully completed an IPI accredited planning qualification. This category is intended for recent graduates beginning their professional planning careers who have not yet amassed the relevant post qualification experience required for Registered Membership.

Please refer to the Institute’s Membership Bye-Laws for more information.

CPD, Additional Post Qualification Learning and Experience

Applicants for Graduate Membership are not required to undertake further learning to become a Graduate Member or to apply for Registered Membership. However, Graduate members will be required to undertake 20 recognised and certified IPI CPD credits within the two years preceding membership and complete a minimum of two years’ satisfactory post qualification work in a planning role to be eligible for Registered Membership of the Institute.

Please refer to the Institute’s Membership Bye-Laws for more information.

Qualifying – EU/EEA (including Northern Ireland)

Eligibility

This pathway toward Registered Membership is open to graduates who have completed a National Framework of Qualifications Level 8 / Level 9 (or equivalent) degree in planning which is not fully accredited by the Institute and which was obtained within the European Union/European Economic Area or Northern Ireland, and is at a level which is not equivalent, as defined under Article 11(d) of EU Directive 2005/36/EC, to the planning qualifications or degrees that are fully accredited by the Institute.

Please refer to the Institute’s Membership Bye-Laws for more information.

CPD, Additional Post Qualification Learning and Experience

Applicants for Qualifying – EU/EEA (including Northern Ireland) Membership are not required to have undertaken further learning to apply for Qualifying Membership.

However, to be eligible for Registered Membership, Qualifying – EU/EEA (including Northern Ireland) Members will be required to undertake 60 recognised and certified IPI CPD credits in the three years preceding their application

AND

undertake additional learning which addresses deficits in their programme in respect of the core competencies as set out in the Institute’s Educational Guidelines

AND

completed a minimum of three years post qualification experience in a planning role within the Republic of Ireland and/or Northern Ireland or such experience which may have a direct relevance to the practice of planning in those jurisdictions to be eligible to apply for Registered Membership of the Institute.

Please refer to the Institute’s Membership Bye-Laws for more information.

Qualifying – International

Eligibility

This pathway towards Registered Membership is open to graduates who have completed a planning qualification that is equivalent to an Institute fully accredited National Framework of Qualifications Level 8 / Level 9 degree (or equivalent) in planning awarded by an educational institution outside of the European Union/European Economic Area.

Additional Learning

Applicants for Qualifying – International Membership are not required to have undertaken further learning to apply for Qualifying Membership.

However, to be eligible for Registered Membership, Qualifying – International Members will be required to undertake 80 recognised and certified IPI CPD credits in the four years preceding their application

AND

undertake additional learning which addresses deficits in their programme in respect of the core competencies as set out in the Institute’s Education Guidelines

AND

completed a minimum of four years post qualification experience in a planning role within the Republic of Ireland and/or Northern Ireland or such experience which may have a direct relevance to the practice of planning in those jurisdictions to be eligible to apply for Registered Membership of the Institute.

Please refer to the Institute’s Membership Bye-Laws for more information.

Long-Standing Practitioner Pathway

Eligibility

This pathway is designed for experienced practitioners applying for Registered Membership who hold a non-IPI accredited planning qualification who can demonstrate significant, long-term (more than seven years) post qualification professional practice in planning in Ireland.

A CPD log outlining the IPI recognised and certified CPD credits accumulated during the previous four years will be required.

Please refer to the Institute’s Membership Bye-Laws for more information.

Registered Membership

Registered (full) Membership is the Institute’s primary professional membership category.

Registered Members are entitled to use the professional post-nominal letters: MIPI.

Eligibility

There are a number of pathways in which applicants may be eligible for Registered Membership;

Graduate Members of the Institute

Eligible applicants include Graduate Members who have:

• at least two years of relevant post-qualification experience, and
• 20 IPI-recognised and certified CPD credits completed within the two years preceding their application.

Holders of an NFQ Level 8/9 IPI-Accredited Planning Degree

Applicants who hold a fully IPI-accredited planning qualification may apply directly if they have:

• two years of satisfactory post-qualification planning experience, and
• 40 IPI-recognised and certified CPD credits completed within the two years preceding their application.

Qualifying Members - EU/EEA including Northern Ireland

Eligible applicants include Qualifying Members who have:

• completed the additional learning requirements set out in paragraphs 3.3 and 3.4 of the Institute’s bylaws,
• not less than three years of relevant post-qualification experience, and
• 60 IPI-recognised and certified CPD credits completed within the three years preceding their application.

Qualifying Member – International

Eligible applicants include Qualifying International Members who have:

• completed all required additional learning under paragraphs 3.3 and 3.4 of the bylaws,
• not less than four years of relevant post-qualification experience, and
• 80 IPI-recognised and certified CPD credits completed within the four years preceding their application.

Planners from Institutes with Mutual Recognition Agreements

Applicants may also qualify if they are:

• a professionally qualified planner,
• a full member of another national planning institute or association, and
• that institute/association has a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with the Irish Planning Institute granting full membership equivalence.

Long-Standing Practitioner

Professionally qualified planners applying through the Long-Standing Practitioner Pathway may be admitted where they can demonstrate:

• significant and sustained professional experience, and
• competence across the core areas of planning practice, in accordance with the requirements set out for this pathway.

Holders of Non-Accredited EU/EEA Planning Qualifications

This pathway applies to applicants who:

• hold a planning qualification (degree or equivalent) obtained within the EU/EEA,
• where that qualification is not fully accredited by the Institute, and
• where the qualification is not equivalent (as per Article 11(d) of Directive 2005/36/EC) to an IPI-accredited planning degree.

To be eligible, such applicants must:

• satisfy the Institute that they have at least four years of satisfactory post-qualification planning experience, and
• demonstrate that their experience is sufficient to meet the standards of competence required to practise planning in Ireland.

If an applicant cannot demonstrate the required competence, they may still become eligible by either:

• passing the Institute’s Test of Professional Competence, or
• successfully completing any required period of adaptation under the EU Directive,
• and also demonstrating at least four years of satisfactory experience following attainment of their qualification, or completion of the test/adaptation period, as appropriate.

Fellow

Fellowship of the Irish Planning Institute is the Institute’s most prestigious recognition of contribution, experience, and leadership in the planning profession. Fellows are entitled to use the professional designation FIPI.

The names of all Fellow members are entered in the Institute’s register in the section designated for Fellows.

Eligibility

An individual shall be eligible for Fellowship if they satisfy all of the following criteria:

• (a) those who have been Registered Member of the Institute, on a continuous basis, for at least ten years, and
• (b) who have at least twenty years post qualification experience, and
• (c) who have served on the Board of the Institute as a Registered Member of the Board, or as an officer of one of the Institute’s Branches, for a minimum of four years, or a combination of the two, or who in the opinion of the Council/Board have made an important contribution to the development of the Institute

Please refer to the Institute’s Membership Bye-Laws for more information.

Affiliate

Affiliate Membership is designed for individuals with significant engagement in planning-related research or practice, who do not meet the criteria for other membership categories.

Eligibility

An individual shall be eligible for Affiliate Membership if they have a National Framework of Qualifications Level 8 / Level 9 degree or equivalent related to planning, who have been engaged for a minimum of 5 years in research or practice related to planning shall be eligible to become an Affiliate Member of the Institute.

Please refer to the Institute’s Membership Bye-Laws for more information.

Professional Designation

Affiliate Members are recognised as members of the Institute but do not hold the designation MIPI.

Honorary

Candidates for Honorary Membership must be proposed by at least five Registered or Fellow Members of the Institute. Please refer to the Institute’s Membership Bye-Laws for more information.