FAQ
Q.1. I hold a planning masters degree, which is recognized by the IPI. I have over 4 years work experience in planning but only 8 months of this was obtained in Ireland. What type of membership can I apply for?
A. You need 24 months (2 years) planning work experience in total in order to apply for Corporate Membership – however one of these years must be obtained in Ireland. You can wait until you have 4 more months Irish work experience (to get up to the one year Irish work experience requirement) and then apply for Corporate membership, or you can apply for Graduate membership now and upgrade once you have the required Irish experience.
Q.2. Do I automatically get upgraded to Corporate membership once I have 2 years work experience? I am already a graduate member of the Institute.
A. No, you must apply for Corporate membership of the Institute. However, as you are already a graduate member of the Institute, you do not have to submit evidence of your planning qualification, as this would have been assessed when you were elected to graduate membership. However, you do need to provide a detailed CV, outlining your work experience in planning. In addition, the application form for corporate membership must also be signed by 2 Corporate members of the Institute and they are also asked to initial those parts of your CV of which they have knowledge.
Q.3. I am a full (chartered) member of the RTPI, with a number of years work experience, having completed a 1 year MA in Town & Country Planning from a University in the UK and a primary degree in geography. I wish to enquire about the procedure for me applying for membership of the IPI.
A. As the RTPI is a full member of the European Council of Town Planners (ECTP) you are entitled to apply for membership of the Irish Planning Institute even though your course is not accredited or recognised by the IPI. Because you have Full Membership of another national planning institute or national association within the ECTP, it is not necessary for you to undertake the IPI’s Test of Professional Competence. You must however submit evidence of your membership of the RTPI with your application, and full details of your work experience in planning. You can apply for Graduate membership of the IPI immediately. If your experience includes at least one year in Ireland, then you can apply directly for Corporate Membership of the IPI immediately. If not, then you can upgrade from Graduate Membership once you obtain such experience.
Q.4. As a planner working in the UK, I would like to enquire if it is possible to become a member of the IPI, as I wish to move to Ireland. I have a Masters in Planning, recognised by the RTPI, which is a one year qualification and I have been working as a planner for just over a year.
A. As you are not a full (chartered) member of the UK planning organization (the RTPI) and have not got over 2 years experience (with at least one of this in Ireland), for you to join the IPI there are a number of steps you will need to complete to become a member. Firstly you apply for membership (in your case graduate membership) outlining your 12 month post qualification planning work experience. This application is then sent to the membership committee for processing. If the committee are satisfied with your work experience, then you are invited to undertake the Institute’s Test of Professional Competence. If you pass this then you can become a graduate member of the IPI.
To become a full (Corporate) member, you then need a further two years’ work experience in planning, one of which has to be in Ireland.
Alternatively, you may be able to apply for membership under the procedures set out in the EU Directive on Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications.
Q.5. I have recently completed a masters in planning in the UK but the course is not recognised by the RTPI, nor is it accredited by the IPI. I have worked for 6 months in a planning consultancy. Can I join the IPI?
A. No. To be eligible for consideration as a graduate member, you have to have at least one year’s work experience in planning before you can sit the Institute’s Test of Professional Competence. If you pass this then you can become a graduate member of the IPI. Send in a graduate application, detailing all of your planning work experience since you graduated from the planning course. To become a full (Corporate) member, you then need a further two years’ work experience in planning, one of which has to be in Ireland.
Q.6. I have a degree in Geography and Science and have been working on planning issues for a number of years in my current job. Can I apply for membership of the IPI?
A. No. You need to have completed a recognised planning qualification to be eligible to join. You should consider undertaking a planning course if you wish to gain a planning qualification and be recognised as a qualified planner - check out the list of accredited courses on the website.
Q.7 I am an Australian planner with 3 years experience working in Australia / New Zealand and I am thinking of moving to Ireland for a year and working there. My course is recognised by the Australian/New Zealand Planning Association. Can I join the IPI?
A. As you do not have a full years work experience of planning in Ireland, you cannot apply for Corporate membership but you could apply for Graduate membership. Firstly you apply for graduate membership in the normal way outlining your post qualification planning work experience. This application is then sent to the membership committee for processing. If the committee are satisfied with your work experience, then you are invited to undertake the Institute’s Test of Professional Competence. If you pass this then you can become a graduate member of the IPI.
Subsequently, when you have a further two years work experience in planning (one of which must be Irish experience), you can apply to upgrade to Corporate Membership.