News from NPC25 in Denver

Professional Development News

The National APA Conference provides the perfect opportunity for Chapter Professional Development Officers (PDOs) from all over to share ideas and approaches to professional development and all things AICP. Among the items discussed at this year’s PDO Exchange were the following:

• One Path to AICP Updates – Signing up for, and taking, the exam will be getting more streamlined in 2026 as the “One Path” approach is being further consolidated. More information about the new process being developed will be available in fall of 2025.

• Exam Prep Update – Chapter PDOs shared best practices they use to help members be successful on the exam. One of the efforts underway is the development of a Mock Exam that should be available for test takers to use within the year.

• AICP Ethics Officer, Ralph Wilmer, FAICP, discussed some of the ethics issues that had come up in 2024.

• APA is working with PDOs to address the career services and professional development objectives that members have identified. More information on this to come!

• AICP members who complete logging in their 2024-2025 CM credits by 12/31/25 will be enrolled in a drawing for something cool!

Any questions about the AICP Exam or AICP membership – please send an email to [email protected] with “PDO APA-WA” in the subject line, or contact National APA at [email protected].

APA WA Members Gather for Reception at NPC 2025

Washington planners attending the National APA conference in Denver gathered for an evening of chatting with their friends and colleagues at a local Denver restaurant, West Saloon & Kitchen on the 16th Avenue Pedestrian Mall. More than 100 Chapter members attended the event, which was generously supported by four sponsors: MAKERS architecture, planning, and urban design; Psomas; Uncommon Bridges; and Nexus Planning Services. Thank you to our sponsors!