Most urban planners earn a master’s degree in urban or regional planning, ideally from a program accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board, after a bachelor’s in a related field such as geography, economics or political science. After a few years of work, many earn the AICP credential through the American Planning Association. Very few states license planners; New Jersey is the main example.
What planners actually spend their days on
Planners help decide how land in a city, county or region gets used: where housing goes, how streets and transit connect, what gets protected and what gets built. Much of the job is weighing tradeoffs in public.
- Current planning: reviewing development applications against zoning rules, writing staff reports and presenting them to a planning commission.
- Long-range planning: comprehensive plans, neighborhood plans and housing studies that look ten or twenty years ahead.
- Specialties: transportation, environmental review, housing, economic development, historic preservation and hazard planning.
- Tools: GIS mapping, census and survey data, spreadsheets and a lot of writing.
- Evenings: community meetings and hearings, where residents often disagree loudly with each other and with you.
Employers include city and county planning departments, regional agencies, transit authorities, consulting firms, nonprofits and developers. Public sector work is the largest share.
Degrees that lead into planning
- Bachelor’s degree: a planning major is one option, but geography, economics, political science, environmental studies, sociology and architecture all feed into the field. Our guide to what you can do with a political science degree covers one common starting point.
- Master’s in planning: usually about two years, with studio projects for real clients, quantitative methods, planning law and an internship. This is the standard credential for professional planner jobs.
- GIS training: a certificate or a few courses in mapping software makes entry candidates much more useful from day one.
Not sure a master’s is worth it for you yet? Our guide on whether to go to grad school helps you think through the timing and the cost.
Credentials and licensing
The best-known credential is AICP, offered through the American Planning Association’s professional institute. Candidates generally need a mix of education and professional planning experience and must pass a national exam, then keep up continuing education. A candidate pathway lets recent graduates take the exam earlier and finish the experience afterward. AICP is not a legal requirement for most jobs, but many employers prefer it for senior roles. New Jersey requires a state license to practice as a professional planner. Rules can change, so check the licensing board in the state where you plan to work.
A practical path from high school
- Take government, economics, statistics and any geography or environmental science your school offers.
- Go to a city council or planning commission meeting and notice how decisions really get made.
- Pick a related college major and add a GIS course as early as you can.
- Land a college internship with a planning department, regional agency or consulting firm.
- Apply to accredited master’s programs, or work a year or two first so you know which specialty you want.
- Take an entry planner or planning technician role. Our guide to a first job in government explains public hiring, which can be slow.
- Build experience and sit for the AICP exam when you qualify.
Ways to try planning before you commit
- Join a youth advisory board or a city parks or transportation committee.
- Volunteer on a local walkability audit, park cleanup or community survey project.
- Set up two or three informational interviews with planners in different roles, one in current planning and one in long-range or transportation work.
- Take an intro urban studies or GIS class at a community college before committing to a major.
Who stays in planning, and why some leave
Planners who stick with it like systems, enjoy research and writing, stay calm in a room full of upset people and can wait years to see a plan become a building or a bike lane. People leave because progress is slow, decisions are political and public criticism comes with the job. Many move into real estate development, policy, transportation agencies or consulting. If you like untangling hard problems, our guide to careers for people who like solving problems lists related paths.
Coming to planning from another career
Planning welcomes people from architecture, engineering, journalism, community organizing, public health and real estate. A master’s degree is the usual reset, and some programs offer part-time or evening options. See our guides to changing careers and going back to school as an adult. For current pay and job outlook, check the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Where a mentor helps
A mentor can help a college student or young adult explore whether planning fits, map out the coursework and internships, stay on track through a master’s program, prepare applications and get through the first year in a public agency. Mentors are not credentialed career counselors, admissions counselors or licensing experts; they help you do the research and the work yourself. Learn more about our career and education mentoring and mentoring for college students.
Related
- All career path guides
- How to become a landscape architect
- How to become an architect
- How to become a civil engineer
- How to become a machinist
- How to become an aircraft mechanic
Common questions
Do you need a master’s degree to be an urban planner?
For most professional planner jobs, yes, a master’s in planning is the standard. A bachelor’s can lead to assistant or technician roles, especially with GIS skills and internship experience.
What is AICP?
It is the main professional credential for planners in the United States, earned through education, planning experience and a national exam. It is not required for most jobs but is often preferred for senior roles.
Is urban planning a government job?
Many planners work for cities, counties and regional agencies, but consulting firms, nonprofits and developers also hire them.
What should I major in to become a planner?
Planning, geography, economics, political science, environmental studies and architecture are all common. Add statistics and GIS to whatever you choose.
Get started
Curious about planning or another public-facing career and want a plan? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.