Professional Development Committee

The Professional Development Committee (PDC) is an active committee of the Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association. The committee meets monthly via conference call at noon on the second Wednesday of each month. For more information on how to get involved with PDC, contact the Chair.

The PDC is responsible for providing opportunities for continuing education of OAPA members, as well as planners around the state and appointed officials, and to promote membership in OAPA and AICP. In addition to designing and providing CM sessions the PDC assists other groups by co-sponsoring events that may be of interest to the Oregon Chapter membership. The Committee is responsible for making revenue through the workshops to cover expenses of the PDC and to assist the OAPA general budget.

AICP

The American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is the American Planning Association’s professional institute, providing recognized leadership nationwide in the certification of professional planners, ethics, professional development, planning education, and the standards of planning practice. The PDC provides training for APA members interested in taking the AICP test. Members of AICP are required to maintain their certification through continuing education. Thirty-two hours of training are required every two years. In addition to the courses offered by OAPA and the APA you may wish to check out various online providers, including OAPA and Planning Webcast Series webinars (live and recorded). Find out more about how to get certified and how to earn CM credits through OAPA activities.

Ethics

OAPA sponsors an ethics session as part of the annual Legal Issues Workshop. In addition, the chapter will often include an ethics session as part of the annual OAPA Conference. For more information contact Robin Scholetzky, AICP LEED AP ND, the Ethics Committee chair.

Planners Network Meetings and Planning Commission Training

PDC helps to coordinate the Planners Network Meeting series, four meetings a year at various locations around the state in conjunction with the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD). The PNM’s offer professional development, including CM credits, for professional planners as well as networking opportunities. A major feature is to help educate Planning Commissioners and other citizens about Oregon’s planning program and planning issues generally. Visit the Events page to learn about upcoming PNM’s.

Book Group

The OAPA Planners Book Group is organized by the OAPA Professional Development Committee (PDC) for members and non-members who are interested in planning issues. PDC recognizes that, while there are many opportunities for planners to get continuing education through webinars and in-person conference sessions, many people like to learn through reading and discussion. Initially, meetings are planned to be held quarterly. Some meetings will be in person and others will be via the internet so that people can participate from anywhere with an internet connection. Join us for our next discussion!