Is becoming a transportation planner right for me?
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How to become a Transportation Planner
To become a transportation planner, there are several steps you can take:
- Earn a Bachelor's Degree: Many transportation planners have a Bachelor's Degree in Urban Planning, Civil Engineering, Geography, Environmental Science, or a related field. It's important to choose a program that includes coursework in transportation planning and design.
- Gain Experience: Entry-level positions in transportation planning may require some experience, which can be gained through internships, volunteer work, or part-time jobs. Look for opportunities to work with local government agencies, transportation consulting firms, or community organizations that focus on transportation issues.
- Pursue Graduate Education: While a bachelor's degree may be sufficient for some entry-level positions, many transportation planners have a master's degree in planning or a related field. A graduate degree can provide additional knowledge and skills in transportation planning, policy, and design.
- Build Technical Skills: Transportation planners need strong technical skills in areas such as geographic information systems (GIS), data analysis, and transportation modeling. Consider taking courses or workshops to build your technical skills.
- Gain Professional Certification: Professional certification, such as the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification, can demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in transportation planning. To become certified, you'll need a combination of education and work experience, and you'll need to pass an exam.
- Network and Stay Current: Attend conferences, join professional organizations, and network with other transportation planners to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies in the field.
Certifications
There are several certifications available for transportation planners. By earning one or more of these certifications, transportation planners can demonstrate their expertise and commitment to the profession, which can lead to career advancement and increased job opportunities.
- American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP): The AICP certification is offered by the American Planning Association (APA) and demonstrates expertise in urban planning, including transportation planning. To become certified, planners must meet education and experience requirements, pass an exam, and agree to abide by the APA's Code of Ethics.
- Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE): The PTOE certification is offered by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and demonstrates expertise in transportation operations, including traffic signal design, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and traffic flow analysis. To become certified, transportation planners must meet education and experience requirements, pass an exam, and agree to abide by the ITE's Code of Ethics.
- Certified Transportation Planner (CTP): The CTP certification is offered by the Transportation Professional Certification Board (TPCB) and demonstrates expertise in transportation planning, policy, and design. To become certified, transportation planners must meet education and experience requirements, pass an exam, and agree to abide by the TPCB's Code of Ethics.
- Project Management Professional (PMP): While not specific to transportation planning, the PMP certification is offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and demonstrates expertise in project management, which is an important skill for transportation planners who oversee complex projects. To become certified, planners must meet education and experience requirements, pass an exam, and agree to abide by the PMI's Code of Ethics.