Monday, March 4, 2013

The past year of my life-

   For the past year I have been rigorously studying for a professional certification exam. The exam is the Comprehensive AICP exam for Urban Planners to become certified in the planning profession.
   My interest in becoming certified began about a year ago (Feb 2012). I wanted to challenge myself and further my career. The exam is offered twice a year in May and November.  In my researching the exam, and how to begin the preparation to take the May 2012 in particular, I realized that I had missed the deadline for applications.  Dern! 
   However, I could still apply for the November 2012 exam window. Great!  Then in the excitement of taking on this new challenge I decided to spend $200 on a online study course, not realizing that the course finishes before the May exam.  Ah!  Therefore, I was basically cramming from March-May trying to get all the information I could derive from the online course before it closed.  Which by the way, was a great resource.  If there is anyone out there reading this blog (doubt it) AND considering taking the AICP exam (probably even less likely) you should sign up for the Planetizen AICP study course.  There are video sessions, an active messaging board, the Planetizen staff responds to questions promptly and provides lots of support. 
   Between May and June I was spending my time collecting necessary documents and forming my exam application. The application in itself was a true test of how serious you are about becoming a certified planner. There were essay questions, minimum professional experience requirements and letters of recommendations. Thankfully I had a great team of friends and colleagues supporting my through the application process.  Not only did you have to apply by June for the November exam you had to pay the application and exam fees when you submit your application... $495, ouch that one hurt a little bit. I made the application deadline and then played the waiting game.
   Even though I wasn't sure if I was allowed to take the exam yet, I was so excited that I still studied off and on, and purchased the necessary textbooks ($245!) finally on August 18th, I received the email confirming that my application was accepted and I could indeed *try* to pass the AICP exam in November of 2012!!  I was ecstatic to say the least.  We celebrated that email as if I had already passed the exam.  It was nice to know that all my hard work was recognized and that I am qualified to become a certified planner.
   Now it's time to get down to business.  During the 6 months I was preparing to apply and study for the exam I did a lot of reading on blogs, websites, including the planning.org site, about what the exam was going to be like, and what to expect.  Only a 64% pass rate, 1000 questions worth of information but they only ask you 170 during the exam.  Of those 170 exam questions 20 of them are just questions the exam committee is testing out to see if they want to include them on the next year’s exam.  Of course they don’t let you know which of the 170 are going to be the 20 that you are not graded on.  That’s how they getcha.  Most people I conversed with regarding the exam were on their second and third attempts.  If you don’t pass in November, you can pay a lesser fee to retake it in May and so on. I DID NOT WANT TO TAKE THIS THING MORE THAN ONCE. 
  Between early September and November 10th (my exam date) I took every fee hour to study.  I was reading all the textbooks cover to cover, taking notes, re-reading notes from the Planetizen course, recording myself reading and playing it back, AND creating some 500 flashcards.  By the way, if you are still reading this and plan on taking the AICP exam I will more than gladly share my notes or other materials. However, I recommend doing it on your own because flipping through someone else’s notes you really don’t retain as much information as you would if you created the notes yourself. I also recommend the Planningprep.com website because it is *FREE* and they have hundreds of practice questions where you can get immediate feedback.  They even explain the answers and offer links to the topic resources.
   The scheduling of the exam was a whole other process.  You had to wait for the testing company to send you an authorization code that is unique to you.  Once you have this code you have to find a testing center where you’d like to take the exam.  I didn’t receive my code until a month out from the exam window.  My only options were (Seattle 4 hours away or Spokane 2.5 hours away).  I chose Spokane so we could stay at Northern Quest Resort & Casino!  (I will blog about this wonderful place another time).  The exam window was around 4 weeks November 1- 26th or something like that.  I chose November 10th. I was very anxious to get this thing over with as soon as possible.
  I have to mention my support system again, because you guys are great:
  • In the weeks leading up to the exam best friend took me out hiking and she would quiz me with my flashcards. & an impromptu session with a psychic who read my cards and predicted that I would pass the exam, among other things.  (I will blog about the psychic reading soon!)
  • My boyfriend who happens to know a thing or two about planning would answer my very random questions about permitting, subdivisions or other planning topics that I don’t deal with on a daily basis. 
  • And my state Professional Development Officer (PDO) sent all Washington applicants an email so we could start study groups.  All of us were located a few hours apart so we made a study outline and shared information via email.  I think that worked out pretty good for everyone.
   The week leading up to the exam was very stressful.  As you would expect, I was anxious and nervous.  What if I didn’t prepare enough, what if I spent too much time studying a topic that wouldn’t end up on the exam at all, what if I get asked questions that I literally had no clue how to answer?  What if I fail?
   Friday night we stayed at Northern Quest Casino, had a quiet dinner and I allowed myself to have a glass of wine to help me relax. I used the hotel computer to go through some practice exams again and went to bed as early as I could get my thoughts to settle. I woke up multiple times throughout the night worrying that my three separate alarms weren’t going to go off and I’d miss the exam.  I left with ample time to get lost, cause I’d never been to the testing center before, and I am not too familiar with the City of Spokane.  I used my phone navigation to get me there, but I had printed map quest directions, just in case. 
   Needless to say I was over prepared and over dramatizing the whole thing (I’m a girl, that’s what we do.)  Anyway, the day of the exam I actually ate as if I was about to run one of my half-marathons (another topic I will blog about later) which includes a banana, a raisin muffin with peanut butter, a Red Bull and a Gatorade.  I didn’t want to fill up too much because I knew that they would track your bathroom use, and you’d have to get wanded going in and out of the exam room like you are a criminal entering a courtroom.  TMI warning- none of that mattered, I was so worked up about the exam I made myself sick.  Had to use the bathroom multiple times, and I think the facilitator thought I was cheating because she came into the bathroom looking for me.  (Embarrassing)
   All of the drama and excitement leading up to the exam paid off.  I PASSED!  I made the facilitator double check that I did indeed pass, and she handed me a print off with signature and raised stamp to prove that I passed.
   Phew. Now it’s time to celebrate- well sort of.  We did celebrate the completion of the exam and had a great rest of the weekend.  However, the way the AICP certification works is that after the testing window closes they will begin to review all the exams to make sure there were no glitches and then they begin the process of sending you a formal notification and such letting those who passed know they have to pay more money (of course) to become an AICP member.  The weeks between the November 10th exam day and when I received my official certification letter, January 31st were hard weeks for me.  I had passed the exam according to the testing center, but it wasn’t “official” until you received the letter in the mail.  Also, I wasn’t allowed to put the AICP acronym behind my name yet, so I couldn’t share and celebrate with many people.  SO MANY RULES! 

Let's talk about regrets:
  • I regret spending too much time studying and not enough of it keeping my body & soul in balance.  I constantly skipped Bikram Yoga classes (my favorite!) I ate poorly because I was always in "study mode" and old habit die hard.  My focus was on the exam and not on my life as a whole.  Would the 20lbs I gained studying be worth it if I hadn't passed?  The answer is NO!  You have to keep a balanced life, regardless of what your goal is for that year, you have to keep yourself healthy. 
  • I also regret not asking my work to help pay for the exam.  Over all I spent $1160 on application fees, study materials, and even more if you count the hotel and travel accommodations to take the exam in Spokane.  And I will continue to pay for my AICP membership out of my own pocket. 
  • In regards to studying I regret not utilizing the PlanningPrep practice exams more.  I should've spent more time taking practice exams instead of reading textbooks.  Although, I guess if I passed I must've done something right. 
  • Lastly, I regret not blogging about the whole experience here.  This is a really long post, as you know, and I could've been documenting everything over the course of the year. 

   As you know, I received the letter confirming my certification; I sent the prorated membership fee and can now use the AICP acronym!!  Almost a year after I decided to take the exam and further my career I am here reporting that I was successful!
It feels great sharing my experience with the world and hopefully you are celebrating with me in some way.  I can’t help but wonder, what will I challenge myself with next?  Stay tuned…

Cheers!