City planners regulate how a city’s property will be used. They deliberate the requirements of transportation and housing programs and must also use natural reserve sustainability. They plan to lodge population development or variations in the demands of the population. Know how to become a city planner.
Few of the tasks they accomplish comprise meeting with inventors and city representatives to deliberate proposals. They even have to consider zoning regulations, ecological regulations, structuring codes and additional features that might affect proposals, like the site of historic buildings or transport requirements. When proposals are acquiesced they even examine the locations and the plans to plan if the proposal must be approved.
City planners make long term objectives about how to use land in cities. They should keep in mind the future requirements of the city’s population and suggest placement of numerous structures such as roads and schools. A master’s degree in city or local planning, environmental planning, geography is a prerequisite for city planners. Licensure is not compulsory by several states.
How to Become a City Planner in Steps
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
No particular bachelor’s degree is needed for would-be city planners, but there are numerous areas of study applicable to the field that could benefit the students to get acknowledged to master’s degree programs. Bachelor’s degree programs in areas such as economics, environmental design, political science, geography and architecture can be useful for persons planning to apply to regional and urban planning master’s degree programs. Students might be able to look out for city and regional planning bachelor’s degrees, nonetheless such programs are rare.
Step 2: Earn a Master’s Degree
Master’s degree programs in city and regional planning can comprise coursework in metropolitan planning, laws in urban planning, GIS technology, spatial examination and cooperation.
Students might even participate in workshop studio, or residency experiences. Attentiveness to possibilities are normally obtainable at the master’s degree level, and applicants must select places related to urban planning, comprising community development, land use and transport.
Step 3: Gain Work Experience
While work experience can be increased while registered in a master’s degree program, city planners normally require 3 complete years of specialized experience before they are qualified for most positions. Work experience in an extensive diversity of areas, comprising sides of public policy and architecture can be valuable to applicants who want to become acquainted with the details of the occupation.
Step 4: Obtain Certification
Certification is important for city planners; earning AICP Certification will benefit such specialists to demonstrate commitment to the field and prove their professional abilities. This certification needs a mixture of education, experience and membership in the American Planning Association.
Important Qualities of a City Planner
- Analytical skills: Regional and city planners examine information and facts from a diversity of sources, like market research, education surveys, and ecological influence studies. They use arithmetical methods and know-hows like geographic information systems (GIS) in their examinations to regulate the importance of the data.
- Communication skills: City and regional planners should be able to connect efficiently as they often offer presentations and encounter an extensive variety of spectators, such as interest groups, public officials, and community members.
- Decision-making skills: City planners should weigh all possible preparation selections and mix examination, imagination, and practicality to select the suitable plan or action.
- Management skills: They should be able to handle projects, which might comprise controlling tasks, development assignments, and making resolutions.
- Writing skills: City planners should have good writing skills as they often make research reports, write funding proposals, and correspond with stakeholders and colleagues.
[Also Read: How to Be a Freelance Civil Engineer]
City Planner Job Description
You might work for a company that functions across various places. You typical job duties might include:
- Planning for houses to make reasonable, energy well-organized homes
- Measuring the influence of new transport arrangements such as new railing links or road suggestions
- Reforming urban spaces to enhance security, lessen traffic and upsurge the amount of green areas
- Developing woodlands, parks and waterways in a maintainable way
- Preserving archaeological sites, old buildings and places of interest
- Handling waste and functioning on creativities to lessen waste production such as recycling
- Making planning policies for administration at a national and local level
- Making decisions regarding planning applications
- Guiding the public, industries, and land developers on development rules, policies and regulations
- Applying planning regulations and rules on building projects
- Organizing conferences to listen to thoughts and hear problems about planning suggestions from native individuals
City Planner Salary
According to The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average yearly salary for city planners was $62,830 as of June 2018. Currently the average salary is $86,632 per year. Individuals having a master’s degree and good amount of experience will receive better salary as compared to their colleagues.(1)
Bottom Line
City planners help design and protect the cities. A profession in city planning career demands the information of basic business principles, the capability to cooperate, party-political negotiation, and monetary insight. Strong logical skills and complete force of will are needed to be a successful city planner.
