9. The following shall be considered as minimum evidence satisfactory to the board that an applicant is qualified for license as a professional planner.

(a) The applicant for license as a professional planner shall:

(1) Be of good moral character;

(2) Be a citizen of the United States or have declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States;

(3) Pass the required examinations.

(b) The applicant for license as a professional planner shall submit the following minimum educational and experience qualifications:

(1) A graduate degree in professional planning from an accredited college or university in a curriculum offering instruction in such recognized planning subjects as principles of land use planning, history of city planning, planning project design, and planning law and administration, as shall be approved by the board; with a minimum of two years’ experience in the full-time practice of professional planning as defined by the American Institute of Certified Planners or the board; or

A graduate degree in a field other than professional planning from an accredited college or university with a minimum of four years’ experience in the full-time practice of professional planning as defined by the American Institute of Certified Planners or as acceptable to the board; or

(2) An undergraduate degree in professional planning from an accredited college or university in a curriculum offering a major or option comprising a minimum of 21 credit hours in such recognized planning subjects as shall be approved by the board; with a minimum of three years’ experience in the full-time practice of professional planning as defined by the American Institute of Certified Planners or as acceptable to the board; or

An undergraduate degree in a field other than professional planning from an accredited college or university with a minimum of four years’ experience in the full-time practice of professional planning as defined by the American Institute of Certified Planners or as acceptable to the board; or

(3) Graduation from a secondary school and at least 8 years of professional planning experience as defined by the American Institute of Certified Planners or as acceptable to the board; or

(4) For a period of eight years only subsequent to July 1, 1963, a degree in a closely related course of study such as architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, law, sociology, geography, public administration, political science or economics, with a minimum of 18 credit hours in recognized planning subjects included as part of or in addition to such courses of study in an accredited college or university, with a minimum of five years’ experience in the full-time practice of professional planning.

(c) The applicant for license as a professional planner shall obtain a passing grade, as determined by the board, upon a qualifying written examination. Such examination shall comprise subject matter covering:

(1) History of urban, rural, and regional planning.

(2) Fundamental theories, research methods and common basic standards in professional planning.

(3) Administrative and legal problems, instruments and methods.

(4) Current planning design and techniques.

(5) Planning law, procedures and practices as contained in the “Municipal Land Use Law,” P.L.1975, c.291 (C. 40:55D-1 et seq.).

In considering the qualifications of applicants, the teaching of recognized planning subjects may be construed as planning experience.

Any person having the necessary qualifications prescribed in this act to entitle him to license as a professional planner shall be eligible for such license even though he may not be practicing his profession at the time of making application.

L.1962,c.109,s.9; amended 1991, c.104, s.1; 2001, c.27.