For those of you with AICP, do you use the initials after your name? If so, when?
Just curious....
I worked hard for those four initials, and use them whenever and wherever I can!
I use them on my resume, publications, bio etc., but not on letters or memos
I passed the test, but don't use the initials - ever
I haven't taken/passed yet, but when I earn the initials I will use them!
Don't have AICP, don't want it
For those of you with AICP, do you use the initials after your name? If so, when?
Just curious....
Having just received my results I am still pondering this question but here is the direction in which I am leaning: I plan to use the initials wherever and whenever I can for the following reason. Most professions have their own certification or designation, engineers have P.E., architects have AIA, accountants have CPA, Doctors have MD, etc. My desire, and hopefully yours, is to have Planning viewed as a professional occupation, not just a job. For better or worse, people tend to notice those things that give a profession credibility and (again) for better or worse, ours is AICP.
Irrespective of our own discussions and often times bashing of AICP and APA they are for right now the organizations that provide us with professional credibility.
Of course, AICP is on my business cards. If my name is included as an author of a report, along with other planners, AICP will be included there, too.
I use AICP in the contact information of this site, to lend it some legitimacy among planners. In that context, it says "this isn't another skyscraper site." (Not that there's anything wrong with skyscraper sites.)
However, in most professional correspondence or "civilan" matters, like printed on a check, I don't use it. It's kind of pretentious, IMHO. Maybe if you're writing to the APA, but that's about it.
Growth for growth's sake is the ideology of the cancer cell. -- Edward Abbey
I agree w/ Dan on this matter of style.Originally posted by Dan
I don't know that I have a set pattern to my use of AICP. Obviously on resumes, articles, business cards, bios and official correspondences. I occassionally use it on memos, but not all the time.
Aren't AICP members encouraged to publish in their local paper a statement of what AICP members strive for in assisting the community? It seems like I did this about 5 years ago. Does this ring a bell with anyone. My code of ethics is on the wall behind my desk.
I'm el Guapo, AICP ******!
My uses:
Official EXTERNAL Correspondence
Resumes
Business Cards
Never ever wear the AICP pin to a State APA conference. They will beat you senseless.
Business cards, resume, and all work correspondence.
"Growth is inevitable and desirable, but destruction of community character is not. The question is not whether your part of the world is going to change. The question is how." -- Edward T. McMahon, The Conservation Fund
I'm MCIP and here is my take on it.
I would like to see it on my card, and I am arguing this point with my supervisor, who does not have his. I use it on all professional correspondence.
I also use my stamp on reports and letters to tribunals and when I think I'll end up in court.
My CIP professional practice manual sits in my top drawer and I look at it frequently for guidance and to provide rebuttals to people.
Too lazy to beat myself up for being to lazy to beat myself up for being too lazy to... well you get the point....
What he said.
Same thing for me.
He's a planner, he's a dreamer, he's a sordid little schemer,
Seems to think that money grows on trees . . .
I include AICP for most work related items....
I've heard tales of AICP wet/dry stamps.....
Does anyone know if Michigan or New Jersey require a "stamp" of some kind by the certified planners?
I now keep both degrees, AICP cert. and anything else that costs me money on my wall at work. This is partly to show support for well trained planners in the work place....
“The way of acquiescence leads to moral and spiritual suicide. The way of violence leads to bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers. But, the way of non-violence leads to redemption and the creation of the beloved community.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- See more at: http://www.thekingcenter.org/king-ph....r7W02j3S.dpuf
Same here....my 2 degrees, my AICP membership cert, my CPDP cert, my code of ethics, NHPA membership cert, and a couple of awards are on the wall of my office.
"Growth is inevitable and desirable, but destruction of community character is not. The question is not whether your part of the world is going to change. The question is how." -- Edward T. McMahon, The Conservation Fund
Same as NHPlanner. As I recall, that's what they advised us to do. As for a previous post regarding running an article in the local newspaper, I think that was part of the stuff they sent you when you passed.
Q. What does CPDP stand ?
Continuing Professional Development Program......60 hours of professional development in a 3 year period.....means that I've logges all the conferences and workshops I attend, sent them to AICP when I hit 60 hours, then they send the certificate....Q. What does CPDP stand ?
"Growth is inevitable and desirable, but destruction of community character is not. The question is not whether your part of the world is going to change. The question is how." -- Edward T. McMahon, The Conservation Fund
For me, it depends on the environment. Always have had the AICP on business cards. And I have always had the certificate and my diplomas on the wall. Other certificates are in a drawer somewhere (but with a copy in my personnel record).
In my last positions, the AICP on letters was only for the most formal, as when I expected an attorney to be a reader. Never on memos in past jobs.
Out here, I am putting it on more items, including memos. It is mostly a reaction to the City Engineer pasting P.E. on everything, but also to remind the internal people(especially the governing body) that I have credentials.
The only time I wear the pin is at APA functions, including state ones...well when Kansas ever has one. OT: I am scared that I may lose my CPDC status because there is no Kansas APA outside of the KC metro area.
I use the AICP after my name on business cards and official correspondence to either City Officials/Boards, on all external correspondence, etc. I rarely use it for internal. The certificate is somewhere in a box, same with my diplomas. I don't have anything educated related on my walls...I put all that info in my employee file.
How many titles do you put on your card? Would you list AICP and CEcD and EDFP? Is that overkill, or is it appropriate to list all of your credentials?
Anyone want to adopt a dog?
Q. 1 - What does EDFP stand for ?
Q. 2 - Who has their CFM - Certified Floodplain Manager ?
Whatever makes you most comfortable.....but this is how I do it
The One, AICP, PhD, PE, PLS, ASCP, MURP, BA, BS, JD, MD, MAI, GRI, EdD, APA, AIA, ASLA
Ha ha ha ha.....but seriously, I have seen journal articles written by people with JD, MD, PhD after their name..... :-C
“The way of acquiescence leads to moral and spiritual suicide. The way of violence leads to bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers. But, the way of non-violence leads to redemption and the creation of the beloved community.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- See more at: http://www.thekingcenter.org/king-ph....r7W02j3S.dpuf
One of my BSU professors had a microbiology degree as an undergrad.....he has a slew of initials he could use after his name.....
"Growth is inevitable and desirable, but destruction of community character is not. The question is not whether your part of the world is going to change. The question is how." -- Edward T. McMahon, The Conservation Fund
...but he usually doesn't, and his credentials are scattered all over his office...
My degrees are stashed somewhere, too. Assuming I could find them, and took time to frame them, there's no way I could display them in my office, not the way our walls are constructed, and every flat surface is covered in files/plats/maps/coffee cups (clean).
NJ does require a stamp by certified planner. I used to do a lot of work in NJ and took the test to get certified. I still maintain the certification (although I'm not sure why, since never work there anymore) and have the stamp buried on my desk someplace - when I first got it I felt very cool, but that feeling has since worn off!!!
Same with me!!!!!!!
Last edited by Planderella; 30 Jul 2004 at 9:35 AM. Reason: Quote tags fixed
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