Unsuccessful APC applications The common mistakes!

Philip Woodward Senior Membership Officer

Applicants are unsuccessful when they do not:

1. Read the guidance 2. Hold the relevant level and amount of experience 3. Demonstrate ALL the assessment criteria 4. Link the SWOT to the PDP 5. Make the PDP action plan SMART 6. Proof read and check their submission 7. Maintain the logbook

Read the guidance!!

There are two guidance documents that you must read: • Becoming a Chartered Town Planner – a guide for Licentiates • Preparing your APC submission • Available to download at www.rtpi.org.uk

OUT-OF-DATE GUIDANCE DO NOT READ THIS DOCUMENT!

Hold the relevant level and amount of experience

The APC is NOT a ‘tick box’ exercise! Achieving two years of experience does not necessarily mean you should apply. Assess the ‘quality’ of that experience. Was it gained at the correct professional level?!

Demonstrate ALL the assessment criteria

If your submission is weak on one criterion, do not expect the rest of the submission to ‘carry it’ to a pass!

Select your case-studies wisely!

The PDP

Link the SWOT to the PDP Make the PDP action plan S.M.A.R.T.

Do not use the old PDP template from the ‘blue book’.

Allow at least a week for checking!!

Proof read the submission – spelling & grammar!

Reference the submission to the logbook Use paragraph and page numbers

The Logbook

Maintain your logbook on a monthly basis Analyse your entries against the assessment criteria You are not just ‘logging’ what you have done! What did you learn? How can you apply that leaning?