When developers, businesses, and communities are developing or modifying a physical facility – including retail, commercial, residential, and institutional projects – various professionals with certifications will be required to achieve project approval. These certifications also ensure that best practices in sustainable/multimodal transportation solutions are included to ensure maximum access and mobility choices for the tenants of a property.
Whether it is a matter of meeting regulatory requirements or achieving a measure of competitive advantage by providing better access, a variety of acronyms identify these professional certifications, such as:
- P.E. (Professional Engineer)
- AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners)
- PTP (Professional Transportation Planner)
- PTOE (Professional Traffic Operations Engineer)
We review each of these certifications below.
Professional Engineer (P.E.)
Within the engineering profession, a Professional Engineer certification is the highest standard of competence. Aside from being a mark of an engineer’s professional credentials, professional engineers are often required to place their official “stamp” on traffic and transportation analyses and studies that are a part of permitting approval processes.
In other words: without a PE stamp, your project won’t move forward.
Professional engineers are certified by individual states. The stamp issued by a PE is a confirmation that the work was prepared by the engineer or under her/his direct supervision. With the PE stamp, the engineer is also affirming their accountability for the information in the report or document.
What does it take to be licensed? PEs first must complete a four-year college degree, work under another Professional Engineer for at least four years, and then pass competency exams to earn a license from their state’s licensure board.
You can get to know the Professional Engineers on the Wells + Associates team here.
American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP)
A transportation planner specializes in creating sustainable, equitable, and safe transportation networks that reflect the context of their setting and can be used by a wide variety of commuters and travelers.
But how does a developer, a property owner, or a community know they are getting such top-level planning guidance? One way is to work with transportation planners who are certified as planners by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). The listing of the acronym “AICP” after a transportation planner’s name indicates that the planner understands the interconnection of land use and transportation networks and is able to help a property or project maximize its potential within the multimodal landscape.
Administered by the American Planning Association, the AICP provides the only nationwide, independent verification of transportation, urban, community, and town planners’ qualifications. AICP members “pledge to uphold high standards of practice, ethics, and professional conduct, and to keep their skills sharp and up to date by continuously pursuing advanced professional education.” Planners also agree to abide by the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and must attend regular continuing education to keep skillsets up to date and meet ethical and professional standards.
To be eligible to apply for ACIP certification, the AICP Certification Guide details requirements for both education and experience.
View AICP-certified planners at Wells + Associates.
Professional Transportation Planner (PTP)
Transportation planning is the art and science of defining and guiding the process of designing networks that efficiently move people and goods to their destinations. It is a collaborative process that increasingly considers the full range of transportation possibilities, from single-occupancy vehicles and transit systems to active transportation networks and facilities, and more.
So, what is a PTP?
As the Transportation Professional Certification Board (TPCB) puts it: The “Professional Transportation Planner® (PTP) certification program is designed for candidates who have a wide range of education and experience in transportation planning.”
PTP certification, which is handled by the TPCB, provides additional assurance about a professional’s technical competence and proficiency in transportation planning.
The PTP exam covers a wide range of topics, including:
- Land Use and Transportation Relationships
- Needs Assessment for Short- and Long-Range Planning
- Transportation System Planning for Short- and Long-Range Goals
- Transportation System Evaluation
- Public Policy
- Environmental Analyses
- Plan Implementation
What does it take to become a PTP-certified planner? A bachelor’s degree (in any field), a minimum of three years of relevant work experience, and successfully passing a challenging exam.
You can view the PTP professionals at Wells + Associates here.
Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE)
While also certified by the Transportation Professional Certification Board (TPCB), PTOE certification relates directly to the profession of traffic operations engineers. PTOE is the highest level licensing available in the field of traffic engineering and builds on the role of the Professional Engineer discussed above.
Why a PTOE designation? As the TPCB states, PTOE certification “provides the public with an important assurance that the holder of that registration has demonstrated acceptable knowledge and skill in basic engineering areas: civil, electrical, mechanical, etc.”
To obtain certification, a PTOE-certified engineer must:
- Have four years of Professional Traffic Operations Engineering experience
- Hold a valid license issued by a state or governmental body to engage in the practice of engineering
- Achieve a passing score on the Professional Traffic Operations Engineer® exam
You can view the PTOE-licensed traffic engineers at Wells + Associates here.