Profile: Who we are

The RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute) is a dynamic organisation leading the way in the creation of places that work now and in the future. The RTPI understands that just as people develop places, places develop people. We are committed to the enhancement of our natural and human environment.
Good planning combines an awareness of the competing pressures on our built environment with an ability to manage the very real effects on our space. Through its membership, the RTPI constantly seeks to create areas and places in which people want to live and work.

The RTPI’s work involves:

• Promoting good planning
• Developing and shaping policy affecting the built environment
• Consistently raising the standards of the planning profession
• Supporting our membership through continued professional development.
• Education and training for future planners

The RTPI is governed by a General Assembly and an Executive Board. The General Assembly is responsible for the development of planning policy and practice. The Executive Board is responsible for managing the affairs of the RTPI as a chartered body and registered charity.

RTPI Membership

We have more than 20,000 members in the UK, Ireland and overseas. Chartered Town Planners are professionals who hold corporate membership of the RTPI. We also have a number of non-corporate classes suitable for planners who can demonstrate a certain level of achievement within a particular area of planning or who are working towards gaining chartered status.

Once you become a member of the profession our Code of Professional Conduct controls the manner in which you can operate. You are also required to keep up to date with the latest developments in the profession, by means of courses, seminars and training. This is evaluated in terms of your continuing professional development activity.

CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP

Chartered Member

For professionals with suitable graduate-level academic qualifications and at least two years of relevant planning experience. This class confers Chartered Town Planner status and carries the designation MRTPI.

Chartered Fellow

For Chartered Ton Planners who can demonstrate a degree of excellence in the profession with innovative contribution to the development of planning theory and/or practice. This class carries the designation FRTPI.

OTHER NON-CORPORATE CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP

Technical Member

For skilled and experienced enforcement, technical or administrative staff engaged in key spatial planning activities and who are not eligible for Chartered Membership. This class carries the designation TechRTPI.

Legal Associate Member

For qualified legal practitioners specialising in or with extensive experience in planning law and who are not eligible for Chartered Membership. This class carries the designation LARTPI.

Associate Member

For professionals involved in spatial planning but who do not hold an RTPI-accredited qualification and/or who are not yet eligible to apply for Chartered Membership.

Licenciate Member

For graduates of RTPI-accredited courses who are in professional spatial planning employment and would like to work towards Chartered Membership through the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) route.

Student Member

For full-time or part-time students and/or employed planning graduates currently not eligible for any other class of membership.

Retired Member

For Fellows, Chartered Members, Legal Members, Technical Members and Legal Associate Members who have retired from practice but who wish to remain members of the Institute.

Honorary Member

For individuals with distinguished contributions to planning and the capacity to contribute to its future development. Election to this class is by invitation of the President and Trustees of the Institute.