The American Planning Association

The American Planning Association (APA) is a non-profit organization that serves the diverse community of public and private sector professional and citizen planners.  A well-established national organization, APA serves its 39,000 members through a network of state chapters and local sections.  APA provides many services and benefits, including current information on planning practices and techniques through the Planning magazine, the National Planning Conference, Planners Bookstore, and professional development opportunities.  APA also has national legislative and public information programs to provide a voice for the planning community.  Every APA member in the U.S. automatically becomes a member of a state chapter.

The Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association

Texas APA provides the following services and benefits to its members:

• Automatic membership in a local section.

• Reduced registration fees at the Texas APA annual state conference.

• Job services, including the Job Market at the annual state conference and job listings on the Texas APA website and Texas Planning Review.

• Professional development and training workshops for planners and planning officials.

• Membership in planning networks covering a range of planning issues such as transportation, law, and the environment.

Texas APA Local Sections

Texas APA members are automatically entitled to membership in one of nine local sections.  These sections provide a base for APA activities in every region of the State.  Section programs generally feature newsletters, topical speakers, professional development training, and social activities.  Sections provide an excellent opportunity for networking with other APA members in your area.

Texas Planning Review

Texas Planning Review is a quarterly publication of Texas APA.  The newsletter includes news about planning projects throughout the State, calendars of upcoming events, job listings, and discussion on planning issues.  The newsletter is provided to Texas APA members only.

Annual State Conference

Texas APA hosts a three-day state conference at a different location in Texas each year.  The conference provides a forum for planners, members of allied professions, planning commissioners and elected officials, and interested citizens to learn about emerging planning issues throughout the State.  The conference also includes both introductory and advanced courses that provide “nuts and bolts” training on urban planning issues.

Job Listings

Texas APA serves as a clearinghouse for listings of jobs and internships throughout the State.  These listings are publicized in the Texas Planning Review, section newsletters, the Texas APA website, and at the annual state conference.

Professional Development

Texas APA sponsors a non-profit Educational Foundation that provides professional development and training services.  The Educational Foundation provides the short course for planning officials at the annual state conference and is implementing a program to conduct a series of regional seminars for planning officials in different parts of the State.  The Foundation also annually conducts two multi-site American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Exam Review Workshops.  Texas APA and the Educational Foundation also offer introductory training courses for elected officials in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Texas Municipal League (TML).

Planning Policy

APA and Texas APA advocate the planning perspective in national and state policy issues. Texas APA regularly tracks pertinent state legislation and distributes information through a statewide legislative network.  Texas APA works closely with the Texas Municipal League (TML) to seek introduction and passage of planning-related legislation and to provide a response to other bills which affect planning. Texas APA also works closely with APA’s national advocacy program to impact federal policies that affect planning.

Join the American Planning Association