Certification in New Urbanism Launched for City Planners

This article discusses the Congress for New Urbanism’s launch of a new professional accreditation program for city planners. The organization partnered with the University of Miami School of Architecture to create the initiative.

The Certification Program

The Congress for New Urbanism (CNU) developed a professional credential to recognize expertise in new urbanist principles and practices.

Exam Structure

• Format: 101 multiple-choice questions plus two short-answer sections
• Cost: $225 per attempt
• Frequency: Three exam periods annually
• Next session: October (from 2009 publication date)

CNU-Accredited Status

Achieving CNU-Accredited (CNU-A) status offers:

• “Business recognition or identification”
• “Reference criteria” for project selection
• “Optional credits in the LEED for Neighborhoods rating system”

LEED-ND Integration

Professionals can earn LEED-ND points if working on qualifying projects, connecting new urbanist design to green building certification.

Maintaining Certification

The credential requires ongoing engagement:

Annual Requirements

• Attend at least one CNU event yearly
• Pay annual membership dues
• Maintain professional standards
• Stay current with evolving practices

These requirements ensure certified professionals remain engaged with new urbanism’s evolution.

New Urbanism Principles

The article notes that new urbanism emphasizes creating “complete” environments with pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods. This philosophy contrasts with conventional suburban development patterns.

Core Concepts

Walkability

• Pedestrian-oriented street design
• Mixed-use development reducing trip distances
• Human-scale architecture
• Safe and pleasant walking environment

Connectivity

• Interconnected street networks
• Multiple routes between destinations
• Transit access and integration
• Reduced automobile dependence

Mixed-Use and Diversity

• Variety of housing types
• Commercial and residential integration
• Social and economic diversity
• Jobs-housing balance

Quality Architecture and Urban Design

• Human-scale buildings
• Traditional neighborhood structure
• Public spaces creating community
• Contextual design

Traditional Neighborhood Structure

• Defined centers and edges
• Five-minute walking circle
• Civic buildings in prominent sites
• Quality public realm

Preparatory Education

The University of Miami offers an optional online preparatory course titled “The Principles and Practice of New Urbanism.”

Course Value

• Systematized knowledge preparation
• Case study exposure
• Expert instruction
• Networking opportunities
• Exam-focused content

Accessibility

Online delivery makes preparation available to:

• Professionals unable to attend in-person training
• International participants
• Working professionals with schedule constraints
• Those seeking flexible learning pace

Competitive Landscape

The post concludes by observing potential competition between CNU-A and emerging LEED exams as cities advance toward sustainable development goals.

Credential Proliferation

Potential Issues

• Multiple certifications creating confusion
• Cost burden on professionals
• Overlapping competencies
• Market fragmentation

Potential Benefits

• Specialized expertise recognition
• Higher professional standards
• Market differentiation
• Knowledge advancement

Relationship to LEED

Complementary Aspects

• LEED-ND incorporates new urbanist principles
• CNU-A credential supporting LEED projects
• Shared goals of sustainability
• Different but compatible frameworks

Competitive Aspects

• Both seeking market recognition
• Potential redundancy in some areas
• Professional development budgets limited
• Employer preference uncertainty

Professional Development Context

The CNU-A credential reflects broader trends:

Specialization

As urban planning becomes more complex, specialization grows:

• Transportation planning: Focus on mobility systems
• Environmental planning: Sustainability and resilience
• Economic development: Attracting and retaining business
• Historic preservation: Protecting cultural resources
• Urban design: Physical form and public realm

New urbanism represents another specialization addressing comprehensive neighborhood development.

Credentialing Value

Professional credentials offer several benefits:

For Practitioners

• Market differentiation
• Knowledge validation
• Career advancement
• Professional network access

For Employers

• Quality assurance in hiring
• Team capability demonstration
• Competitive positioning
• Professional development pathway

For Clients

• Expertise verification
• Risk reduction
• Quality expectations
• Simplified selection

New Urbanism’s Evolution

The certification launch in 2009 represented maturation of new urbanism movement:

Historical Development

• 1990s: Movement founding and early projects
• 2000s: Mainstream acceptance growing
• Late 2000s: Professionalization through certification
• Looking forward: Integration into standard practice

From Movement to Mainstream

Early Phase Characteristics

• Advocates challenging conventional development
• Demonstration projects proving feasibility
• Resistance from established practices
• Limited market acceptance

Maturing Phase Indicators

• Professional credentialing systems
• Integration into regulatory frameworks
• Widespread developer adoption
• Academic program incorporation

Implementation Challenges

Despite growing acceptance, new urbanism faces obstacles:

Regulatory Barriers

Zoning Impediments

• Conventional codes prohibiting mixed-use
• Parking requirements forcing automobile orientation
• Setback requirements preventing walkable form
• Use separation mandates

Overcoming Regulations

• Form-based codes replacing Euclidean zoning
• Planned unit development approvals
• Code amendments for specific projects
• Model ordinance development

Market Resistance

Developer Concerns

• Unfamiliarity with new urbanist design
• Financing challenges for mixed-use
• Market demand uncertainty
• Higher development complexity

Market Education

• Demonstrating demand through successful projects
• Showing financial performance
• Reducing perceived risk
• Building developer capacity

Infrastructure Costs

Street Networks

• Interconnected streets more expensive than cul-de-sacs
• Municipality resistance to maintenance
• Initial cost vs. long-term value
• Funding mechanisms

Public Spaces

• Parks and squares requiring land dedication
• Construction and maintenance costs
• Value capture strategies
• Public-private partnerships

Long-term Impact

The certification program aimed to:

Expand Expertise

• Train more professionals in new urbanist approaches
• Raise practice standards
• Spread knowledge geographically
• Build community of practitioners

Influence Development

• More projects applying new urbanist principles
• Higher quality implementation
• Reduced automobile dependence
• More sustainable communities

Policy Change

• Certified professionals influencing regulations
• Code reforms enabling new urbanism
• Comprehensive plan updates
• Institutional capacity building

Measuring Success

Evaluating the certification’s impact requires considering:

Adoption Rates

• Number of professionals seeking certification
• Geographic distribution
• Professional sectors represented
• Renewal and retention rates

Project Outcomes

• CNU-A credential correlated with project quality
• Market performance of certified professional work
• Sustainability metrics achievement
• Community satisfaction

Broader Influence

• Policy changes influenced by certified professionals
• Educational program integration
• Mainstream practice shifts
• Public awareness and demand

Conclusion

The launch of CNU-Accredited certification represented an important milestone in new urbanism’s evolution from reform movement to established professional practice. By creating standardized competency assessment, the Congress for New Urbanism aimed to:

• Elevate practice quality
• Recognize professional expertise
• Advance new urbanist principles
• Build institutional infrastructure

The certification’s relationship to LEED-ND highlighted growing convergence between urban design and environmental sustainability—recognizing that community form fundamentally affects environmental performance.

Whether CNU-A certification would become essential credential or niche designation depended on:

• Market demand for certified professionals
• Employer recognition and preference
• Integration into procurement processes
• Demonstration of value over time

Regardless of specific certification outcomes, the initiative reflected new urbanism’s successful transition from alternative approach to mainstream practice, increasingly recognized as common-sense framework for creating walkable, sustainable communities that work for people rather than just automobiles.

As cities confronted climate change, public health challenges, and livability concerns, new urbanism’s emphasis on complete, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods offered tested principles for building better communities—principles now formalized through professional certification.

Published: June 25, 2009 Modified: February 10, 2013