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Membership Summary

PIA membership is split into a range of grades based on levels of qualification and experience. This enables those engaged and interested in the planning profession to be involved in the Institute throughout their careers. All members are listed on both the National database and as part of a local Division (in most cases state based, with the International Division available for members based overseas). Members are provided with regular correspondence on relevant issues and events, and receive a subscription to our range of publications.

There are two broad categories of individual membership:

• Corporate membership allows people to vote and to hold office within PIA as well as receive member benefits and services. This category includes both the Full Member grade, obtained after demonstrating a sufficient level of qualification and experience to meet the entry criteria for one of PIA’s seven chapters; and also the grades of Fellow and Life Fellow, which may be awarded to long-standing Full Members by invitation from the PIA Board after a notable and lasting contribution to both the Institute and the profession as a whole.

• Non-Corporate members receive basic PIA benefits and services but are not able to vote or hold office. This category includes Student members, currently engaged in their first planning related course of study; Graduate members, who have completed their first planning related course within the last three years; and Associates, who are those with an interest in the planning profession, who may not fit into one of the other categories of membership.

Organisations can also join PIA as Associate Companies or Local Government associations, affording their two designated contact people access to similar services to individual members.

Required documents

Most applications for membership will need to include supporting documentation in order to gain approval, with a different set of documents needed for each grade (please note that additional documentation may be required from individuals holding overseas qualifications – see the International Members page for further details).

Member Grade: MEMBER
Applicants for Full Membership are required to demonstrate that they meet the entry criteria for at least one of the seven chapters of the Planning Institute.

Applicants must provide:

• A current CV that details the applicant’s employment history;
• Evidence of relevant qualifications (for example an academic transcript or certificate of graduation);
• A formal Statement of Claim for each chapter in which membership is sought addressing that chapter’s core disciplines. The statement of claim should detail relevant and strong examples of your work experience that can prove your competency in the required areas (as shown on the Chapter Requirements page). See below for a guide to writing a Statement of Claim.

Member Grade: ASSOCIATE
Applicants for Associate membership must have an interest in and commitment to planning, but are not required to submit additional documentation to demonstrate this interest.

Member Grade: GRADUATE
Applicants for Graduate membership are required to demonstrate that they have completed a planning-related course of study within the last three years.

Applicants must provide:

• Evidence of relevant qualifications (for example an academic transcript or certificate of graduation);

Member Grade: STUDENT
Applicants for Student membership are required to demonstrate that they are currently enrolled in their first planning-related course of study.

Applicants must provide:

• Evidence of current enrolment (confirming course load as well as enrolment).

Member Grade: ASSOCIATE COMPANY
Organisations applying for Associate Company membership must have a current interest or involvement in planning profession, but are not required to submit additional documentation to demonstrate this interest.

Member Grade: ASSOCIATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Organisations applying for Associate Local Government membership must be a local authority and, while they are not required to submit any additional documentation with their application, they must provide an estimate of the current population size of their jurisdiction.

Statement of Claim

A Statement of Claim is a formal declaration by an applicant for Full Membership, asserting that they meet the requirements for admission to the Institute at this grade.

Admission as a Full Member is verification that an individual has met certain professional standards. To become a Member, applicants must satisfy PIA Board that they hold the requisite qualifications and have appropriate professional experience and competence to be admitted to the Institute in at least one chapter (each chapter has discipline-specific requirements that need to be addressed in a membership application, as shown on the Chapter Requirements page). Similar to a 'response to selection criteria' when applying for employment, a Statement of Claim matches the roles and responsibilities listed on a CV to the specific requirements of the chapter.

The Statement needs to provide an outline of the qualifications and experience of an applicant, and in sufficient detail that it would clearly demonstrate to a representative of the PIA Board that the applicant is qualified, experienced and competent in the chosen planning discipline. Applicants to multiple chapters must submit a separate Statement of Claim for each chapter they apply to join.

A Statement should clearly indicate:

• The applicant’s name;
• Chapter they are applying to join;
• The areas of competence or experience relevant to the application;
• Length of professional experience (full-time equivalent) in each area (usually the minimum would be six months full-time equivalent in each area); and
• A summary of the roles or projects (as per a supporting CV) in which the competence has been gained.

A Statement of Claim does not need to be lengthy (usually not more than 1000 words). Headings and sub-headings may assist with making the Statement clear and dot-points can also be effective.

Applicants should be prepared to provide references or referee details to support or endorse claims of professional experience, should they be requested.