2.9.1 The Oral Interview normally lasts 30 to 60 minutes and is aimed at determining the applicant's understanding of ethics and professionalism. It also provides an opportunity for the candidate to ask questions, and for a discussion of the Institute.
2.9.2 The Affiliate Membership Committee shall administer the Oral Interview as an integral part of the membership procedure;
2.9.3 The applicant shall be provided with a copy of the first page of the Oral Interview outline at least a month in advance to allow adequate preparation. The applicant shall not be provided with the sample questions;
2.9.4 The National Membership Committee recommends that the Affiliates use three Interviewers so that there is a majority decision. A minimum of two required. Interviewers must be Members or Fellows;
2.9.5 The Interviewers shall focus on ethics and professional conduct;
2.9.6 The Chair shall review the candidate's membership file in advance, and supplementary questions should be asked according to the circumstances of the candidate's education and experience. For example, candidates with less than two years experience in Canada are probed in their understanding of the Canadian planning system;
2.9.7 The results of the Oral Interviewers shall be recorded on the membership file (pass/fail/comments). If a failure the applicant shall be given reasons;
2.9.8 The fee shall be set and collected by the Affiliate, which will pay the Interviewers an appropriate fee;
2.9.9 Affiliate Membership Committees may, at their discretion, allow candidates in remote locations to be interviewed by telephone with appropriate supervisory safeguards;
2.9.10 The Interview may only take place outside Canada under exceptional circumstances and must always be conducted by Members with National Membership Committee or Affiliate Membership Committee experience;
2.9.11 In the event of a failure, the applicant may apply to re-take the Oral Interview;
2.9.12 From time to time CIP may appoint Interviewers for applications under its jurisdiction. Affiliate Interviewers would normally be asked to act "as National Interviewers", since the Oral Interview is normally conducted in Canada, and they would implement the National standard;
2.9.13 The Interview shall be conducted in English or French, whichever is the candidate's language. If there are insufficient Interviewers able to work in the French language, additional ones may be temporarily appointed for this purpose.
The Oral Interview will be administered after all other requirements for full membership have been fulfilled by the candidate. As the last check in the process it has a pass/fail outcome. The following guidelines for the interview are not intended to be rigid. It is important, however, that the general intent of the questions be followed in order to provide a consistent format to fairly evaluate all candidates. The interview should be scheduled to take approximately 30-45 minutes. It may be conducted in English or French as preferred by the candidate. This page shall be provided to the candidate at least one month prior to the date of the Interview.
(a) The interview should begin with introductions and an explanation of the nature and purpose of the interview.
(b) The candidate should then be asked to briefly identify and describe their area(s) of planning specialization and to describe the planning process as it relates to their area of specialization. This can be facilitated by asking the candidate to describe their duties and responsibilities in the context of their current job situation.
(c) Next, ask the candidate to identify the special skills and knowledge which they consider important for the professional practice of planning.
(d) The candidate should be asked to explain their understanding of professional accountability as a planner, particularly in relation to the nature of the profession's responsibility to the "public interest".
(e) Candidates with less than two years' experience in Canada, including candidates transferring under Clause 1.1.4 of SCHEDULE "A": the member of the planning profession of another country, should also be questioned on their understanding of the Canadian planning system, e.g. municipal/ provincial/federal jurisdictions, the role of public process, and the existence of relevant legislation.
After the interview, the interviewers may discuss the candidate's interest in the Institute and the candidate should be encouraged to participate in the affairs of the Institute.
The questions are intended to be used as a guide to help ensure equal treatment for all candidates and a uniform standard across Canada.
It is not intended that every question be asked, or be asked exactly as written, but every interview should cover each of the topic areas.
In preparing for the examination, the Interviewers should consider the candidate's background (especially the type and length of experience) and, where applicable, comments received from the readers of the Written Examination. Also to be considered is whether the candidate has gained their work experience outside Canada. With this background, the Interviewers may wish to tailor questions or create new ones so that they are more specific to the candidate's situation.
1. Describe your planning specialization (to see the thoroughness of his/her understanding of what it entails).
2. Describe your understanding of what "planning" means within the context of your specialization.
3. What skills are important for the practice of planning?
4. What knowledge is important for the practice of planning?
5. What skills and what knowledge have you acquired that relates to planning?
6. What planning principles do you use in your work?
7. Describe a project you have been involved with and indicate a) what skills? b) what knowledge you needed to undertake it?
8. Identify what you regard as a well planned project and describe why you regard it "well planned".
9. ( If necessary) How is a planner different from a developer (or, depending on the candidate's work, could be some other example, such as a community activist) with regard to the process, skills, knowledge and obligations?
10. Discuss the significance of "values" in the planning system and how they get established.
11. What does the term "the public interest" mean to you?
12. How would you identify what the public interest is?
13. Can there be different public interests and, if so, how would you rationalize them?
14. What responsibilities do planners have to the public interest?
15. Is it the planner's role to advocate what he/she believes the public to want?
16. What do you believe should be the role of public participation in the planning process?
17. What does the work "professionalism" imply to you?
18. Is having a professional organization essential to the practice of planning?
19. If you become a member of CIP, what responsibilities to the profession does that mean?
20. What, in your opinion, would be unethical actions?
21. Have you been in a situation where you were conscious of a conflict between your professional responsibility and what you were being asked to do?
22. (if yes) How did you handle it?
23. (if no) Describe a situation in which a conflict might occur.
24. How strongly should a planner advocate his/her professional opinion?
E. Less than Two Years in Canada
25. Describe the differences between the planning system in Canada and in ______? (if they now or formerly worked as a planner in another country).
26. What are some characteristics of Canadian society that would make a difference in how you as a planner would approach your job compared to ______? (another country where they have lived).
27. Is there an equivalent to CIP in ________? Are you a member?
Interviewers may also refer to the Special Examination in Appendix X for a suggested line of questioning.
Now that the Interview is over, we'd like to discuss the Institute with you for a few moments.
a) How did you first hear of CIP and why did you decide to join?
b) s there anything about the Institute you think could be improved?
c) What do you think is the public's image of planners?
d) If you joined CIP, is there anything you would like to get involved with?
e) Do you have any questions you'd like to ask, or do you require any further information about the Institute?
If the Interviewers can suggest any activities to the candidate or make contacts, they should.
The intent is to see if the candidate has a comprehensive grasp of his/her field of operation and understands all the components to it. The candidate's understanding of the field of specialization should not be limited to how he/she is practicing it in daily work but should demonstrate the ability to practice it in other situations. The candidate should demonstrate an understanding of what "planning" means within his/her specialization.
The intent is to see if the candidate is knowledgeable as to the tools that a person must have to be able to practice as a planner -- what it is in terms of "hard" knowledge and "soft" skills that distinguish a planner from other professionals. In particular, does the candidate understand that a planner is different from a facilitator or a coordinator and is a doer in her/his own right?
The intent is to see if the candidate understands how the professional interrelates with the public -- how they influence one another and that one is not inherently "right" and the other "wrong". The candidate should understand that the planner is not just the public's mouthpiece.
The intent is to see if the candidate is aware of the obligations of professionalism and how this will guide her/his conduct in practicing planning. The candidate should understand the planner's responsibility to advocate a "professional" opinion.
The intent is to make sure that candidates with less than two years experience in this country know enough about the formal planning system and the nature of our society to provide competent professional advice. This does not mean knowing the content of any given municipal plan or zoning by-law, but understanding the basic system and knowing where to find the information they need to advise their clients. A secondary intent is to ensure the candidates have the ability to perform on a professional level in the official language of their choice.
The intent is to see that the candidate is seriously motivated in wanting to join the Institute, to establish their interests, and to inform them of any activities in which they could participate. This discussion should take place after the candidate has been informed that the interview is over, and does not form part of the pass/fail criteria.
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