How to Become A Town Planner In South Africa

A town planner is responsible for the design and development of urban areas, such as towns and cities.

What is the role of a town planner?

Town Planners work on the behalf of a developer or landowner to advise and assess your development idea and plan. Planners are professionals in developing strategies and reports from their assessments on your proposed development to ensure the best outcome is made to get approval from local council.

What does a town and regional planner do?

Town and regional planners are active in a very wide variety of planning tasks such as the establishment of towns; designing of towns, industrial areas, business areas and holiday resorts; feasibility studies for the former; structure plans, development plans and Land Development Objectives; rezoning; project

Where can urban planners work?

Most planners work for various levels of government, real estate developers, nonprofits, and planning consulting firms. They work throughout the country in all sizes of municipality, but most work in large metropolitan areas. Most planners spend much of their time working with others.

Career Requirements

Degree LevelMaster’s degree
Degree FieldCity and regional planning or urban planning
Licensure and/or CertificationNational certification is voluntary; licensure or registration as a community planner required in a few states
Experience1-2 years in a related field or position
Key SkillsCommunication and interpersonal skills; ability to work within groups; strong problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities; good judgment; familiarity with specialized mapping software; experience with publishing, computer aided design (CAD), graphics and photo imaging software, such as Citi labs TRANPLAN, location allocation decision support system (LASSS) software, Autodesk, AutoCAD, Bently Micro Station, Adobe, Criterion Planners INDEX; and proficiency with GPS tools and equipment

Below are steps to Become A Town Planner In South Africa

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

Most positions in town planning require a master’s degree at minimum. A bachelor’s degree program can provide students with the chance to begin exploring planning-related topics.

Most master’s degree programs in planning accept a wide variety of undergraduate majors. Typical bachelor’s degree majors of aspiring planners include political science, geography, architecture, and environmental design.

Major in planning as an undergraduate. Though most master’s degree programs will accept a variety of undergraduate majors, those who earn a bachelor’s degree in planning, in conjunction with related work and field experience, are more likely to be eligible for junior or assistant planning positions.

Take communication and speech courses. Being able to confidently and effectively communicate in one-on-one settings as well as publicly is expected of town planners. These professionals must work intimately with policy makers, public officials, and other high profile leaders of the community and are expected to conduct themselves accordingly.

Thus, coursework in interpersonal skills and communications, as well as public speaking and speech, can be valuable for a student to take while earning his or her undergraduate degree.

Step 2: Obtain a Master’s Degree

Master’s degree programs in planning are generally similar in their core curriculum but can differ in elective and advanced coursework. The focus of each program is generally related to the geographic location and environment of its school.

Thus, schools located in highly-populated areas will likely have programs that focus on city and urban development, whereas more remotely-located schools often focus on planning for agricultural and rural communities.

Students also might be able to specialize in a subfield, such as environmental planning, transportation policy, or international planning. Prospective students will want an idea of their intended focus so they can choose a school accordingly.

Step 3: Gain Experience

Entry-level positions usually require applicants to have significant experience. Thus, aspiring planners should gain experience at every available opportunity. Internships are often available through the planning degree program department at a student’s college or university.

Students can also search online job boards and other resources for additional internships. Prior experience does not necessarily need to be in planning; professionals can work in architecture or public policy to boost their resume and increase their job possibilities.

Step 4: Obtain a Planning Position

If a planner intends to work in New Jersey, he or she will need to become licensed before applying for positions. Similarly, those wishing to work as professional community planners in Michigan must first become registered.

All other states do not require licensure, certification, or registration of planners. Thus, the vast majority of planners can apply for positions after gaining the necessary experience.

Earn certification. Obtaining optional professional certification can be helpful in obtaining advancement as a town planner. The American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is an organization that provides national certification for town planners.

Individuals must possess a minimum amount of work experience and pass an exam to obtain certification. Additionally, continued education through workshops, training programs, and online coursework is required to maintain certification.

What qualifications do you need to be a town planner In South Africa?

Qualifying as a town planner

problem-solving skills;

analytical skills;

report writing skills;

communication and organisational skills;

the ability to work as part of a team and to manage an individual caseload;

project-management skills;

self-motivation;

What subjects are needed to become a town planner in South Africa?

an Honours degree in Geography, Economics, Public Administration, Sociology, Demography, Statistics or Mathematics with a pass mark of 60%.

Is Town Planning in demand in South Africa?

A degree in town and regional planning is in high demand, and has been identified as one of the top-five scarce skills in South Africa. More than any other profession, a town and regional planner has many options to choose from in terms of the sector and line of work.

Where can I study town planning in South Africa?

The Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg is one of the 11 planning institutions of South Africa offering programmes in urban and regional planning.

Is Town Planning a good career In South Africa?

But more than attractive remuneration, town planning is a very rewarding job, and you can take great satisfaction in serving the public and balancing the needs of communities, businesses and the environment.

How long does it take to become a town planner In South Africa?

Answer: Becoming an urban planner often takes around 6 years. For a career in this occupation, aspirants need to get at least a master’s degree in urban planning. Of course, they first need to complete a bachelor’s program, which takes four years.

How long does it take to study town planning?

Our Bachelor degree is a four-year full-time coursework programme. The course in Town and Regional Planning equips the planner with the necessary knowledge and skills to develop and propose urban and rural interventions to manifold problems in both settlements and regions.

How much do development planners earn in South Africa?

R514,497 (ZAR)/yr.

What does a town planner do in South Africa?

What Do Town Planners Do? Develop long and short term plans for land use, growth, maintenance, and revitalization. Monitor relevant legislation and ensure compliance of all projects with federal, state, and local regulations.

How do I become a maintenance planner in South Africa?

To register for this qualification, learners must have a memorandum of understanding with an employer or workplace, and meet one of the following minimum requirements:

NQF Level 4 Mathematics and Physical Science, or.

NQF Level 4 with three years’ experience in maintenance planning, or.

qualified tradesperson.

Where can I study urban design in South Africa?

University of Witwatersrand Johannesburg

The Urban Design Masters at Wits is an interdisciplinary studio-based think tank engaged with design visions, strategies and solutions for cities and towns, focused on learning lessons from the globalizing cities of the South.