Financial Resources
The following is a list of potential financial resources for students to utilize throughout their academic careers. If you have any questions, please contact APA Florida Executive Director Stefanie Svisco.
Former APA Florida President Andre Anderson
Andre Anderson Minority Scholarship
Each fall, APA Florida accepts student applications for a Andre Anderson Minority Scholarship. These scholarships are meant to celebrate planning and foster increased interest in planning by providing financial support for planning students who are members of underserved ethnic groups. Two scholarships are offered: one for $2000 and one for $1500. Scholarships are awarded in December.
Eligible applicants must:
- Be a member of one of the following underserved ethnic groups, as defined by the U.S. Census: Asian, Black, Hispanic, American Indian, Pacific Islander or Alaskan Native
- Be enrolled full time (as defined by the university or the planning graduate program) in a PAB accredited urban planning program or enrolled full time in a graduate urban planning program actively seeking PAB accreditation within the state of Florida during the semester in which the award is given
- Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States
- Be able to document their need for financial assistance
- Intend to work as a practicing planner upon graduation in local, state, or federal government or for a planning consulting firm or a not-for-profit planning organization
Please contact APA Florida Executive Director Stefanie Svisco or 850-201-3272 if you have any questions.
APA Scholarships
The APA Foundation assists students by providing educational financing and paid internships in recovery and rebuilding efforts. To view the current available scholarships and the application window, follow the link below to the National APA site.
Reduced AICP Exam Fee Scholarship
The Reduced AICP Exam Fee Scholarship program is available to APA Florida. This program was established to assist individuals who may defer taking or are unable to take the AICP exam because of the cost. Four (4) scholarships are available.
Individuals who are approved to take the exam will pay $75 instead of $425. If an award is given to an AICP Candidate participant, they will pay $75 instead of $100. If a scholarship applicant has already paid the exam fee, the difference will be refunded. Refunds generally take up to five weeks to process. Please note that the awarding of a scholarship does not guarantee that a recipient will be approved to take the AICP Exam. The exam application will be evaluated like any other.
To be considered for this scholarship, please email APA Florida Professional Development Officer describing your financial hardship (including financial hardship caused by a budget cutback in a firm or agency), which necessitates the request.
Members of minorities should be given preference.
The applicant(s) selected will be otherwise unlikely to take the exam without the reduced fee.
The applicant’s employer will not subsidize the exam fee.
Final decisions on scholarships shall be at the sole discretion of the APA Florida Professional Development Officer and shall be final. Recipients will be notified as soon as possible. All nominations/selection of scholarship recipients shall be strictly confidential.
APA Florida Grants to Student Planning Organizations
Each year, APA Florida offers a $350 grant to each Student Planning Organization of a PAB accredited urban planning program or a graduate urban planning program actively seeking PAB accreditation within the state of Florida.
The grant can be used for any professional development event that promotes the planning profession for students.
To apply for the grant, the student planning organization president just needs to email the Chapter Executive Director at fapa@floridaplanning.org and indicate what the purpose for which the funds will be used. The funds can be applied for beginning on January 1 but must be requested and spent within the calendar year.
Reduced Conference Fees
In addition to free student membership for APA and APA Florida, students have access to reduced conference fees for both the National Planning Conference (in the spring) and the Florida Planning Conference (in the fall). These prices are announced usually several months prior to each respective conference.