Exam Registration
1. How do I register for the CNU Accreditation Exam?
2. How much does the current exam cost?
3. What forms of payment are accepted for the online exam?
4. Can I transfer or cancel my exam appointment?
Examination
5. What is the current format for the Exam?
6. Do I have to be a CNU Member to take the exam?
7. How do I prepare for the Exam?
8. Is the CNU-A Exam Preparatory Course required prior to taking the exam?
9. When do I receive my CNU-A Exam results?
10. What happens after I complete the Exam?
11. How many times can I take the CNU-A exam?
12. How do I register for the CNU-A Exam Preparatory Course?
13. What happens if I miss my exam appointment?
Maintenance
14. What are the requirements of CNU Accreditation?
15. How do I maintain my CNU Accreditation?
16. Does my CNU Accreditation expire?
17. How will CNU track continuing education?
18. What education programs are eligible for CNU-A continuing education?
19. How do I know if an education program is eligible for CNU-A continuing education credits?
20. What if I do not maintain an annual CNU Membership and/or fail to acquire at least 8 Learning Hours of continuing education each year?
21. How should I designate my credential?
22. How can I be in touch if I have more questions?
1. How do I register for the CNU Accreditation Exam?
CNU Accreditation exam registration can be completed directly through the CNU website via your online account (note: you must be logged into your CNU online account to receive the CNU member rate). If you don’t already have a CNU account, you will need to create one to start the registration process. After registering for the exam, candidates will receive an email from Prometric LLC within 3-5 business days regarding how to access and begin the online exam. This message will be sent automatically by Prometric via the address registrations@isoqualitytesting.com. Please ensure this address is not flagged by your email account as spam.
2. How much does the current exam cost?
The exam costs $225 for CNU members at the Urbanist/Public Service level or higher, and $275 for non-members. The fee covers the administrative costs of hosting, grading and running the CNU Accreditation program. It also funds future exam and program development.
3. What forms of payment are accepted for the online exam?
Credit card payment through our secure online system is preferred, though we can accommodate those who require an invoice for a purchase order. Please send a message to cnuinfo@cnu.org if you require assistance with your purchase order.
4. Can I transfer or cancel my exam appointment?
Once registered for the exam through the CNU website exam scheduling is managed through Prometric LLC and candidates have 3 months to begin and complete the exam. If you forget to take the exam within 3 months, Prometric will report you as a “No Show” and the registration fee paid is non-refundable. Candidates who notify Prometric in advance (prior to the end of the 3-month window) regarding transfers or extensions should call 866-773-1114. Candidates who request a transfer or extension may be charged an administrative fee.
5. What is the current format for the Exam?
The exam is online only consisting of 116 multiple-choice format questions, including true/false and multiple selection questions. It is an “open book” exam but candidates have 3 hours to complete the exam once it’s started. Progress cannot be saved to be completed at another time.
6. Do I have to be a CNU Member to take the exam?
CNU membership is not required to register and take the exam, however upon passing the exam candidates must maintain a CNU membership at the Urbanist/Public Service level or higher to remain in good standing. Non-members who pass the exam will receive a complimentary 6-month membership, after which they must renew their membership at the Urbanist/Public Service level or higher and maintain an active membership each year.
7. How do I prepare for the Exam?
The exam is based on the content of materials found on the CNU-A Exam Required Reading list. Many of the reading materials can be found on the CNU website free of charge, or available for a small fee, while others can be found through various online booksellers.
Candidates who would like a more guided self-study option may be interested in the CNU-A Exam Preparatory Course. This self-paced online course guides candidates through the CNU-A Exam Required Reading list for focused study.
***CNU is currently updating the optional CNU-A Exam Preparatory Course. Stay tuned for its launch in late fall 2026!***
8. Is the CNU-A Exam Preparatory Course required prior to taking the exam?
No. The CNU-A Exam Preparatory Course is optional. This self-paced online course guides candidates through the CNU-A Exam Required Reading list for focused study.
***CNU is currently updating the optional CNU-A Exam Preparatory Course. Stay tuned for its launch in late fall 2026!***
9. When do I receive my CNU-A Exam results?
Candidates will receive their results immediately after completing the exam and your score will be recorded by Prometric. A score equal to or greater than 75% will be reported to CNU as a passing grade, while a score less than 75% will be reported as a failing grade.
10. What happens after I complete the Exam?
Prometric will communicate candidates’ exam results with CNU. Those who receive a passing score will receive their certificate from CNU and will be identified as CNU-A in the CNU Member Directory within 5-10 business days. Non-members who have passed the exam will also receive information about CNU membership, a requirement of maintaining CNU Accreditation.
11. How many times can I take the CNU-A exam?
There is no limit to the number of times a candidate may take the exam. Simply register again via your CNU online account.
12. How do I register for the CNU-A Exam Preparatory Course?
CNU is currently updating the optional CNU-A Exam Preparatory Course. Stay tuned for its launch in late fall 2026!
13. What happens if I miss my exam appointment?
Once registered for the exam through the CNU website exam scheduling is managed through Prometric LLC and candidates have 3 months to begin and complete the exam. If you forget to take the exam within 3 months, Prometric will report you as a “No Show” and the registration fee paid is non-refundable.
14. What are the requirements of CNU Accreditation?
A CNU Accredited Professional is a CNU member who has passed the accreditation exam, maintains an active membership with CNU at the Urbanist/Public Service level or higher, and continues to advance their understanding of the practice and principles of New Urbanism by regularly attending educational events each year. The requirements of CNU Accreditation are:
- Pass the CNU Accreditation Exam
- Upon passing the CNU-A exam, maintain an active annual CNU membership at the Urbanist/Public Service level or higher
- Fulfill the CNU Accreditation continuing education requirements each year. A minimum of 8 (eight) Learning Hours (LHs) of CNU-approved educational sessions, including events hosted by CNU, a CNU Chapter, or a CNU-A Continuing Education Provider, must be completed annually.
CNU reserves the right in the future to require recertification and continuing education. As the CNU Accreditation program advances, the requirements will be strengthened.
15. How do I maintain my CNU Accreditation?
To claim CNU Accreditation as a professional designation, members must be in good standing. To maintain good standing, a CNU member must:
- Pay the annual CNU Accredited Professional membership dues; and
- Satisfy the continuing education requirements by attending 8-hours of CNU approved educational events per year.
A CNU accredited professional who fails to satisfy the above requirements becomes a lapsed accredited professional. A lapsed accredited professional has a two-year window from their last expired membership date, and/or the date at which they were found out of compliance with CEU requirements, during which time they can bring their accreditation status back into good standing without being required to retake the CNU-A exam.
CNU reserves the right in the future to require recertification and continuing education. As the CNU Accreditation program advances, the requirements will be strengthened.
16. Does my CNU Accreditation expire?
CNU-Accreditation does not expire. However, accreditation must be maintained by keeping an active CNU Membership at the Urbanist/Public Service level or higher and CEU requirements must be met each year. A lapsed accredited professional has a two-year window from their last expired membership date, and/or the date at which they were found out of compliance with CEU requirements, during which time they can bring their accreditation status back into good standing without being required to retake the CNU-A exam.
CNU reserves the right in the future to require recertification and continuing education. As the CNU Accreditation program advances, the requirements will be strengthened.
17. How will CNU track continuing education?
Currently, CNU Accredited Professionals are required to attend eight (8) Learning Hours (LH) of CNU-approved educational events per year and self-record attendance using the LH Tracking Form provided. CNU will conduct a yearly audit of a random sample of members to verify completion of the annual Learning Hour requirement. Members are asked to track their attendance at required events and make this documentation available if audited.
We plan to have a more efficient process in place by the end of 2026 to help CNU-Accredited Professionals and other learners of New Urbanism keep track of their continuing education
18. What education programs are eligible for CNU-A continuing education?
Currently, all On the Park Bench sessions (live or recorded) and most of the sessions and tours at Annual Congress (in person) are eligible for CNU-A LH. In addition, check your local CNU Chapter for programs they are hosting that may be eligible for continuing education credit.
19. How do I know if an education program is eligible for CNU-A continuing education credits?
The most direct way to identify eligible education programs year-round and/or locally is to check the events listed on the online CNU Events calendar.
20. What if I do not maintain an annual CNU Membership and/or fail to acquire at least 8 Learning Hours of continuing education each year?
Accreditation must be maintained by keeping an active CNU Membership at the Urbanist/Public Service level or higher and CEU requirements must be met each year. A lapsed accredited professional has a two-year window from their last expired membership date, and/or the date at which they were found out of compliance with CEU requirements, during which time they can bring their accreditation status back into good standing without being required to retake the CNU-A exam.
As the CNU Accreditation program advances, the requirements will be strengthened. CNU reserves the right in the future to require recertification and continuing education.
21. How should I designate my credential?
The appropriate way to designate the credential is CNU-Accredited Professional or CNU-A.
22. How can I be in touch if I have more questions?
All questions related to the CNU Accreditation program should be directed to accreditation@cnu.org.