IAP2's Fundamentals of Public Participation

Build a strong foundation in meaningful and effective P2/engagement, and learn to apply the IAP2 Spectrum and other core models directly to your practice.

Prerequisite: Fundamentals is required before taking any other IAP2 courses.

Price: $325
IAP2 Members: $275 (contact us for the member discount code)

Upcoming Classes

• December 2-3, 2025 - Last session of the year

Winter 2026 Schedule

Start the new year with a strong foundation in P2/engagement:

• January 13-14, 2026
• February 4-5, 2026
• March 3-4, 2026

Planning ahead? Contact us for additional 2026 dates.

Class Hours

All classes meet online from 12:00-2:00 pm ET and 3:00-5:00 pm ET, with a 1-hour break between sessions each day.

What You'll Learn

IAP2's Fundamentals of Public Participation (P2) introduces the essential models and frameworks of engagement practice within the IAP2 community. This course focuses on understanding and applying the principles of meaningful and effective P2. and on building the knowledge and skills practitioners need to do this well. You'll explore best practices and learn how to apply these concepts to your own P2/engagement projects.

Course Objectives

• Define public participation (P2)/engagement and related terms

• Explain the benefits, risks and challenges, and common misconceptions about P2/engagement

• Identify the importance of IAP2’s Core Values and Code of Ethics for P2/engagement

• Explain the importance of accurately scoping the P2/engagement process 

• Identify the importance of values in meaningful P2/engagement

• Understand the importance of principles of diversity, equity and inclusion in P2/engagement, and describe how assumptions and bias affect engagement across cultures 

• Explain the role of power and influence in P2/engagement, and apply the IAP2 Spectrum of P2/Engagement 

• Explain how relationship-focused P2/engagement builds trust, connection and understanding

• Describe how the five Foundations make P2/engagement meaningful and authentic, and explain how the Profiles model illustrates relationships between communities and organizations

• Explain how the IAP2 Practice Framework and the Quality Assessment Framework are used to design, plan, implement and improve P2/engagement processes.

Professional Certification/Credits

• This course is a required prerequisite for the IAP2 Professional Certification process.

Tech Needed for Class

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Accessibility Policy