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CIPR Professional PR Certificate

  • Level: 5
  • Duration: 12 months
  • Study options: Online learning
  • Locations: Online

 

View the CIPR's full syllabus.

 

The aim of the CIPR Professional PR Certificate is to introduce you to the context, concepts and practical tools of public relations (PR) that will enhance your understanding of the PR profession and enable you to develop the skills and abilities necessary to progress in your career.

In your CIPR training you will learn how to research and develop PR plans; create content that helps an organisation to tell a story, change attitudes and influence behaviours, and/or marketing products and services; and measure the impact of communication activities.

You will have some experience in public relations activities, in consultancy or in-house, or you might have experience in a related discipline such as marketing or journalism and wish to enter the PR profession.

Study package 

Find out what our learners receive in their study package as part of this course.

Online learning

Finance option available
Start any time and set your own pace! £995 +VAT ENROL

Fees and payment

Course fees are subject to VAT in the United Kingdom.

You can pay the course fees by debit/credit card or provide us with a Purchase Order number to invoice your company.

* An additional amount of £951 for CIPR registration and assessment to be paid at checkout.

Spread the cost of your course

Available for UK bank accounts only.

Take advantage and make an initial payment of £300 by credit/debit card, then spread the remaining amount over 10 equal monthly instalments as follows:

  • Online learning £187/month

Entry criteria and support

In order to complete this CIPR training, you need to have:

  • hold any UK degree, plus relevant experience,
  • OR, 2 years’ relevant full-time employment in PR, and five GCSEs grade C or above, one of which must be English Language;
  • OR, a LCCIEB Group Diploma in PR, and one year’s relevant experience. NB: Equivalent qualifications are acceptable.

Level finder

Do you know which qualification is right for you?

The College will provide you with 12 months of support.

As part of the CIPR training, you will also receive the full study package and there are lots of free resources available within our student community to ensure you gain the best learning experience possible — This includes:

  • Learning styles support and practical toolkits to help with your studies.
  • The ‘Marketer’s Sustainability Toolkit’ shows you what you need to action in your organisation.
  • Fortnightly personal development and career webinars.
  • Informal Friday Drop-ins which follows a current topic for students to discuss and generate ideas.
  • Two podcasts; one follows the opinions of our experts and the other welcomes guests from the industry.

Course modules

Study hours:
20 hours

Unit 1 positions public relations in the economic, social and political contexts in which it functions and considers areas of PR practice. It examines where PR sits within organisations and how it adds value. It considers practical challenges and introduces conceptual underpinnings relating to PR planning within a framework of organisational strategy, vision and goals, developing capabilities in PR, and communications research and planning. 

  • PR Plan and statement of reflection

Study hours:
20 hours

Unit 2 considers how to create and manage communication that works; how individuals and groups react and respond to PR activities; and how PR can affect that response. It examines concepts and theories related to PR practice. The ways in which developments in technology have affected the balance between organisations, stakeholders and publics are discussed.
 
The key concepts and related methods underpin the study of media and social media channels, the creation of ethical and compelling content, storytelling, content curation, and interpreting, and using data. Students are encouraged to draw on their own experience alongside case study examples of campaigns and professional practice. 
  • Content curation report, examples of content and statement of reflection

Study hours:
20 hours

Unit 3 focuses on the delivery of communication and PR activities; and how they are managed, monitored and measured, including the contrasting roles of consultancy and in-house professionals. Current best practice on evaluation (AMEC guidelines) is introduced to equip the candidate with practical tools to use in the workplace. The links between objective setting (Unit 1) and content development (Unit 2) and their impact on the organisation’s strategic goals are explored. Students should use the measurable objectives (e.g. SMART) they set in Unit 1 to assess PR activity in relation to organisational goals.
 
The Unit also considers the professional status of the discipline and introduces key legal and regulatory concepts. The ethical dimension within which public relations operates, including the CIPR Code of Conduct, is examined.
 
  • Executive report, statement of reflection and discussion of ethical issues

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