PR Certificate
CIPR Professional PR Certificate online
About this course
Studying for the CIPR Professional PR Certificate is a great way to develop your skills or gain a solid introduction to public relations. Learn how to think in a more planned and focused way. Discover how communication works and learn about content curation.
Enrol as soon as you are ready to start. Study at your own pace.
Our course includes live online sessions, tutorials and individual feedback on assignment topics, plus CIPR Professional Student Membership.
NOTE: From 1 June CIPR ‘Professional Student’ membership is mandatory, the cost of £160 will be added at enrolment. For more information see FAQs at the bottom of this page.
Course detail
Study Support Package
Live interactive online workshops
One to one tutorials
Online library with all the books you need
Individual feedback on your assignment ideas
Study Hub: our bespoke online learning centre
Networking via our LinkedIn group
Easy tutor contact
Pay monthly
Initial fee: £655 (incl. VAT)
10 monthly instalments: £165 (incl. VAT)
A one-off initial fee is taken when you enrol. Instalments are collected monthly from the date you enrolled.
How we calculate your fee
PR Academy tuition: £995 (+ VAT)
CIPR fees: £1,111 (no VAT)
Total: £2,106 (+VAT)
VAT is calculated upon enrolment and is dependent on your location and situation.
VAT inclusive fee is £2,305
Who is this course for?
Early career. This online CIPR Professional Public Relations Certificate course is right for you if you have a degree and want to get into PR, or you may be early in your PR career and keen to get a qualification.
Career boost. Become a more confident communicator with the skills to take your practice to the next level. Demonstrate your ability to plan and measure what you do.
Flexible learning. You want to be able to study at a time and place that works for you.
CIPR Professional PR Certificate Syllabus
- Unit 1 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.
- Unit 2 considers how to create and manage communication that works; creation of ethical and compelling content, storytelling, content curation, and interpreting, and using data.
- Unit 3 focuses on measurement. The ethical dimension within which public relations operates, including the CIPR Code of Conduct, is examined.
Apply what you learn. Be assessed on real-life or work-related projects which is great for employers, showing the practical relevance of the course.
Download the full syllabus and brochure below.
Download our course brochure for all the course details including:
- Full syllabus
- Assignment details
- Reasons to study
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Reviews from our graduates
Discover how our courses work
Ann Pilkington, co-founder of PR Academy explains how our courses work, demonstrates our Study Hub and explains the resources and support you will receive. Also hear from members of the PR Academy alumni.
Meet your course leader Maud Davis
“I feel very lucky because I live in London and love what I do. I meet lots of bright people through PR Academy – many of them rising stars and I am always learning.”
Hear from others
Find out what it’s like to study with PR Academy.
Your questions answered
From 1 June 2025 you will need to be a member of the CIPR if doing one of their qualifications. This will be included in the cost of the course and applied at the time of enrolling.
The grade of membership is "Professional Student" at the time of writing this had not been added to the CIPR website but it is equivalent to Affiliate Membership - you can see the benefits on the CIPR website here.
The costs from 1 June are:
- £160 for a 2-year course (PR Diploma and PR Certificate)
- £80 for a 1-year course (Specialist Diplomas and Certificate)
- £38 for the Foundation course
We asked the CIPR and the answer is yes, this is what they said:
We recognise that some candidates may already hold an individual membership with the CIPR (and that this will not be at Professional Student Membership grade) at the time of registration. To ensure fairness and avoid duplication of charges, we propose the following:
- Membership Extension Offered Where a candidate has already paid for their own membership which overlaps with the qualification period, that existing membership will not be refunded. Instead, the individual will receive a free extension of their current membership by one or two years, in line with the length of their course. The same applies to Corporate Affiliate membership.
- Membership Grade During Qualification If you are an existing member you will remain on your existing membership grade throughout the course in order to retain any professional accreditations that you already hold e.g. Accredited PR Practitioner, Chartered PR Practitioner. You will continue to receive communications and services appropriate to your existing grade.
The aim of the CIPR Professional PR Certificate is to introduce the candidate to the context, concepts and practical tools of public relations (PR) that will enhance their understanding of their chosen profession and enable them to develop the skills and abilities necessary to progress in their career. The CIPR Professional PR Certificate considers the context of the role of PR in organisations, how it can contribute to the better functioning of society, and what is expected of an ethical practitioner in the digital age.
Candidates will: research and develop PR plans; create content that helps an organisation to tell a story, change attitudes and influence behaviours, and/or market products and services; and measure the impact of communication activities.
The syllabus comprises three units, which broadly follow the stages above and incorporate study of the concepts that underpin the tools and processes considered to be good PR practice.
There are three assignments.
Unit 1 Assessment: PR Plan and statement of reflection.
Unit 2 Assessment: Content curation report, written content and statement of reflection.
Unit 3 Assessment: Executive report on measurement, statement of reflection and discussion of ethical issues.
It definitely can. Many of our students are studying in order to increase their confidence and boost their CV and report a new role or promotion as a result of their qualification. In PR Academy’s 2023 research into PR education, respondents were asked - if they hold a professional qualification - has it led to career progression/promotion. This is a question that PR Academy has tracked since 2013. There is a consistent report of between 74 and 85 percent that a professional qualification has led to a career progression combined with confidence that it will.
Some organisations ask for qualifications when advertising PR jobs. While a PR qualification isn't essential it improves your CV and also shows your personal commitment to the profession and continuous learning. Check out our ‘Comprehensive Guide to CIPR Qualifications’ for more information.
If you are looking for a qualification in PR, then a professional qualification is a good option because you can study while you work. The syllabi for CIPR qualifications is very practical while still underpinned by theory so you can apply what you learn straight away.
Yes they are. We have practitioners from all over the world studying with us. The CIPR is the only chartered body for public relations which adds to the recognition of the qualification around the world.
There are CIPR qualifications at all levels. If you are just starting out the Foundation in PR is for you. If you are a few years into your career the Professional PR Certificate or internal communication certificate are designed for you. For more experienced practitioners there are diploma qualifications at approximately Master's level. If you aren't sure check out our Complete Guide to CIPR Qualifications or simply get in touch for a chat.
Our CIPR, PRCA and AMEC qualifications are designed for practitioners who want to advance their career with a stronger understanding of theory leading to more strategic campaigns. Many of our students say it boosts their confidence and they go on to better jobs or promotion.
Yes, we regularly speak to practitioners who are using a qualification as a way to refresh their knowledge, get up to date with latest practice and boost their CV. A qualification can be a great reminder of how much you already know boosting your confidence to get back into the PR job market. In our 2023 research into PR education, 84% of respondents said they were doing it to increase their skills.
