PRCA launches digital platform to enhance professional development

The PRCA has launched a new online platform for PR industry professionals to “take control of their professional development”, which will act as the hub for the association’s Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme.

The PRCA CPD Programme aims to encourage PR practitioners to plan, record, and reflect on learning goals and achievements.

The new digital platform, which can be used by both members and non-members of the PRCA, allows users to build a personal development plan and upload their qualifications.

Individuals will be able to accrue CPD points from development opportunities provided by the PRCA and an initial 16 partners, covering industry bodies, publications and news sites in the PR and comms industry.

Users can track, schedule, and review their annual CPD points through formal and informal activities.

Formal activities include training courses, qualifications, conferences, lectures and seminars, e-learning courses, events, mentoring, and coaching.

Informal activities include reading books, articles or blogs, preparing award entries, revising for exams, carrying out research projects, and webinars and podcasts.

To successfully complete the programme each year, participants must log at least 160 development points on the platform.

There are limits on the amount of points that can be logged on certain activities, in order to encourage users to develop a broad portfolio of CPD activities. To complete the programme each year, users must also include some activity around ethics in PR and comms.

Alison Clarke, principal at Alison Clarke Communications and chairman of the PRCA CPD Programme, said: “With the launch of this platform, the PRCA CPD Programme is now officially open for business. And like the programme, the platform is free, easy to use, and universal for everyone across the industry.

“We encourage everyone in PR and communications, be they an employer, a practitioner, a training provider, or a content source, to play a part in improving the professionalism of the industry.”

To register for the PRCA CPD Programme, visit: www.prcacpd.org.uk