PR and communications practitioners can now take control of their professional development with the launch of an industry-leading online platform, which acts as the hub for the PRCA’s Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme.

The PRCA CPD programme utilises an easy-to-use online platform that encourages practitioners to plan, record and reflect on learning goals and achievements. The platform also allows the building of a personal development plan, to which qualifications can be uploaded. This ensures that all learning and development is kept in one place in an easy-to-access platform with customer service support.

The platform enables users to track, schedule, and review their annual CPD points through formal and informal activities. It may be used by both members and non-members of the PRCA.

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.

Individuals will be able to accrue CPD points from development opportunities provided by the PRCA and an initial 16 partners, covering the leading industry bodies, publications and news sites in the PR and communications industry. A full list of CPD partners and their activities can be found on the platform in the ‘Available shared activities’ feature.

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, which encourages users to develop a broad portfolio of CPD activities. And to complete the programme each year, users must successfully include some activity where the primary focus is PR and communications ethics.

Alison Clarke FPRCA, principal, Alison Clarke Communications and chairman, PRCA CPD programme, says, “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.”

View the CPD and register here.