PR practitioners looking for a bargain are being courted by competing training providers.

PR Academy, the largest Chartered Institute of Public Relations qualifications centre, is now enabling PR professionals to study for the CIPR Diploma one unit at a time, allowing them to spread the cost of the course over its two-year duration.

“We want to do everything possible to help communications practitioners to achieve and qualify in their chosen profession,” says PR Academy director Ann Pilkington.

Meanwhile, students who enrol with PR Academy to study for the unitised Diploma or any other qualification before the end of August 2011 will receive a 5% discount on the course centre fees.

However, other training providers have responded with offers of their own.

The Public Relations Consultant Association has unveiled a price guarantee, promising to beat any of its competitors' prices.

In a move that puts price centre stage, the PRCA has said that if anyone can find a similar course offered by a key competitor for less, the PRCA will not only beat that price, but also offer the delegate a second place for free.

Francis Ingham, PRCA chief executive, said “I have absolute faith in the quality, range and price of our courses. That's why we're making this big, bold, and decisive commitment. We will beat any of our competitors' prices.”