The Advanced Certificate Course is owned by the Institute, which is responsible for appointing the examiners and maintaining the content and quality of the syllabus.

The Advanced Certificate Course is aimed at graduates interested in pursuing a career in public relations or those who have been working in the business, at fairly junior levels, for at least two years. It is a qualification in its own right, but serves as a valuable preparation for the CIPR diploma, the major vocational qualification for membership of the CIPR.

Those achieving success on the Advanced Certificate Course qualify for entry to the CIPR Diploma. The Advanced Certificate Course provides the basic knowledge and understanding of theory and practice necessary to enable students to begin to develop as effective and efficient professionals. The Diploma builds upon that knowledge and understanding.

It is a condition of being accepted on the course that students who are not already CIPR members apply for membership of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. Students should apply at the grade relevant to their experience, but at the heavily discounted rate of £125