Advanced Certificate in Communications Planning

Become the strategic communications planning lead for your client’s business with this seven-month online qualification.

The Advanced Certificate in Communications Planning gives you an in-depth, high-level and end-to-end understanding of communications strategy planning. Expert practitioner insight and burgeoning reputation, all in one qualification. Sounds like a plan.

 

Who is the qualification for?

Anyone involved in developing and planning communication strategies for clients and brands. Its sweet spot is mid-level practitioners with at least four years' experience.

What are the benefits?

  • Enhance your understanding of an ever more complex media world and develop skills that will see commercial rewards.
  • Understand what you should be evaluating and why and gain access to an online evaluation framework.
  • Learn the key stages of developing a successful communication strategy.
  • Explore integration models and discuss how you can put then into practice.
  • Find out how to maximise the effectiveness of your communication plan through best practice principles.

How is the qualification delivered and assessed?

  • An annual intake: 45 hours of online learning, split across five modules, delivered over seven months.
  • Candidates must pass an assessment at the end of each module to achieve the certificate; three essays and two multiple-choice quizzes.

2025 Intake dates

The 2025 intake commences on 24 March 2025. The booking deadline for the 2025 intake is 14 March 2025.

  • Module 1 begins 24 March 2025. Essay submission deadline: 6 May 2025.
  • Module 2 begins 6 May 2025. Exam opens: 13 June 2025.
  • Module 3 begins 16 June 2025. Essay submission deadline: 28 July 2025.
  • Module 4 begins 28 July 2025. Exam opens: 5 September 2025.
  • Module 5 begins 8 September 2025. Essay submission deadline: 20 October 2025.

Price

  • Members: £1000+VAT.
  • Non-Members: £2000+VAT. 

If you are purchasing the course as a business based outside of the UK and believe you should not be charged VAT on the sale, please get in touch with learning@ipa.co.uk. If your business is based in the EU, we will ask you to confirm your VAT number before making your booking. This VAT number will be recorded as part of your sale transaction. If your business is based outside the EU, we will ask for further evidence of your business location.

If you are purchasing the course as an individual consumer based outside of the EU and believe you should not be charged VAT on the sale, please get in touch with learning@ipa.co.uk. If you are based outside the EU, we will ask for further evidence of your location.

Policies

We operate a 14-day policy. Please view the policies for further details:

For more information, please email learning@ipa.co.uk.


Please note: if you are taking one of our courses or qualifications through your employer or educational establishment, we may need to share your information – including your course or qualification results – with them. For further details about how we treat your personal data, please see our privacy policy.

For me, the real value of the course was the ongoing effect it has had on my own learning path and my confidence. I can’t tell you the number of client meetings or catch-ups with colleagues where I have been able to speak with real confidence or pepper the conversation with anecdotes and facts taken from my course.