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Advanced Certificate in Communications Planning

Gain the skills to plan smarter strategies, justify investment and deliver effective work with expert-led, end-to-end training.

The Advanced Certificate in Communications Planning equips you with the strategic skills, frameworks and confidence to lead client conversations, shape high-impact campaign strategies and prove the commercial value of communications to the Board.

From defining the problem to proving success, this online programme takes you end-to-end through the planning process - combining proven theory, real-world application, and expert practitioner insight. You'll learn to shape smarter strategies, justify investment, and deliver great work that works. Expert practitioner insight and burgeoning reputation, all in one qualification. Sounds like a plan.

Who is the qualification for?

Anyone responsible for developing or delivering communications strategies for clients and brands. Its sweet spot is mid-level practitioners with at least four years' experience working in in communications, media, strategy, or planning (from both agency and client backgrounds).

What are the benefits?

  • Enhance your understanding of an increasingly complex communications and media landscape, and develop the strategic skills to deliver more effective work
  • Understand how to define the right problem by interrogating briefs, objectives and business challenges.
  • Learn how to build evidence-based strategies grounded in data, insight and proven effectiveness principles.
  • Gain the confidence to make investment decisions that link marketing spend to commercial outcomes.
  • Explore the key stages of developing a successful communications plan, from audience understanding to channel roles and budget allocation.
  • Find out how to bring strategies to life creatively across channels, contexts and customer journeys.
  • Learn how to measure what matters and demonstrate the business impact of communications.

View the full Advanced Certificate in Communications Planning syllabus.

How is the qualification delivered and assessed?

  • An annual intake: 45 hours of online learning, split across six modules accessible through the IPA website on any device.
  • You should allow four months of study prior to sitting the exam.
  • Culminating in a formal two-hour online exam. Three hours in non-English speaking countries.
  • If you pass the exam, you will be awarded a digital certificate of completion and four MIPA stars towards personal accreditation.

Intake dates

  • Commences 4 January 2027
  • Exam: 8 June 2027
  • Booking deadline: 4 January 2027

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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected].

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.