Accreditation Guide for Chapter Liaisons
Facts About Accreditation
What is accreditation?
Accreditation is an IABC professional development program offering communicators a way of demonstrating—to employers, fellow communicators and themselves—their ability to successfully manage and perform those tasks essential to effective organizational communication. Candidates meeting all requirements of the program earn the designation Accredited Business Communicator (ABC).
Why should members consider accreditation?
IABC’s Accreditation program is a means by which a member can gauge career progress. The ABC following a successful candidate’s name tells peers, current and prospective employers, that the candidate has successfully completed this challenging program. It is also interesting to note that IABC’s biannual survey of the profession, Profile, shows that an accredited member’s salary is significantly higher than that of a non-accredited member.
Who should become accredited?
The Accreditation program is aimed at the manager or the person ready to move into communication management. The successful candidate will have knowledge and experience in designing and managing a broad range of communications programs. Accreditation is not designed for persons whose expertise is limited to one or two communication skills. Candidates must have a minimum of five years of experience in the profession and a bachelor’s degree, or total of nine years of experience and/or post-secondary education to quality for accreditation.
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Setting up a Chapter Accreditation Mentoring Program
Why is a chapter accreditation mentoring program important?
Accreditation doesn’t have to be an overwhelming goal for members, especially when chapters have a mentoring program in place. With a mentoring approach, the candidates go through the process with someone to show the way.
How can a chapter implement a mentoring program?
Find a leader. The mentor should be an ABC who has a strong commitment to the program. You may want more than one person to work with a group of interested candidates. The mentor’s role will be to answer questions and provide guidance. Most of the work should be done by the candidates themselves, who will profit by seeing one another’s work and sharing ideas. If there is no ABC in the chapter to lead the program, contact IABC Headquarters, and a volunteer will be suggested to you.
What is the role of the mentor?
- Identify potential candidates. There are several ways to come up with a candidate list. Announce the beginning of a study program in the chapter newsletter and at chapter meetings. Draw on your own knowledge of which of your peers are ready for accreditation. Ask chapter leaders to suggest names.
- Hold an orientation meeting. If the chapter can afford it, host a light luncheon where you can discuss the process and fees, answer questions and address concerns. Hand out accreditation brochures (PDF download; also available by mail from IABC World Headquarters). Decide on a good time for the group to hold its study sessions and schedule the first one for the following week.
- Hold mentoring sessions. Since much of the work is done away from the seminars, you shouldn’t need more than an hour for each session.
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Top Ten Reasons to Seek Accreditation
- Accreditation improves career opportunities and advancement.
- Accreditation prepares you for greater on-the-job responsibilities.
- Accreditation provides for greater earnings potential.
- Accreditation demonstrates your commitment to the profession.
- Accreditation improves skills and knowledge.
- Accreditation reflects achievement.
- Accreditation builds self-esteem.
- Accreditation enhances the professional image.
- Accreditation establishes professional credentials.
- Accreditation offers greater professional recognition from peers.
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Ten Steps to Accreditation
- Discuss the accreditation process in a clear and approachable way
It is important that the process be described in a way that is not overwhelming, but will give a thorough overview of requirements, timelines and expectations. A PowerPoint presentation can be obtained from IABC International.
- Submitting the application
Have the candidates fill in the application form at the meeting and encourage them to mail it, along with the required fee, within a week.
- Beginning the portfolio process
Mentors should have sample portfolios (available either online or from local past candidates) to review. Each candidate can be encouraged to discuss at least one portfolio submission idea. Discuss the Statements of Objectives and Results. Set a deadline for having the first Statement of Objectives and Results complete. A buddy system to review the draft material can be shared and commented on before the next meeting. Candidates should decide on a date by which they will send their portfolios to IABC International. There should be a minimum of two follow-up sessions, about one month apart, to monitor candidates’ progress and keep the process on track.
- One month later: Reviewing the initial portfolio material
Candidates will approach this stage with different degrees of enthusiasm and available time. It is recommended that candidates follow the portfolio checklist.
- Two months later: Reviewing the final portfolio material and final thoughts before submission
Portfolios should be analyzed carefully and shared with available ABCs from the local chapter for feedback. It will take approximately 8 to 10 weeks for the results from the portfolio process. If a candidate’s portfolio does not pass, you’ll want to work with him/her on an individual basis, providing encouragement and advice.
- Discuss the accreditation exam process
Describe the different parts of the actual exams. Candidates may have misconceptions about the exams and may have concerns about their ability to approach this stage. Review the guidelines for current candidates and IABC’s Code of Ethics. Encourage candidates to read Excellence in Public Relations and Communications Management or IABC’s The IABC Handbook of Organizational Communication.
Discuss objectives for the next meeting. Set the exam date. Study groups can be set up between interested candidates. These sessions are helpful, but should be considered independent of this outline. It should be emphasized that the accreditation exam is not something you can study for like a college entrance exam. It is based on everyday work situations.
- One month later: Discuss progress in preparing for the exams
It would be helpful for other willing/able accredited members to serve as mentors in helping others prepare for the exams.
- One month later: Practice exams
Practice exams can take place individually or in a group setting. You will need to set aside at least four and a half hours on a weekend or after work. Use the sample exams and guidelines provided by IABC. Candidates can evaluate one another’s exams, or you can offer comments. Whoever does the scoring, it should be ruthless. This is the last training session before the actual exams, so every suggestion helps.
- Taking the exams.
Your candidates may take the exams anytime within a year of their portfolios being accepted. This could be at an international conference, a regional conference or in your own city with an approved accreditation proctor. It’s nice to get together immediately after the exams, to talk about the exams and any difficulties understanding the questions or materials. Please take notes and send those comments to IABC International. The input is valuable in keeping the exams current. Waiting for results of the exams will take approximately three months. Should a candidate fail the exams, or parts thereof, work with them in the problem area.
- Celebrate!
The majority of candidates earn their ABCs. Recognize them at a chapter meeting and present their certificate and pin to them at that time. Interview them for a story in the chapter newsletter. Invite them to speak at the next accreditation class. Write them individual congratulatory notes.
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Ideas to Motivate Various Types of Candidates
Portfolio support material
International Headquarters will loan portfolios for chapter use. One of the leading reasons for not pursuing Accreditation is concern by the candidate that he or she does not have enough work samples for their portfolio. In some cases, this is true. Often it is based on a misconception that the portfolio is an incredibly complex collection of award-winning work. Seeing a portfolio collection often dispels this myth. In addition, it gives candidates a better idea of how to organize portfolios and what constitutes acceptable work sample write-ups. The ability to view accepted portfolios can be a major motivational factor for both self-directed and afraid to fail candidates, since it allows them to get the experience of others without having to be part of a group process.
ABCs tell all
Hearing about the accreditation process from someone a candidate knows that many can identify with is very powerful as a motivational tool. Time is a major concern for most candidates. Hearing that a colleague whom they see as having time constraints similar to their own made time for accreditation is a key motivating factor. When someone who is respected in the chapter has a positive story to tell about the accreditation process, it adds value to accreditation.
A particularly effective way to use this tool is to make ABCs available for one-on-one conversations in a social setting after an initial informational meeting on accreditation. Typically, candidates undecided about accreditation are looking for some one-on-one guidance relative to their major concerns. They won’t ask the questions that bother them most during the presentation, but they will express concerns and ask questions afterwards.
Gold Quill Option
IABC allows Gold Quill winners to submit one Excellence award-winning work sample as part of a portfolio. The winners receive a letter immediately after winning a Gold Quill notifying them that their work sample has been automatically accepted. They have 12 months in which they may take advantage of this offer. This means that only one other write-up is required, which cuts down substantially on both the time commitment and concerns about acceptable work samples.
Remote mentoring
Candidates in the “afraid to fail” category need the most mentoring, but are the least likely to be comfortable with the process. These candidates can request an accreditation coach from IABC International. No one in the chapter needs to know that these candidates have pursued accreditation until after they have passed. It is important to publicize this option and send a strong message that while local group support services are available, it is acceptable to choose this more anonymous route.
Value of accreditation
A continuing concern of most candidates is: What is the value of accreditation? In some cases, this value may be internal, in that the accreditation process helps some candidates become more focused on their career goals. In other cases, there may be tangible benefits. If tangible benefits within the local labor market can be documented (employers who recognize accreditation with promotions, bonuses or salary increases; or positive experiences of self-employed ABCs), they should be publicized within the chapter.
Overall, accreditation should be viewed as a positive professional growth experience. It is not for everyone. The goal in encouraging chapter members to pursue accreditation should be to remove roadblocks and overcome misconceptions, enabling those who are really attracted to the process to pursue
it.
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Establishing an accreditation liaison with the Accreditation Council
Chapter liaisons
The person should be accredited, have a strong commitment to the accreditation
program and interest in promoting it to those who are eligible for accreditation.
Activities would include:
- Reporting to chapter board and general membership the status of all accreditation activities on the international, region and chapter levels including any changes in the accreditation process.
- Developing plans for increasing accreditation within the chapter.
- Sharing successes and failures with the Accreditation Council, so that information can be shared with other chapters
- Raising the visibility of local accredited members as a means of encouraging others to become accredited.
- Supplying news items on accreditation to chapter newsletters and the ABC List.
- Providing support and/or assistance in the scheduling of accreditation examinations for the chapter when there are local candidates wishing to take the exams.
Region liaisons
Accreditation liaisons are also appointed at the regional level.
The role of the region liaison is as follows:
- Reports on the status of all accreditation activities on the international, region and chapter levels, including any changes in the accreditation process.
- Develop a proposal for increasing accreditation within the region.
- Works with the Accreditation Council in planning and implementing accreditation activities on the regional and chapter levels.
- Seeks methods of raising the visibility of accredited members in the region as a means of encouraging others to become accredited.
- Assures support for those seeking accreditation through mentoring.
- Supplies news items on accreditation for the regional newsletter and the ABC List.
- Is available to prospective candidates seeking information, assistance or support on accreditation.
- Conducts at least one chapter accreditation/portfolio workshop per year.
- Provides support and/or assistance in the scheduling of accreditation exams for the region when there are candidates wishing to take the exams.
- Supports the chapter liaisons.
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Contact the Accreditation Council
If you need help with your chapter’s accreditation program, please contact any member of the Accreditation Council, and we’ll be glad to assist.
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