IABC Accreditation: Portfolio
About the portfolio
The portfolio you submit is an essential part of the accreditation process, qualifying you to proceed to the next step. It helps you and the Accreditation Committee determine if you are ready to successfully complete the balance of the process.
The portfolio requirements are designed to give all candidates an equal opportunity to do well, regardless of their individual areas of expertise or any external or job-related advantages or limitations. The portfolio measures what you have done and the reasons for your actions.
You should display your professional abilities in the best possible light by sending samples of your best work. In particular, your statements of objectives and results allow the reviewers to evaluate your ability to think strategically. Your portfolio not only reflects what you have done but also gives you an opportunity to answer the question, “What, if anything, would I do differently if I could do the project all over again?” We strongly encourage you to ask an ABC colleague to be your mentor, as he or she can provide good insights into your statement of objectives and your work sample selections.
If your portfolio does not receive a qualifying score, a member of the Accreditation Committee will give you a detailed explanation of the reasons why your portfolio needs more work and help you discover what you need to do in order to make it a qualifying portfolio. You have one year to re-work your portfolio and incorporate suggested changes. Your portfolio must receive a qualifying score before you will be eligible to take the accreditation exam.
You are required to submit two samples of your best work as an organizational communicator. There is no time frame within which work included in the portfolio must have been completed; however, it is recommended that five years be used as a suitable guideline (keep in mind that you will need to submit physical samples of the work completed). Your samples should represent a broad range of communication and media functions. The samples might represent work from (but are not limited to) any of the following areas:
- Communication programs
- Publications (please submit three issues if it is a recurring publication)
- Communication surveys or audits
- Campaigns
- Audiovisual programs
Indicate the nature and extent of your involvement and responsibility on each work sample.
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How to prepare your portfolio
Before preparing your portfolio, take the accreditation ethics quiz to test your knowledge of the IABC Code of Ethics. Use the answer key to grade your quiz.
Each portfolio consists of two projects. Each project must have:
There is nothing mysterious about the qualification process or portfolio review. The reviewers are simply attempting to measure what you’ve done and how you brought a strategic approach to the project you are sending.
Your statement of objectives and results is the most important element in the review of your portfolio. Be sure to follow the outline when you prepare your statements. Be concise, but provide adequate detail, keeping in mind that your material is confidential and that the reviewers need the appropriate context in which to review your portfolio.
In your statements of objectives and results, make your role in the project clear. If you supervise or direct the work of others, be specific as to your involvement.
Helpful documents:
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Sending your portfolio
Submit your entire portfolio, including work samples, via the following link. http://accreditation.iabc.com/
Use your member ID and password to log in one you have navigated to the uploading page. You will be required to submit your work plan in one PDF and any work samples as separate files.
If you are uploading multiple large files we recommend that you upload them in small batches of 2-3 files at a time.
Requirements for file types:
- PDF – no Microsoft Office files allowed
- JPEG, PNG, GIF images
- MP3 audio – maximum bitrate of 128 kbps stereo for music; 64 kbps mono for voice
- MP4, M4V or FLV video
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Using a Gold Quill Award Winning-entry for one portfolio sample
Gold Quill Award winners who apply for accreditation within one year of winning their awards are eligible to submit just one portfolio work sample instead of the required two. The candidate will then have one year from the date of the application approval notification to submit one portfolio work sample. Please note, this is only applicable to the listed winner/lead communicator on the Gold Quill Award-winning project and is nontransferable.
The Gold Quill Award-winning entry will count as one sample and does not need to be sent. Instead, please include a cover letter with your other sample, indicating the title of your Gold Quill Award-winning entry and the category in which it received an award. The Gold Quill Award-winning sample will be scored as an automatic pass.
After the one-year period to apply for accreditation has lapsed, Gold Quill Award winners are still welcome to apply and send winning entries as half of their accreditation portfolio. However, the actual sample must be submitted to the portfolio reviewers and will no longer receive an automatic pass but will be reviewed again by the accreditation portfolio reviewers. If you choose this option, review your entry to ensure it meets the accreditation requirements.
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Portfolio checklist
Your portfolio will include two projects with detailed statements of objectives and results and work samples; Gold Quill Award winners send only one project.
Use the scoring scale to review your portfolio before sending. The criteria are identical to those used by portfolio reviewers who will review each section (identifying, developing, etc.) of your portfolio on a 0–7-point scale.
Part I: Statement of Objectives
Background
- Briefly describe your organization
- What your company/client does
- Relevant history
- Location, size, number of employees
- Earnings/assets
- Communication budget
- Any other info that will help the graders evaluate your work within the context of the organization.
- Where the communication function fits
- Number of employees, annual budget
- Any overall communication objectives
- Where you fit within the communication function at the time the project occurred
Identifying the problem/opportunity
- Problem/opportunity clearly stated?
- Target audience well defined?
- Research/other input demonstrates your understanding of audience and company/client?
Developing the solution/plan
- Objectives well defined and measurable?
- Does solution adequately address audience needs?
- Communication medium/media appropriate to audience?
- Budget, timeline for execution and related factors considered?
- Project clearly outlined before execution?
Selling the solution/plan to management/client
You may not have had to actually sell the project. If this is the case, explain your role in directing the project.
- Approach is thorough and professional?
- Research/feedback is pertinent and effective? (If research wasn’t conducted, acknowledge its importance and give a reasonable explanation for its absence.)
- Candidate successful in directing management’s thoughts?
Implementing the solution/plan
- Work executed logically and professionally?
- If the original plan wasn’t followed, explanation for any change (media, budget, timeline, etc.) adequate?
- Focus on objective(s) or message(s) remains clear?
- Implementation method(s) will communicate favorably?
Evaluating the solution/plan
- Candidate employed formal or informal measures?
- Reflective measures indicate how well objectives were met?
- Candidate clearly indicates the project was/was not successful?
- If necessary, suggested project revision adequate?
Overall evaluation
- Candidate clearly demonstrates consideration of the five steps outlined in the previous sections?
- Statement of objectives shows clear, logical thinking process?
- Statement of objectives is a sound blueprint upon which to build an effective project?
Part II: Work Samples
In evaluating the samples, reviewers look for a balance between form and content. Some samples may contain only form or content—a photo essay or news release, for example. If this occurs, they will evaluate only in those terms.
- Sample follows objectives in terms of form and content?
- Sample demonstrates quality and professionalism?
- Sample appropriate for audience?
- Sample clearly communicates desired message?
Final Steps
- Have you had your portfolio reviewed by an ABC mentor or chapter ABC Liaison?
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Sample Statements of Objectives and Results
- Scripps Health 2010 H1N1 Disater Preparedness Campaign, Michael Godfrey , ABC , San Diego, CA, USA
- SaskPower 2010 Employee Benefit Awareness Campaign, Paula Kohl, ABC, Regina, SK, Canada
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Portfolio deadlines and extension Requests
- 5 April
Portfolio deadline for those who applied and were accepted to the program between July and January.
- 15 September
Portfolio deadline for those who applied and were accepted to the program between February and June.
These windows of acceptance allow a minimum of two months’ lead time for portfolio completion.
You may submit your portfolio before these deadlines, but it will not be graded until the assigned date.
If you are unable to meet your original portfolio deadline, you may submit an extension request form to request an extension to the next portfolio deadline. Note: Should you be approved for an extension and then not be able to send your portfolio by the new deadline, you will need to reapply and repay the accreditation fee to continue pursuing your accreditation. Candidates are limited to one extension.
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