CHICAGO, 28 July 2023 – The Global Communication Certification Council (GCCC) has announced the results from its recent survey on the value of communication credentials, sponsored by #WeLeadComms. The purpose of the survey was to understand current perceptions about the value of communication credentials and their importance in the workplace and explore experiences of GCCC certificants. More than 350 communication professionals from 28 countries participated in the study, of which 32% are certified through the GCCC.
Changes in respondents’ perceptions between 2020 and 2023 indicate an increase in the importance of certification amongst communication professionals overall. In 2023, 69% of respondents agreed that GCCC credentials give them more credibility in their current work, compared to 32% of respondents in 2020. 57% of 2023 respondents indicated that they received increased respect and recognition from peers following GCCC certification, compared with 9% of 2020 respondents. In addition, results indicate that more respondents have received a pay raise (18%), increased job offers (16%), a promotion (15%) and have been approached by recruiters (14%) since the previous survey in 2020.
Respondents were asked several questions about the value of certification. 68% of respondents reported that they believe it is important for communication professionals to be credentialed, but just 24% of respondents believe that credentialed communication professionals are more or equally respected when compared to credentialed professionals in other professions.
Other responses suggest that the communication profession has a significant journey to earn the same level of respect as other professions. 46% of overall respondents believe that the status of credentialed communication professionals has not changed in the workplace in the last 10 years, when compared to credentialed professionals in other professions.
“On the issue of respect, it’s telling that respondents cite more needs to be done to highlight the value of communication credentials within the workplace,” said Sharon Hunter, SCMP, current GCCC Chair. “Advocacy for the profession continues to drive the GCCC’s mission, but we as practitioners must also have the confidence to demonstrate our impact. Collectively, we can earn the recognition we deserve.”
To view more information on the survey and its results, view the results infographic the GCCC created on its findings.
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About the Global Communication Certification Council (GCCC)
The GCCC’s mission is to create and maintain an internationally recognized standard of communication excellence, based on an understanding of key principles and job competencies worldwide. The GCCC is an initiative created by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) to act as an autonomous, impartial certification body to test against the Global Standard of the Communication Profession. The GCCC’s CMP and SCMP designations are the only certification programs in the world to meet ISO standards (ISO/IEC 17024). Learn more at www.gcccouncil.org.
About the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)
IABC is the leading global association connecting communication professionals with the people and insights necessary to drive results. Bringing together the profession’s collective disciplines, IABC delivers on the Global Standard in communication through local chapters and regions; educational offerings; certification; awards; a proprietary resource library; diverse and global voices; and worldwide conferences including IABC World Conference, one of the premier annual conferences for the communication profession. Learn more about IABC at https://www.iabc.com.