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Accreditation

The Best of the Best
As a member of IABC and as a communicator, you may have career development goals, no matter what your stage. Becoming an Accredited Business Communicator (ABC) is worth considering as one of your career growth objectives. Why?  

For approximately a year, you will be challenged to demonstrate your ability to think and to strategically plan. First, by submitting a portfolio and then, by taking an exam that requires all of your communications experience and knowledge. When you achieve your ABC, you are measuring where you are in your career growth and you are showing that your command of communications skills stands out among peers.

There are a few actions you can take to determine if Accreditation is right for you. Go to www.iabc.com and then, the Accreditation section. Sign up for the accreditation newsletter for information on how to become accredited and what the value is. Read quotes from all over the world on the IABC website under “Accreditation” to see why people have earned their ABC. Contact Pat Masterson (patomalley74@msn.com) if you need someone to help you get started.

Survey Says
More than 80 percent of accredited members and non-accredited members in a 2007 survey conducted by the IABC accreditation council said they wanted to become accredited to enhance their professional image. They also agreed that becoming accredited would improve their career opportunities and increase their earning potential.

Communication World reported in October 2007 that the accredited group felt they received benefits from the process:

• Greater professional recognition: 74.9 percent
• Peer group recognition: 70.4 percent
• Increased learning and development: 44.7 percent
• Improved career opportunities: 41.7 percent
• Advancement: 24.6 percent
• Higher remuneration: 24.1 percent
• Other:  24.1 percent.

Why and How They Did It

I've been in the business for 20 years in many languages. I was curious to see and learn about what is deemed important by the association. The local proctors (Philadelphia) were terrific - passionate, interested and engaged. The association overall has done its best to overlook my repeated offers to speak at events and help out.  

Valeria Maltoni
Washington Chapter

Sometime ago, then IABC/Washington Chapter President, Edward (Ned) Lundquist challenged his board to take-on becoming accredited.  We didn't all run to the challenge at once, but he planted a seed. Since that time, I've watched over the years as several of Ned's board members became ABC.  It was time for me to meet Ned's challenge. The process takes time, confidence and patience.  It isn't the standard test of book knowledge, but a test of communications judgment and the instinctual goal directed connection with a targeted audience that develops from years of practice.

Tracey P. Wood, MS, ABC
Philadelphia Chapter
President
Inkwell Duck, Inc.

I decided to pursue the ABC to assure myself that I understood a broad range of best practices and expertise in communications that spanned more than just the industry where I worked. I wanted a certification that would tell potential employers I had communications expertise beyond that of my job experience. Preparing the portfolio was very similar to entering Bronze Quill. I started with a portfolio I had prepared from previous contests and certifications and revised the work descriptions to meet the specifications. The accreditation coordinator was very helpful and worked with me after my initial screening to reorganize one of my samples to better showcase my work, ensuring that I would pass. A group of us from IABC Columbus worked together to study for the exam. Each of us chose a topic that challenged us and presented that information to the others. It really stretched my understanding of communications to cover areas like investor relations and labor relations, that I had no exposure to in my daily work. I took my exam proctored by locally accredited peers in my own office on a day I chose. It couldn't have been more convenient! I had to retake just one section (ethics!) but it was relatively painless. By then, I knew what to expect. The whole process was a great learning experience. It was not as smooth as I thought it might be, but I think I learned even more from the bumps in the road! I highly recommend it to every communicator who is committed to continuing (and excelling) in the profession.

Eileen Tuttle, ABC, APR
Consultant
Columbus Chapter

For more about IABC Accreditation, please visit the IABC International Web site.