The CIPR Specialist Diploma (Crisis Communications) is designed for senior PR professionals wishing to learn the knowledge and tools to contribute effectively to an organisation’s risk assessment and crisis preparation.

Upon completing this qualification, learners will be able to:

  • Analyse the causes and assess the likelihood of circumstances requiring crisis communication

  • Contribute to the organisation’s risk assessment and crisis preparations

  • Manage public relations during a crisis

  • Understand ethical issues in complex situations

The CIPR Specialist Diploma in Crisis Communications is a level 7 qualification, similar to a Masters level degree and typically can be completed in around 6 months.

Distance Learning

£1,25000+VAT
  • Virtual Classes £1350 +VAT
  • Face-to-face Learning £1450 +VAT
  • Not Including CIPR Fees
Course Enquiry

Free Access to All Specialist Diplomas

For delegates who sign up to any of our Specialist Diplomas, we are offering reading access to not only their selected qualification, but all three of our Level 7 Specialist Diplomas (Sustainability Communications, Crisis Communications and Digital Communications).

Delegates who then wish to gain an additional Level 7 qualification through completion of an additional assessment, will be offered 50% off our course fees to do so.

Free Project Management Qualification

All delegates who choose to undertake their CIM or CIPR qualifications with us, will have the option of studying a free project management qualification as well. Delegates can choose between either the APM Project Fundamentals Qualification* (PFQ), the AgilePM Foundation or the PRINCE2 Foundation.

These courses provide a great introduction to project management skills, which tie in nicely to wider public relations roles. If you would like to gain the full project management qualification, you will just need to pay the assessment and/or book fees associated with your chosen course.

Course Structure

This qualification consists of three elements, and after completion, candidates will be able to:

Apply key concepts in crisis response:

  • The societal, economic and media crisis context

  • Relevant public relations theories and concepts

  • The roots of reputation

  • The risks to, and the role and value of, reputation in a crisis

  • Winning trust and the withdrawal of society’s permission to operate

  • The difference between emergency communications and a crisis

  • The crisis and issues lifecycle

  • Identifying and managing key stakeholders in a crisis

  • The influence of social media, groupthink and the active citizen

Apply best practice models including:

  • Assessing public risk (particularly for public bodies including the precautionary principle)

  • Analysing and defining types of crisis

  • Analysing trends in management practice, organisations and their working environments to predict when a crisis might arise

  • The role of the professional practitioner in crisis management and their place in the crisis management team

  • Researching and producing analysis of a crisis communication-related issue or development

  • Managing media and social media in a crisis

Prepare and critically evaluate crisis response, including:

  • Establishing a crisis-ready organisation

  • Testing methods and scenarios for crisis plans

  • Strategic and tactical messaging in a crisis

  • Learning from the crisis, and post-crisis reputation repair

Apply Online

Assessment

The CIPR Specialist Diploma in Crisis Communications is assessed through two elements:

  • 3,000-word executive report

  • 2,000-word summary analysis of secondary research

Course Details

Entry Requirements

The CIPR Specialist Diploma in Crisis Communications is aimed at experienced PR professionals.

Delegates should have one of the following:

  • Have completed a CIPR Qualification and have two year’s experience in a PR environment
  • Hold a business / marketing degree, in addition to one year’s work experience
  • Hold a non business / marketing degree, in addition to two years’ experience in PR
  • Have four years’ relevant full-time employment in PR, in addition to five GCSE’s, one of which must be in English Language

If you are unsure if you are eligible, please do get in touch to discuss.

Course Start Dates

The CIPR Specialist Diploma in Crisis Communications can be started at various times throughout the year depending on how you wish to study.

Pricing

The price of the CIPR Specialist Diploma in Crisis Communications starts from £1,250 + VAT for pure distance-learning and £1,350 + VAT for virtual-learning.

There is an additional cost of £423 for CIPR registration and assessment.

Study Options

The CIPR Diploma can be studied via pure distance-learning or via virtual classes. With pure distance-learning, delegates can get started on the course at any time and are free to work through the online materials at their own pace at any time. Virtual-learning classes are delivered by expert PR tutors over Zoom and all delegates have full access to the online learning system.

CIPR Specialist Diploma (Crisis Communications) Timetable

CIPR Specialist Diploma Crisis Communication Syllabus

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