A new study appears to support the view that professional communications qualifications help to further career progression.

The survey by PR Academy – the Chartered Institute of Public Relations’s course centre – reveals that 80% of those holding a professional communications qualification say either that it has led to career progression or promotion, or that they are confident it will.

PR Academy surveyed its current and past students to find out more about their status, views on professional qualifications, as well as what the current trends in qualifications are for communications practitioners. Of those surveyed, 28% are operating with director or ‘head of’ in their job titles.

“With most students choosing to study for professional qualifications when they are operating as executives, officers or managers, these figures would also seem to support the link between qualifications and career progression,” said PR Academy director Ann Pilkington.

The survey also includes information about communication professionals’ education, the sector they work in, why they are studying for a professional qualification, and whether they receive employer funding.