Public Relations Certification FAQ

When exploring career opportunities, you may have come across many positions focusing on collaboration and communication between businesses and consumers or stakeholders. The public relations (PR) field supports organizations by building and fostering relationships with audiences, consumers and the wider public.

Learn more about what it takes to pursue and succeed in this career with these public relations degree FAQs.

What Is A Public Relations Certification?

A public relations certificate is a program of study in which students receive fundamental, practical instruction in the concepts needed to succeed as public relations professionals.

As a career path, public relations is most closely related to the field of communications because the focus is on creating content and crafting effective messaging. In the PR field, however, you must also understand and interpret public opinion to protect a business or organization’s reputation. You will also need to be able to convey these messages to organizational leadership in an actionable way.

What Classes Are Required For A Public Relations Certificate?

The kinds of classes you’ll take to receive your public relations certification include:

• Writing: In almost any profession, being able to express yourself well is essential. College writing classes will help you build skills in writing and research, which will be essential in your career. Specific classes in journalism, public relations and speech-writing can tailor and refine your communication skills.

• Media arts and technology: Learn about and analyze the impacts of mass media, including film, television, radio and social media, on politics, entertainment, pop culture and advertising.
• Business: Since you will work with and within organizations, you should understand how businesses operate ethically and take accountability.
• Marketing: Gain a better understanding of how businesses develop marketing messaging.
• Public relations: Naturally, your certificate program will include a class on the main principles and practices of a PR professional. Learn how to create press releases, public service announcements, newsletters and presentations.

What Degree Do You Need For Public Relations?

The best thing about pursuing public relations is that many of the skills you need are not incredibly niche, and finding success does not require a degree. However, having a certificate in public relations can open many doors for you as you pursue jobs and advance in your career.

Employers want to know that you understand the basic responsibilities and challenges of PR, and a certificate shows them you’ve invested time and energy into developing your technical skills. The public relations certificate is a one-year, two-semester program. A certificate is an excellent path if:

• You’ve recently graduated from high school.
• You’re looking to change careers.
• You’re returning to school later in your life.

While you have many opportunities with a PR certificate, you can also pursue an associate degree for just one year longer. This path can open up even more jobs and expand your career. You have a few options when pursuing an associate degree at Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) if your goal is a career in PR, including majors like:

• Business Administration
• Professional Writing Track
• Media Arts and Technology
• Media Communications Track

All these options will provide excellent hard and soft skills that employers look for in PR professionals.

If you want positions in management or to work with larger companies, you might continue to pursue higher education in public relations with a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

What Jobs Can You Get In Public Relations?

There are so many things you can do with a public relations degree. Because businesses will always need professionals who can engage and build positive relationships with stakeholders, the career outlook for PR is very positive — the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that PR specialists will have faster-than-average job growth at around 6% between 2023 and 2033.

Examples of jobs you can get with a certificate or degree in public relations include:

• Public relations assistant
• Public relations manager
• Director of public relations
• Media coordinator
• Public information officer
• Communications specialist
• Content manager
• Public affairs specialist
• Relationship manager
• Content strategist
• Community outreach coordinator

What Is The Average Salary For Public Relations In Massachusetts?

In MA, the average pay for public relations professionals falls between $58,000 and $142,000. Many factors influence compensation, including the type of PR work you’re doing, your level of education, and the industry or companies you work for. As in many fields, the highest earners tend to be those in management.

If you want to progress quickly in your career, consider transferring your associate degree into a bachelor’s degree at a four-year institution. With MWCC’s transfer program, you can seamlessly apply your associate degree coursework to a participating bachelor’s program, saving time and money.

Is A Public Relations Job Worth It?

If you’re passionate about working with companies and enjoy communicating and collaborating with others, a public relations job is definitely worth it. On top of the salary projections and job security, it can be a highly rewarding field with many opportunities for upward mobility.

Pursuing education in PR also sets you up for a huge range of job avenues you can explore. These include opportunities in organizations of all sizes, from large corporations to small, community nonprofits. Public relations professionals are also essential in the entertainment industry. If you’ve always wanted to work with entertainers, artists or influencers, a job in entertainment PR might be the right fit for you.

Public relations professionals have essential hard and soft skills that most employers seek. And because organizations will always need to connect with stakeholders, entering the public relations field can set up excellent long-term career growth. Forbes reports that building brand trust and relationships with consumers — a key function of PR — is essential to a business’s success.

Begin Your PR Career With A Certificate Or Degree From MWCC

Mount Wachusett Community College is passionate about our students’ success, which is why we offer a variety of programs and services. Our academic and career advising can help you navigate all the different career paths you can take in public relations. We also offer free tutoring and learning support at our Student Success Center.

With an excellent transfer agreement program, you can apply your associate degree credits and continue your studies at a four-year institution. Because MWCC is so affordable, this path will save you money and make it that much easier to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Reach out to MWCC to request more information about our Public Relations Certificate and other degree programs. When you’re ready to get started, complete our free online application.