Accreditation Preparation Program 
Accreditation Completion Program
IABC/BC ABC Listing

Accredited Business Communicator (ABC) is the professional designation offered by the International Association of Business Communicators. It offers professional communicators a way to demonstrate their ability to think and plan strategically and to successfully manage the skills essential for effective organizational communication.

The ABC designation can contribute significantly to workplace credibility and earning power, and is recognized worldwide by all IABC chapters and many employers.
Becoming an Accredited Business Communicator is both professionally and personally rewarding. The ABC designation is increasingly valuable to organizations and clients as part of the job search and career enhancement process, and is recognized worldwide by all chapters of IABC.

IABC/BC offers two programs to both educate and support members who wish to become accredited: the Accreditation Preparation Program (APP) – a series of skill development workshops – and the Accreditation Completion Program (ACP) – a coaching program that guides you step-by-step through the entire accreditation process.

Accreditation Preparation Program 

Why Accreditation Preparation Program
Course Description
Instructors
Cost
Who Should Participate
Dates
Application

Why Accreditation Preparation Program

While it is not required to take the APP to become ready for either the Accreditation Completion Program or acceditation itself, it will help almost-qualified IABC members to both fill in skill gaps and to begin to navigate the accreditation journey. Learning or honing necessary accreditation skills directly from senior practitioners in the field and peers is helpful in both building confidence and helping making decisions re: readiness for accreditation and timing of next steps.

The APP is particularly suited to future ABC candidates who want to learn on-site during classes, but don't have time for off-site work (there is no homework per se for this program) and who want to measure their readiness for accreditation through learning and discussion. Read the comments of some APP participants who've taken the program.

Course Description

The Accreditation Preparation Program (APP) is designed to help fill those knowledge gaps and assist in readying “almost-qualified” candidates for the accreditation process. It is a five- to six-week program (six Wednesday in a row, for example). Completion of the APP does not assume automatic success into the ACP or guarantee full readiness for the accreditation process.

Instructors

The preparation program is instructed by senior accredited members with expertise in key areas. It incorporates instruction, candidate buddies and independent reading/learning. The following were volunteer instructors in the past:

Laurie Dawkins, ABC
Director, External Relations & Special Projects
Lower Mainland Communications & Public Affairs
(Fraser Health, Providence Health Care, Provincial Health Services Authority & Vancouver Coastal Health)

Karen J. Lee, ABC, MC
Principal
The KJ Lee Group

Gail Pickard, ABC
Manager, Strategic Communications
Insurance Corporation of British Columbia

Ron Shewchuk, ABC, MC
Independent Consultant

Kate Stebbings, ABC
Senior Consultant
Communication Solutions

Cost

Cost of the program is $350 CDN. This includes the Manager's Guide to Excellence in Public Relations and Communication Management textbook, meals at all meetings and instruction. Class size is limited to twelve students per term.

Who Should Participate?

The program is designed for intermediate- to senior-level practitioners with most, but not all, qualifications for accreditation. They have gaps in the areas noted above, have never entered or judged awards and have limited experience in creating strategic communications work plans, but have managed and/or worked on multi-faceted communication programs.

Dates

The Fall 2010 dates are currently being planned. The program will likely run from early October through early November.

Note: the program will not run in Spring 2010.

Application

To request an application form please email lisa.thibault@fraserhealth.ca.  Deadline for applications is September 1, 2010.

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Accreditation Completion Program (ACP)

Why Accreditation Completion Program
Advantages of ACP
Cost
Interested in accreditation?
Dates
Timing is everything 
IABC/BC ABC Listing

The Accreditation Completion Program (ACP) has been running for more than six years and is credited for increasing the number of ABCs in the BC chapter from 13-80 – currently the second highest number of ABCs of any chapter in the world. The ACP is now the International standard for accreditation support programs offered by chapters around the world.

The program includes, but is not limited to, monthly group meetings, assignment of a personal accredited mentor, individual and personalized review of your ABC portfolio, exam tips and samples, mock exams and, finally, a local group sitting of the exam followed by recognition at a chapter event.

Why Accreditation Completion Program

The chapter’s Accreditation Completion Program (ACP) is a six-month course designed to take qualified candidates step-by-step through the accreditation process. It is not a course to teach communication skills, but a process-driven coaching program.

Experience has shown over the past five years of the ACP that knowledge gaps can exist with accreditation candidates that make completion of the process difficult and, at times, unrealistic. Gaps often exist in the areas of:

• Crisis communications/Issues management
• Managing the strategic communications function
• Technical areas such as media relations and investor relations
• Portfolio preparation/writing strategic communication plans
• Integrating research into portfolios and practice

Advantages of ACP

While any qualified IABC member can work through the accreditation process on his or her own, the ACP helps you navigate the accreditation journey, learning from your fellow aspiring ABCs and accredited members along the way. The ACP is particularly suited to ABC candidates who feel they need the added incentive of a program or mentor to complete their accreditation. It is process-driven coaching program versus a skill-development program (see the Accreditation Preparation Program above). Read the comments of some ABCs who've been there. 

Cost

IABC/BC Accreditation Completion Program: CAD$350 (six-month program), includes "The Manager's Guide to Excellence in Communication," meals at monthly meetings, portfolio shipping fees and other administrative costs.

Interested in accreditation?

To find out if you are ready to embark on the ABC journey, take the Accreditation Readiness Quiz. Or take the time to work through the Communicators' Competency Model. For more information about the benefits of accreditation, visit the IABC international website.

Then, if you know one of the ABCs listed below, contact them to find out more about their accreditation experience and if they think you might be ready. Or, contact Lisa Thibault, ABC, at 604-587-4607 or mailto:Lisa.Thibault@fraserhealth.ca

Now, consider becoming involved with IABC awards judging – it offers great insight into what is expected of an accreditation portfolio and is a rich learning experience. A couple times a year, the chapter offers a free three-hour Awards Judging Training Workshop followed by an awards judging experience. Accreditation Completion Program candidates will be required to have completed the workshop and judging prior to applying for the program. Basically, you learn how to judge IABC awards programs, then you’re paired up with an experienced ABC to put that learning into practice.

Dates

The next session will run January to June 2011. Applications for the ACP will be accepted in the Fall. Potential candidates should consider taking the Accreditation Preparation Program in advance. See above.

Timing is everything

If accreditation is in your career plans, consider the following timing:

• Applications accepted for Accreditation Preparation Program: July 1 through September 1, 2010
• Awards Judging Training Workshop (free) & Silver Leaf Awards judging: late July/early August (watch for info and registration online in mid-July)
• Accreditation Preparation Program: October-November 2010 (six consecutive weeks)
• Accreditation Completion Program: January - June 2011
  
  

IABC/BC ABC Listing

The IABC/BC chapter is staunchly proud of its growing number of ABCs, thanks in large part to its supportive Accreditation Preparation and Completion Programs. Today we're ranked second in the world in terms of number of ABCs (84) and percentage of ABCs (14%). We're equally proud of the Master Communicators among our accredited ranks. Master Communicator is the highest honour bestowed on a Canadian member and recognizes a member's contribution to both the profession and association. MCs are denoted below with an asteriks. 

First Name	Last Name	Company
Kristin	Abraham	North Shore Credit Union
Clay	Adams	Vancouver Coastal Health
Nicole	Adams	Streetohome Foundation
Gordon	Allan	St. George's School
Jonathan	Anthony	Teekay Corporation
Valerie	Arlette	Arlette Communication Inc.
Kim	Barbero	Consultant
Warren	Bickford	Vancouver Coastal Health
Sandra	Blue	District of Maple Ridge
Sharon	Boglari	ICBC
Kathleen	Bourchier	Kathleen Bourchier Strategic Communications
Cathy	Brisebois	Independent Consultant
Amanda	Brittain	Association of BC Forest Professionals
Brenda Lea	Brown	BC Securities Commission
Lyn	Brown	Catalyst Paper Corporation
Kathleen	Butler	Fraser Health Authority
Rosetta	Cannata	Vancity Credit Union
Debbie	Chow	Debbie P. Chow Consulting
Robyn	Crisanti	QLT Inc.
Gillian	Crowley	Clarion Communications
Laurie	Dawkins	Vancouver Coastal Health
Fred	Dawkins	Frontline Communication Ltd.
Susan	de Stein	DDSM Partners
Shelby	Diakow	Keyword Communications
Laima	Dingwall	Raymond James Ltd.
Chris	Dotson	Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management Ltd.
Christen	Downie	Methanex Corporation
Erin	Driscoll	Consultant
Zaneta	Ewashko	Methanex Corporation
Chris	Freek	Vancouver Coastal Health
Chris	Freimond	Chris Freimond Public Relations Inc.
Kirk	Grayson	ICBC
Sylvia	Hawley	Telus
Kristjana	Hawthorne
Therese	Hayes	QLT Inc.
Maureen	Healey	Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Assoc.
Wendy	Heshka	Communication Solutions
Eduarda	Hodgins	ICBC
Shannon	Holms	BC Public Service Agency
Robert	Hulyk	BC Medical Association
Victoria	Klassen	Government of BC
Wendy	Kubota	Consultant
Trudy	Lancelyn	Insurance Brokers Association of BC
* Karen	Lee	The KJ Lee Group
Ann	Macdonald	BC Cancer Agency
Daniel	Maceluch	Consultant
Norene	MacLeod	HSBC
Frances	Maika	VOX Communications
Paula	Martin	Vancity Credit Union
Clare	Marwick	ICBC
Dave	McGrath	Vector Aerospace Corporation
Anne	McLaughlin	Anne McLauglin Communications
Therese	Mickelson	Mickelson Consulting Inc.
Brian	Mitchell	BC Treaty Commission
Nancy	Painter	ICBC
Kate	Pasieka	ICBC
Gail	Pickard	ICBC
Heather	Prime	BCAA
Deborah	Ramsay	Consultant
Roberta	Randall	BC Housing
* Irene	Rau
Ruth	Raymond	Ruthless Editorial Services Ltd.
Diane	Read	Blueridge Communications Inc.
* Peter	Roaf	Delta Chamber of Commerce
Randall	Schmidt	University of BC
Chris	Shauf
* Ron	Shewchuk	Consultant
Jay	Shukin	EPCOR Utilities
Harold	Simons	ICBC
Paul	Skelhorne	Valley First Credit Union
Kate	Stebbings	Communication Solutions Inc.
Marie	Szklarz	Marie Szklarz Communications Inc.
Lisa	Thibault	Fraser Health Authority
Susan	Thom	BC Housing
* Jennifer	Wah	Forwords Communication, Inc.
Kathleen	Walsh	Government of BC
Kim	Walters	Government of BC
Connie	Wilks	Vancouver Coastal Health
Anita	Wilks	College of Dental Surgeons of BC
Anne	Williams	Ovarian Cancer Canada
* Tudor	Williams	Twisurveys Inc.
Gavin	Wilson	Vancouver Coastal Health
Tracey	Wimperly	Walk the Talk Communications
Cynthia	Wrate	Percolate Consulting Group
* denotes Master Communicator

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