It seems to be a sort of childish and exclusionary tactic. Let's get real. If a person is not qualified to fill a PR position, the responsibility lies upon the corporation to make the decision.

However, in nearly ever field of expertise, some of the most brilliant and talented professionals have been uneducated, at least having fallen short of receiving a formal degree. It's a simple fact that natural talent can do wonders even when training fails.

Let's not be quite so snobbish as to bully others into believing that there is only one path to success. By paving a wide road and expecting all to pass through, we would merely be amplifying the mediocrity of our own talents and stating our own reliance upon someone else's experiences rather than creating our own. Education is wonderful and quite necessary.

Formalized education, however, begins and ends with the faulty conclusion that all people are the same, that they think the same, should be taught the same, and tested the same. This faulty logic also states that test results are always indicative of how much the student has learned, despite a student's predisposition to auditory, visual, or sensory learning and communication.

And our collaborative PD Network resource (which has just been opened up to non-members who qualify), includes a very sophisticated online competency assessment tool, whereby individuals can assess their current levels of competency in technical knowledge (eight categories), leadership (three categories), professionalism (four categories) and general management (five categories).

Members pick a target profile (by position), then assess their current level and target level. Once they have the results, they can plan their continuing professional development (which is mandatory, to ensure currency of the accounting designation), accordingly.

It doesn't sound like you enjoyed your time as a partner in the CA firm. Pity.

http://indianpr.wordpress.com/2007/04/08/only-people-with-pr-degrees-should-be-hired-for-pr-jobs/

If you read Greendotlfe (Deloitte's unoffical staff forum) you'll see the key to success as measured by your position on the greasy pole has nothing to do with how good you are or even how good clients think you are. It's all about internal perception. In other words, your success is measured by the amount of brown stuff you have smeared on your snout.

Stuart – I had a giggle over the comment about journos and writing skills. I could tell tales that would make your hair curl about some of the tech rock star hacks I've had to edit. Ugly.

I do not believe that a PR degree is essential, except for getting that all important step on the career ladder.

It would be beneficial to the industry if a PR qualification was essential to be able to practice as you point out for the standing of the profession. I am not sure it will happen; it hasn't happened with the CIM diploma and marketing.

I think there are too many attributes that are of value to a PR and not all come with a degree: ability to establish relationships, ability to write, openness to learning and creativity to name a few. And any PR that does not have a background or real understanding of marketing is at a loss.

I was a at retail outlet not too long ago and the person who served me had excellent customer service skills, is confident and is tri-lingual. If he can write, I would seriously consider him as an employee. Does he have a degree or a PR degree? I haven't got a clue and it would not be the most important question for me.

Many professional accounting designations are also recognized by government statute, because they are regulatory bodies and serve in the public interest as part of their mandate.

Unless the type of accountant to which you refer is your basic bookkeeper (A/P and A/R clerks, ledgers, etc.). But that's certainly not what professional accountants do; nor do I believe it is what you aspire for the PR "profession" to evolve into.

(As I continue to do some "PR for professional accountants" everywhere.)