Education · 1 of 5

The path

A degree or diploma in communications, then internships, then a job you grow into.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   English marks matter most. Join the school paper, yearbook or student council.

2. 2

   Post-secondary

   2 to 4 years

   A 4-year degree in public relations, communications or journalism, or a 2-year college diploma. Many take any degree and then a 1-year graduate certificate in PR (public relations).

3. 3

   Internships and volunteering

   During school

   Write for a charity, run social media for a club, help a campaign. Employers hire on writing samples.

4. 4

   Coordinator job

   1 to 3 years

   Drafting releases, building media lists, monitoring coverage. Expect 1 to 3 years here.

5. 5

   Specialist and beyond

   Ongoing

   Own accounts or a company's messaging. Some later earn the APR (Accredited in Public Relations) mark from CPRS (Canadian Public Relations Society).