The CIPR is on the move.

Changes were announced to the membership status yesterday. They could have gone further but crucially for the first time they align membership with professional development and break the relationship between membership status and time-served.

I was one of the voices on the CIPR Council that argued that anyone should be able to eligible for membership status providing that they committed to follow the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) scheme.

Membership of the CIPR should be recognised as a commitment to the profession.

The CIPR CPD system isn’t perfect (see comments particularly from Heather Yaxley) but combined with professional qualifications it’s a good start in shifting the industry from a craft to a profession.

The CIPR currently consists of 9,500 individuals across different membership grades. The changes mean that 80 per cent will now be eligible for membership or fellow status. Anyone signing-up will automatically be entered into the CPD scheme but it isn’t mandatory.

My relationship with the CIPR started three years ago. After writing a series of snarky blog posts then President Elect Jay O’Connor told me to put up or shut up.

I also argued that the route to fellowship should be transparent rather than on the basis of “recognition of distinction in the PR profession as defined by Council from time to time.” That remains a work in progress.

The changes make the CIPR a more democratic organisation and open up elections and decision making to a wider base in the industry. That can only be a good thing.

Associate has replaced affiliate as the most common entry level of membership and the route from associate to member is two-years employment in the industry rather than the six-to-ten years previously required.

It also makes the CIPR more inclusive and more relevant to how the PR industry is changing. Colleagues from advertising, digital and media industries are welcome as members.

Not perfect yet, but a good start.