An academic study sponsored by the PRIA in 1989-90 resulted in the development of guidelines for courses in public relations at Australian tertiary institutions. From 1991 undergraduate and postgraduate courses at universities in ACT, NSW, QLD, VIC and WA received PRIA accreditation through to December 1996.
Accreditation is an ongoing process.
The PRIA Accreditation Guidelines were amended in 1996 in preparation for a further review which is still in progress. The tertiary courses accredited to December 1996 and new courses submitted for consideration have either undergone or are now undergoing the review process for accreditation to December 2001. The following universities have undergraduate and postgraduate courses accredited by the PRIA until 31 December 1996, and which have been re-accredited to 31 December 2001, or are involved in the accreditation process. Further information is available from the PRIA National Secretariat.