The Consultancy Management Standard II (CMS II) of the ICCO (International Communications Consultancy Organisation) provides internationally recognized quality-assurance standards in the PR industry. A PR agency’s work is examined in CMS II for its quality in a transparent and neutral way, giving clients additional help in their selection.

CMS II certification is already a membership requirement for associations or for participation in tenders in many countries.

The international umbrella association ICCO is advising all its members to conform to CMS, which was developed in Great Britain in 1997. Several countries already require CMS certification as a binding basis for membership in a PR association. Thus, CMS is the accepted standard in Great Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Turkey.

In Austria, ICCO Consultancy Management Standard II is being introduced by PR Quality Austria as the country’s ICCO partner. Certification is possible for all agencies, after applying to PR Quality Austria. Agencies will also acquire membership of PR Group Austria as part of the certification, which is carried out by the international risk manager DNV. The certification has to be renewed every second year.


PR Quality Austria: www.prquality.at
ICCO www.iccopr.com