Arrl Pio Course

The ARRL Public Information Officers (PIO) Course (EC-010) provides Amateur Radio operators with the information they need to become effective public information spokespersons. The course is designed to equip operators with the tools to reach the general public and media to promote Amateur Radio. The course is offered online and it takes approximately four to five hours to complete. The course curriculum includes understanding of roles and responsibilities of a PIO, guidelines for media and public relations contacts, working with media representatives, writing press releases, developing informative speeches, and other topics related to public information. The course emphasizes good operating practices and public service. During the course, participants learn personal strategies for how to answer media questions, how to prepare informative meeting presentations and what to do when faced with a potential disaster or emergency situation. The ARRL PIO Course offers radio amateurs the opportunity to become well-informed spokespersons for Amateur Radio. The course is designed to prepare the radio amateur to reach out to the amateur radio community and the general public using a wide range of formats, such as press releases, publicservice announcements, and website postings. The ARRL PIO Course is open to any licensed radio amateur. Upon completion of the course and successful completion of a competency test, students are awarded an ARRL certificate documenting their successful completion of the ARRL PIO Course.