Overview
The Public Relations Society of
America is proud to offer public relations professionals the opportunity to
become certified through the universal accreditation process. Accreditation
indicates that a professional is a knowledgeable, experienced and ethical
practitioner.
Universal accreditation is the only
international public relations and communications accreditation program
professionally administered and independently field tested and graded in the
same fashion as bar exams, teachers’ exams and certified public accountant
testing. PRSA and 10 organizations in the U.S., New Zealand and Canada are
members of the Universal Accreditation Board.
PRSA members and members of
Universal Accreditation Board organizations who have at least five years
experience in the full-time paid professional practice of public relations or in
teaching or administration of public relations in an accredited college or
university may apply. A member need not be currently employed to qualify to take
the test. Successful candidates are designated APR: Accredited in Public
Relations.
Why Accreditation?
The APR designation is a useful
credential that indicates that practitioners have a working knowledge of
business, communications, media relations and research. Employers today are in
search of ethical, credible professionals who can bring value to an
organization; the APR designation is an indication that you can do so.
Application Process
There
are no longer fall and spring cycles for the Examination for Accreditation in
Public Relations! Now, candidates may schedule to take the computerized,
multiple-choice Examination at their convenience.
Candidates
must first declare their intent to prepare for the Examination by completing an
application process, prepare for and schedule a Readiness Review and then
Advance to take the written examination. Chapter
Accreditation chairs can help candidates determine when to apply and sit for
Readiness Review, especially if any local preparation sessions are planned.
For
Fort Worth members, please contact Kim Speairs, APR - kim@balcomagency.com
Preparation Materials
Listed
below are a few URL's for Accreditation resources and preparation materials:
www.prsa.org/_Advance/apr/process.asp
www.prsa.org/_Advance/apr/faqchair.asp
www.prsa.org/_Advance/apr/rrfaq.asp
www.prsa.org/_Advance/apr/rrquest.asp.
www.prsa.org/_Advance/apr/pdf/rrcaninst.pdf
www.prsa.org/_Advance/apr/publications.asp
The
ultimate resource for the Examination for Accreditation in public relations is
as close as your telephone or computer. If
you can't find the answers to your questions from the Web site,
www.accreditationboard.org,
please contact Kathy Mulvihill, manager of accreditation, at
accred@prsa.org.
or 212-460-1436.
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