After 50 years, the Accredited in Public Relations (APR) remains the only nationally recognized certification of the public relations profession.
The APR is a rigorous voluntary certification program that tests a public relations professional’s knowledge, skills and abilities in more than 40 areas ranging from research, planning, program evaluation, business literacy, ethics, management skills and more. Candidates must pass a computer-based examination after being evaluated by a panel of peers.
Earning the APR is open to professionals with a recommended five or more years public relations experience. Candidates should allocate a year to study and complete the requirements. The Accreditation program is administered by the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), a consortium of nine leading public relations and communications organizations, including PRSA. The APR designation is “good for life,” providing the individual remains a current member of a UAB participating organization and completes maintenance requirements every three years.
To get started, visit prsa.org. You will find a variety of online sources including an overview, application, study guide, sample test, online study course and recommended texts. Locally, PRSA Lookout will begin a March to Accreditation class this year for those interested in earning their APR. For more information, contact PRSA Lookout’s APR Chair Kelly Allen at kallen@qstrategies.com. Learn more here.
