Accreditation in Public Relations

Accredited in Public Relations (APR) is the only professional certification program open to public relations professionals. It is administered by the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), a consortium of 10 leading industry organizations, including PRSA.

Any PRSA member in good standing can take on the challenge of earning accreditation. However, it is recommended that candidates have at least five years’ experience in the full-time practice or teaching of public relations and who have earned either a bachelor’s degree in a communication-specific field, or have equivalent work experience.

What is Accreditation?

The Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) credential certifies your drive, professionalism, and principles, setting you apart from your peers and positioning you as a leader and mentor in the competitive public relations field. Candidates undergo rigorous preparation for an accreditation exam managed by the Universal Accreditation Board and administered by the Public Relations Society of America.

Accreditation Scholarships

The Central New York Chapter of PRSA now offers a scholarship program for members seeking Accreditation in Public Relations (APR). The APR is the only certification for public relations practitioners and recognizes significant knowledge, skills, and abilities in the practice of public relations. This scholarship seeks to encourage and help qualified public relations professionals in Central New York to pursue their accreditation by providing financial assistance and resources, including a library of textbooks and access to an online study course. Two scholarships of up to $450 each will be awarded annually to cover $255 of the examination fee, as well as the full $195 online study course fee. This will require the recipient to contribute $130 toward the application fee, and the recipient will then receive a $110 rebate upon completion of the APR exam. Recipients must be Central New York Chapter members. Contact the Chapter to learn more.

Accreditation Tools

The Central New York Chapter also offers the following APR textbooks in a Chapter Library available for Chapter members to borrow for up to one month at a time:

• Cutlip and Center’s Effective Public Relations (Broom)
• Public Relations: Strategies and Tactics (Wilcox)
• Strategic Planning for Public Relations (Smith)
• The Handbook of Strategic Public Relations & Integrated Communications (Caywood)

Interested?

Central New York is home to a number of APR credentialed practitioners, including many on our board of directors. Contact us to learn more about the program and how the chapter can support your APR journey.