APR & CPRC

Thinking about pursuing your APR and/or CPRC credentials?

If so, email Lori McMullin, APR, VP of Accreditation, by emailing her at lori@daytonachamber.com.

The Value of APR

Where your career in public relations takes you is based on individual drive, determination and diligence. The Accredited in Public Relations (APR) designation proves you have successfully demonstrated competency in the knowledge, skills and abilities required to practice public relations effectively in today’s business arena. The Accredited in Public Relations (APR) credential is valuable to those practitioners who earn it; to the agencies, clients and organizations they represent; and, perhaps most importantly, to the public relations profession itself.

Recognized Standard. Established in 1964, the Accreditation Program is the profession’s only national post-graduate certification program. It measures a public relations practitioner’s fundamental knowledge of communications theory and its application; establishes advanced capabilities in research, strategic planning, implementation and evaluation; and demonstrates a commitment to professional excellence and ethical conduct. The skills acquired through the process are applicable to any industry or practice area. Currently, more than 5,000 professionals from the agency, corporate, association and education fields hold the APR mark, Harold Burson and Daniel J. Edelman notable among them. Granting of APR is overseen by the Universal Accreditation Board.

Begin your application and study process today!

In addition, review the FPRA State Association Accreditation page.

Taking the next step: the CPRC

The Certified PR Counselor (CPRC) is a one-of-a-kind credential developed to recognize the professional growth and achievement of senior FPRA members who have already earned the APR designation. As such, candidates must have at least 10 years of professional practice in public relations before sitting for the exam.

The exam is administered throughout the year, and consists of two sections. First, candidates must complete a 14-question written exam with essay topics drawn from case studies. Second, candidates must give a 20-minute presentation to a panel of certified evaluators, to be followed by a 10-minute Q&A.

More details are available on the FPRA Credential page.

NOTE: If you already have your APR, the UAB requires you maintain it! Learn more.

Take it from the Pros! Here are some reasons why to become accredited from our Accreditation Panel in April, ‘22.

Suggested texts for APR Studying include:

Advertising and Public Relations Law

By Roy Moore

Erlbaum, 1998 Competencies Covered: History of and current issues in public relations; Business literacy; Ethics and law; Management skills and issues; Crisis communication management.

Effective Public Relations

By Cutlip, Center and Broom

Prentice-Hall, 1999 Competencies Covered: All

Primer of Public Relations Research

By Don Stacks

Guilford Press, 2002 Competencies Covered: Researching, planning, implementing and evaluating campaigns; Management skills and issues.

Public Relations: Strategies and Tactics

By Dennis Wilcox, et. al.

Longman, 2000 Competencies Covered: All

The Handbook of Strategic Public Relations and Integrated Communications

Clarke Caywood, Editor

McGraw-Hill, 1997 Competencies Covered: All

The Practice of Public Relations

By Fraser Seitel

Prentice-Hall, 2000 Competencies Covered: All

This is PR: The Realities of Public Relations

By Doug Newsom, et. al. Wadsworth, 1999

Competencies Covered: All