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When to start 1-Year APR Timeline
Obtain your APR - Accreditation in Public Relations! It's the industry standard for PR Excellence!
Make sure you understand the APR timetable before you launch your APR Journey!
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 (e.g., public relations, journalism, mass communication) or have equivalent work experience, which includes public relations principles, public relations writing, public relations campaigns, research, ethics and law and internship (practical experience under supervision). Some member organizations have stricter requirements.
1. Before your application:
a. Study the APR Study Guide or texts: Effective Public Relations / PR Strategies and Tactics
b. Talk to your APR Chair
c. Enroll in the APRPREP Online Course ($195.00)
d. Ask for an APR Mentor
e. Download and complete the APR Candidate Questionnaire (with APR Chair)
2. Application. Complete and email your APR Application and $385.00 to the Universal Accreditation Board
a. Time: 4 weeks notice of eligibility from the UAB
b. ***** Your one-year APR Clock Starts Now *****
(Time: Finish and pass the exam in one year... get $110.00 cash back)
(APR Chair reaches out to candidate within 30 days of approved application to coordinate Panel Presentation.)
c. Submit final APR questionnaire to APR Chair. The APR Chair will send to panelists.
d. Time: 15-day minimum before scheduled Panel Presentation date
e. Finish APR Portfolio Presentation (with APR Chair) for APR Panel. Only show 3-person panel at the time of panel. Not beforehand.
f. Time: 5 days after panel, APR Panel mails original paper "Advance/Not Advance" to UAB in New York. Make 1 confidential copy for records.
g. Time: UAB sends notification letter in mail within 3-4 weeks.
h. Time: Advance will get Prometric Testing Site ID# to schedule computer-based Exam 30 days out
i. Time: Not Advance. Repeat Panel Presentation after 90 days. You can appeal results after two re-takes.
j. Time: 6-month extension ($50.00 fee) only after successful Panel Presentation "Advance to APR Exam"
k. Time: Exam Pass/Fail unofficial results the same day of APR Exam
l. Time: Exam Pass/Fail official results from UAB in 3-4 weeks. Get your official APR Certificate.
m. Time: Exam Retake Intent Letter to Kathy Mulvihill within 6 months. $200.00 Fee. No waiting period to retake.
n. Time: APR Chair presents APR Pin at a Pikes Peak PRSA Event and sends News Release to media and boss.
Make sure you understand the APR timetable before you launch your APR Journey!
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 (e.g., public relations, journalism, mass communication) or have equivalent work experience, which includes public relations principles, public relations writing, public relations campaigns, research, ethics and law and internship (practical experience under supervision). Some member organizations have stricter requirements.
1. Before your application:
a. Study the APR Study Guide or texts: Effective Public Relations / PR Strategies and Tactics
b. Talk to your APR Chair
c. Enroll in the APRPREP Online Course ($195.00)
d. Ask for an APR Mentor
e. Download and complete the APR Candidate Questionnaire (with APR Chair)
2. Application. Complete and email your APR Application and $385.00 to the Universal Accreditation Board
a. Time: 4 weeks notice of eligibility from the UAB
b. ***** Your one-year APR Clock Starts Now *****
(Time: Finish and pass the exam in one year... get $110.00 cash back)
(APR Chair reaches out to candidate within 30 days of approved application to coordinate Panel Presentation.)
c. Submit final APR questionnaire to APR Chair. The APR Chair will send to panelists.
d. Time: 15-day minimum before scheduled Panel Presentation date
e. Finish APR Portfolio Presentation (with APR Chair) for APR Panel. Only show 3-person panel at the time of panel. Not beforehand.
f. Time: 5 days after panel, APR Panel mails original paper "Advance/Not Advance" to UAB in New York. Make 1 confidential copy for records.
g. Time: UAB sends notification letter in mail within 3-4 weeks.
h. Time: Advance will get Prometric Testing Site ID# to schedule computer-based Exam 30 days out
i. Time: Not Advance. Repeat Panel Presentation after 90 days. You can appeal results after two re-takes.
j. Time: 6-month extension ($50.00 fee) only after successful Panel Presentation "Advance to APR Exam"
k. Time: Exam Pass/Fail unofficial results the same day of APR Exam
l. Time: Exam Pass/Fail official results from UAB in 3-4 weeks. Get your official APR Certificate.
m. Time: Exam Retake Intent Letter to Kathy Mulvihill within 6 months. $200.00 Fee. No waiting period to retake.
n. Time: APR Chair presents APR Pin at a Pikes Peak PRSA Event and sends News Release to media and boss.
APR Panel Presentation Timeline
You will submit either an electronic copy or 3 copies of your typewritten responses to the Panel Presentation Questionnaire no fewer than 15 business days before your scheduled Panel Presentation. Submit your completed document to your local or organizational Accreditation chair.
Panel Presentation Scoring Criteria
The Panel Presentation panel will be responsible for evaluating candidates’ readiness in 12 specific areas of competence that cannot effectively be judged in the computer-based Examination environment:
1. Creative conceptualization/creativity: Uses imagination to develop new insights into or responses to
a public relations issue. Develops innovative solutions to the issue or problems posed. Devises new
methods/processes or adapts existing ones when the standard methods and processes are not applicable.
2. Initiative: Displays courage in suggesting new ideas and justifying them to clients/employers.
3. Interpersonal skills: Relates empathetically to other individuals in order to understand their concerns or
needs. Influences another’s decision or behavior. Displays confidence when interacting with others.
4. Management skills: Develops expertise in planning, organizing, budgeting, communicating,
coordinating, scheduling, monitoring and evaluating.
5. Multi-tasking: Effectively and efficiently manages numerous projects and responsibilities simultaneously.
Applies prioritization and tracks progress toward completion of tasks.
6. Flexibility: Responds to the changing business, social and cultural landscape.
7. Time management: Prioritizes and sequences tasks to meet goals and deadlines.
8. Uses multiple delivery mechanisms: Uses advertising, direct mail, Web and other delivery
mechanisms and promotional tools effectively.
9. Communication skills/Speaking: Demonstrates logical thinking when describing client issues and
framing approaches to solving public relations problems.
10. Communication skills/Writing and Editing: Communicates relevant information (including technical
material) in a concise, organized fashion. Writes content that is factual and grammatically accurate, and at a
reading level that is appropriate to the target audience. Authors persuasive communication material for
public relations programs. Demonstrates the ability to examine and alter a document and correct for format,
organization, completeness, factual accuracy, style, tone and grammar.
11. Communication skills/Listening: Receives, interprets, verifies, and responds to verbal and non-verbal
messages and other cues in the context of client, teammate and audience concerns.
12. Presentation skills: Uses visual aids (charts, slides, transparencies, etc.) effectively. Maintains eye
contact with audience. Uses appropriate language, gestures, tone of voice and volume to convey
information.
1. Creative conceptualization/creativity: Uses imagination to develop new insights into or responses to
a public relations issue. Develops innovative solutions to the issue or problems posed. Devises new
methods/processes or adapts existing ones when the standard methods and processes are not applicable.
2. Initiative: Displays courage in suggesting new ideas and justifying them to clients/employers.
3. Interpersonal skills: Relates empathetically to other individuals in order to understand their concerns or
needs. Influences another’s decision or behavior. Displays confidence when interacting with others.
4. Management skills: Develops expertise in planning, organizing, budgeting, communicating,
coordinating, scheduling, monitoring and evaluating.
5. Multi-tasking: Effectively and efficiently manages numerous projects and responsibilities simultaneously.
Applies prioritization and tracks progress toward completion of tasks.
6. Flexibility: Responds to the changing business, social and cultural landscape.
7. Time management: Prioritizes and sequences tasks to meet goals and deadlines.
8. Uses multiple delivery mechanisms: Uses advertising, direct mail, Web and other delivery
mechanisms and promotional tools effectively.
9. Communication skills/Speaking: Demonstrates logical thinking when describing client issues and
framing approaches to solving public relations problems.
10. Communication skills/Writing and Editing: Communicates relevant information (including technical
material) in a concise, organized fashion. Writes content that is factual and grammatically accurate, and at a
reading level that is appropriate to the target audience. Authors persuasive communication material for
public relations programs. Demonstrates the ability to examine and alter a document and correct for format,
organization, completeness, factual accuracy, style, tone and grammar.
11. Communication skills/Listening: Receives, interprets, verifies, and responds to verbal and non-verbal
messages and other cues in the context of client, teammate and audience concerns.
12. Presentation skills: Uses visual aids (charts, slides, transparencies, etc.) effectively. Maintains eye
contact with audience. Uses appropriate language, gestures, tone of voice and volume to convey
information.
