Accreditation/APR

 

APR Logo

 

ACCREDITATION

Whether you're a nonprofit, agency or corporate practitioner, the APR after your name gives you the extra advantage.  Need proof?  Here’s what some accredited Buffalo Niagara chapter members say about the value of accreditation:

 “Pursing accreditation was a great way to re-connect with the very basics of public relations as it is so easy to got lost in the day to day of our career. Now that I am accredited, I feel more confident in my work and in the way I am perceived by my co-workers and my peers.”

 --Angela Berti, APR, Marketing and Public Affairs Coordinator, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

“Earning - and carrying - the letters 'APR' after my name has been a source of professional pride and personal accomplishment. Moreover, accreditation is a distinction that is recognized and well respected among my colleagues. I strongly feel it sets one apart when a company needs to find its best, most qualified communicators."

 --Diane Zwirecki, APR, Principal, Plans for Success

“Earning the APR accreditation was a point of departure in my career because it marked the spot where I officially elevated my game to the gold standard of public relations and enabled me to make a clear statement about my commitment to the profession.  It didn’t make me any smarter or any more sage but achieving it gave me additional confidence and reinforced in my mind the belief that I was in the right place for my career."

 --Bill Collins, APR, President, Travers Collins & Company


Are you ready?

To determine if you are ready to earn your accreditation, answer the following questions:

  • Would you like to have an edge on the competition? 
  • Are you proud of your PR acumen and want to show it?
  • Do you want to help strengthen our profession?
  • Would you like to show your supervisor or potential new employer that you have what it takes to safeguard the company’s reputation, build mutually beneficial relationships and successfully manage a crisis?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, then you’re a candidate for accreditation in public relations (APR)!

 The “APR” after your name is an outward symbol of professionalism and a credential that signifies reaching the highest standards in public relations.  It’s good for you, our chapter and our profession.  Though the process to earn accreditation must not be taken lightly, the Buffalo Niagara chapter is there to help you every step of the way.

Eligibility

You are eligible to apply for accreditation if you:

  • Are a member of PRSA
  • Are involved in the professional practice of public relations or in the teaching or administration of public relations courses in an accredited college or university.
  • NOTE:  The five-year waiting period to become accredited is no longer REQUIRED (though it is recommended). You may apply for accreditation at any time.

Three steps

We’ve broken down the accreditation process into three components:

  1. Preparation:  The Buffalo Niagara Chapter offers prep classes every spring, during which you will learn exactly what it takes to succeed.  Over the course of the prep class, you will learn the entire accreditation process in-depth, meet chapter members who recently became accredited and get personalized feedback on your accreditation documents.  We’ll also introduce you to the wealth of resources from PRSA National, including their free downloadable study guide.

  2. Readiness Review:  Your Readiness Review comprises a written Questionnaire and an in-person portfolio presentation with three panelists who are accredited members of the Buffalo Niagara chapter.  Both of these components are reviewed in detail during the chapter’s prep class.

  3. Computer-based Exam:  Once you’ve successfully completed your Readiness Review, you may schedule your computer-based exam.  You will take the exam on your own timetable, but within one year of applying to PRSA National for accreditation.  Once you successfully complete the exam, you may begin using the APR designation!  Accreditation is good for life, as long as you remain a member of PRSA and comply with maintenance procedures.

The "APR" tells your peers, your colleagues, your clients and your employer that you truly understand the public relations profession.  It demonstrates that you have knowledge, character and experience in the field, that you care about your profession and that you are dedicated to enhancing your abilities.

Start your journey today!

From an employer’s perspective, any resume from an APR practitioner that crosses my desk automatically gets a closer look because it says to me that this individual is serious about the profession and will talk my language and that of our firm.  It’s definitely a plus.”

 --Bill Collins, APR, President, Travers Collins & Company

Resources

 

Buffalo Niagara Accredited Members

See which Buffalo Niagara Chapter members have earned the APR mark of distinction:

Angela Berti, APR Don Goralski, APR
Joe Brennan, APR Ken Houseknecht, APR
Patricia Burgio, APR Stanton Hudson, APR, Fellow, PRSA
Emily Burns Perryman, APR Karen Karaszewski, APR
Barbara Byers, APR Arlene Kreusch. APR
Ann Carden, APR, Fellow, PRSA Julie Marranca, APR
Bob Carr, APR Kevin Manne, APR
Bob Chase, APR Linus Ormsby, APR
Bill Collins, APR Jeff Paterson, APR
Rose Collins, APR Judith Rucki, APR
Rick Davis, APR Matt Schmidt, APR
Beth Donovan, APR Deb Silverman, PhD, APR, Fellow, PRSA
Lisa Eikenburg, APR Susan Siwiec, APR
Catherine Foster, APR Ron Smith, APR
Nancy Fredrickson, APR Jennifer Starkey, APR
Kandis Fuller, APR Matthew Tremblay, APR
Jackie Ghosen, APR Diane Zwirecki, APR
Ellen Goldstein, APR