The Southwest Missouri Chapter of PRSA in Springfield has taken a different approach to completing the Accreditation process. Once accepted into the program, candidates here prepare for the Readiness Review, submitting their project and then preparing for the panel Review. Once successfully completed, we dive into the prep for the online Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations. It’s worked well for the four of us who have completed the Accreditation process.
One of the advantages of studying and preparing for the Readiness Review first is that it’s more of a “known quantity.” You know your project inside out; it’s familiar territory, and so you get comfortable and confident with the process.
Preparing for the online Examination is more daunting because no matter how much you prepare, you really don’t know if you’ve studied enough or studied smart. The APR Online Study Course certainly helps, and I’d recommend it as money well spent, even if you don’t complete every activity.
If this reverse order approach sounds appealing, one change I’d recommend is to familiarize yourself with the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) covered by the Examination as you prepare for the Readiness Review. Had I done my homework, I’d have written the answers to my Readiness Review Questionnaire differently.
Jennifer Ailor, APR, Ailor Communications, Accredited in June 2010. Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn.
