Participate in PRSA’s online training session, “Getting Ready for the Readiness Review,” on Feb. 14, 2012, 3–4 p.m. EST. This public relations accreditation training sesssion is free to PRSA members.
Ever since I was a student at Buffalo State College and a professor brought in an APR to discuss the benefits of Accreditation with the class, I knew the APR was something I wanted to pursue. Many of my peers in the Buffalo Niagara Chapter of PRSA had earned Accreditation and I wanted to take my career to the next level, as they had.
But how? What was involved? Would I fail? Where do I start?
I’m happy to say that I went for it and successfully completed the Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations in November. Here are a few things I found along the way that helped me, and hopefully will help you too:
- Take prep classes. My Chapter offered APR prep classes that were invaluable in helping me understand the Accreditation process. I got to meet other APRs who shared their experience, got resources to help me study and met with a group of others who I could talk to along the way.
- Submit award entries. One thing I found that really helped me was to have a few award entries under my belt. Take some of your best work from the past year and enter it into your PRSA Chapter’s annual awards using the four-step process. And hey, if you win something, you’ve got a great portfolio piece for your Readiness Review!
- Study. After you’ve successfully been Advanced through the Readiness Review, it’s up to you to schedule the Examination. Don’t wait! Crack the books and get studying. I recommend the 10th edition of Cutlip and Center’s Effective Public Relations for two reasons:
- It is cross-referenced from the APR Study Guide, so you can dig deeper into a subject if you need to.
- There are great online self-study quizzes you can practice with.
While the questions aren’t exactly like what you’ll find in the Examination, it will help you focus in on the areas you need to strengthen before heading into the test.
Armed with these tips, you’ll be in great shape to earn your APR.
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