My journey to APR was a long process (at least in my mind) that was interrupted by my youngest child (what an awesome surprise) and that culminated in March 2013. While my path was different than most, although not unique, it consisted of a “self-study” plan.

My “self study” syllabus included:

• Chapter readings — “Effective Public Relations,” 10th edition.
• Using social media tools (blogging, tweeting, pin boards, etc.).
• An online study course (for group study).
• Audiobooks (of myself) reciting the APR Study Guide to listen to.
• Commissioning a graphic artist to create two “one-pager” infographics to help prepare (Readiness Review, CBE).

What to Expect at the Readiness Review

• Be comfortable, yet be powerful.
• Think 50 percent job interview, 50 percent big presentation.
• Just because APRs are leading it, they don’t know everything about public relations. You can teach them something new and/or give them a new strategy/tool/tactic to employ.
• Remember, you have a shared vocabulary (the KSAs), but we all bring something unique to the table.
• Shine!

What to Expect From the Computer-Based Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations

• Three hours and 45 minutes can seem like a long time and a short time (weird).
• Your mind will wander because you’ve been reading voluminous amounts of text.
• You may begin to wish the Examination was “over already” so you just get your score.
• You will begin to wonder, “Why didn’t I study that more?”
• After you submit your Examination, the screen will go blank; and those are the longest 30 seconds of your life. (I felt my heart beating in my chest waiting for the results.)
• Finally, if you’ve lived the APR Examination, you will pass. If you went at it half-heartedly or you aren’t humble, you will fail — it’s as simple as that.

When I saw that I’d passed, the first thing I did was send a tweet … seriously — then I called my husband. Crazy, I know. But I’d made this process so public that I felt that I should share my results publicly as soon as possible.

Continue reading " My Journey to APR: The “Self-Study” Edition "

The webinar Accreditation Power Play: The How-To of Accreditation is now available on-demand. This public relations accreditation training sesssion is free to PRSA members.

Some people earn their APR to impress their boss — or the boss they want to have. I did it to impress my students — to encourage them to be the public relations professionals I want them to be.

I have taught public relations full time since 2007. An APR after my name, I believed, would allow me to speak more authoritatively to students about their need to keep exercising their minds long after they walk across the stage at graduation.

But first I had to go back to school myself.

Continue reading " APR Goal: Inspire Lifelong Learning "

The webinar Accreditation Power Play: The How-To of Accreditation is now available on-demand. This public relations accreditation training sesssion is free to PRSA members.

As a newly Accredited public relations professional, colleagues and professionals regularly ask me about the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) experience, and if it’s something I would recommend. I typically respond with the same answer — maybe. Below is a simple checklist that may help you determine if the APR is the right fit for you. If you answer “yes” to all or most of these questions, then I would encourage you to get started on your journey.

Continue reading " APR: Determining if It’s for You "

Attend the APR Boot Camp, the final preparation for the Readiness Review and APR examination, in San Francisco from Oct. 10–13, just before the PRSA 2012 International Conference.

You’ve likely heard the clever catchphrase, “What Would Jesus Do?,” also known as WWJD, and found on beaded necklaces, charms, etc. Well, for the APR certification process, I coined my own extremely helpful version of that phrase: “What Would APR Do?,” or WWAD.

First, a little bit of background. I spent the majority of my professional life working as a radio and television news reporter. When I left the news business in 2002, I took on several governmental/political roles with some public relations functions. Now, working in my own business for nearly six years, I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to practice nearly every type of public relations discipline — from outreach to crisis communications. When I decided to pursue the challenge of obtaining my APR, I felt ready.

However, I quickly realized there was so much more to learn …

Continue reading " What Would APR Do? "

The webinar Accreditation Power Play: The How-To of Accreditation is now available on-demand. This public relations accreditation training sesssion is free to PRSA members.

When I began my pursuit of Accreditation in Public Relations, I was focused mainly on adding more letters to my name. Little did I realize that achieving the status of APR would bring much more than a title…it would completely change how I approached the profession of public relations.

Many people will tell you about the rigorous nature of preparing (and completing) the APR process. My own journey entailed quite a bit of reading from the “short shelf” of recommended texts, participating in my local chapter’s APR preparation course, being involved with PRSA’s online study group, and countless hours of preparation for the oral and written exam. For anyone deciding to pursue an APR, time and energy is definitely an important component. And, after pouring your life into this, receiving the letter from the Universal Accreditation Board verifying your status is definitely an event to celebrate.

Continue reading " APR: More Than a Title "