Accredited public relations professionals is a public relations professional certification

Professional certification

Professional certification, trade certification, or professional designation, often called simply certification or qualification, is a designation earned by a person to assure qualification to perform a job or task...

 provided by Universal Accreditation Board.

Accredited in public relations/APR

Accredited in public relations (APR) is a voluntary certification program for industry professionals, and is considered the mark of distinction for those who demonstrate commitment to the profession and to its ethical practice. Those who earn the APR demonstrate a broad knowledge, strategic perspective, and sound professional judgment of modern public relations. Currently there are more than 5,000 public relations professionals who hold the APR.

The accreditation program was established in 1964. Its fundamental purpose is to unify and advance the profession by identifying those who have demonstrated broad knowledge, experience and professional judgment in the field.

Qualifications

The accreditation process is designed for professionals with five or more years of industry experience. To earn the APR, candidates first must complete a written submission to a series of questions on professional experience, their company or organization and readiness to complete the program. If the written submission is approved, the candidate schedules a readiness review with a panel of seasoned public relations professionals and presents a portfolio of work. The final element is successfully passing a computer-based examination, which tests the candidate on knowledge, skills and abilities in the practice of public relations.
Those who earn the accreditation can retain the designation for life. However, every three years APRs must complete a maintenance application that details qualifying professional development activities, as well as keep current membership in one UAB member organization.

Membership

The accreditation process is administered by the Universal Accreditation Board, a consortium of nine leading public relations organizations. The public relations organizations that are members of the Universal Accreditation Program include the Agricultural Relations Council, Florida Public Relations Association

Florida Public Relations Association

Founded in 1938, the Florida Public Relations Association is the oldest public relations association in the United States. The statewide organization is composed of nearly 1,500 public relations professionals dedicated to:...

, Maine Public Relations Council, National School Public Relations Association, Public Relations Society of America

Public Relations Society of America

The ' , based in New York City, is the world's largest organization for public relations professionals. The organization has more than 21,000 members, including professionals from public relations agencies, corporations, government, health care institutions, military, professional services firms,...

(PRSA), Religion Communicators Council, Southern Public Relations Federation, Texas Public Relations Association and Asociación de Relacionistas Profesionales de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Public Relations Association).