Are you looking for a way to boost your credentials? Why not take the accreditation exam?

As you may have heard, PRSA modified the APR exam in 2003. The new exam was developed by Galton Technologies (a professional test development organization) and the UAB. Key changes in the exam include:

• Testing is administered individually at Prometric computer centers nationwide
• Testing is available on dates chosen by you
• Test results are available much sooner
• The exam consists of about 150 challenging test items
• Exam questions are structured in sets of multiple-choice questions and the sequence of test items will be rearranged for each candidate
• The oral examination has been replaced with a "Readiness Review"
• And, it is no longer mandatory for candidates to have five years of paid public relations experience. However, it is strongly recommended that a candidate have five years of experience, as the test is targeted to these individuals.

Preparation for the new exam is similar to processes used in the past. An Accreditation Committee member serves as your personal accreditation contact, trainer and supporter. There is an Accreditation Committee member in each part of the state - Lowcountry, Midlands and Upstate.

Study sessions are offered and candidates will receive a list of several textbooks and other source materials to help them prepare for the Readiness Review and the actual examination.

NEW! APR Online Study Course - http://online2learn.net/APR

This interactive online multimedia course is designed to help APR candidates prepare for the Examination. Course content, geared toward the knowledge, skills and abilities measured during the Examination, is presented through a variety of interactive methods, including multimedia module introductions, asynchronous activities, case study analysis, projects, directed discussions, self-correcting quizzes and simulations. It provides opportunities for self-study, collaboration and teamwork-all situations that public relations professionals encounter in their day to day responsibilities. One year member subscription is $195 to the online course.

For more information about accreditation, contact Dusty Deming, SCPRSA's Accreditation Chair.

Additional information:

National PRSA Accreditation site