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Congratulations To Meredith Zelewsky On Passing The Examination For Accreditation In Public Relations
Congratulations to Meredith Zelewsky, who recently passed the Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) and becomes the Chicago Chapter’s 56 th accredited member.
Meredith is an account supervisor at Public Communications Inc. in Chicago. She has 14 years of communications experience, including public relations and media relations roles serving not-for-profit, museum and healthcare clients. A former newspaper reporter, Meredith manages accounts at PCI that include Brookfield Zoo, the Notebaert Nature Museum and the International Symposium on Endovascular Therapy. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Earlham College and master’s degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
APR is a mark of distinction for public relations professionals who demonstrate their commitment to the profession and to its ethical practice, and who are selected based on broad knowledge, strategic perspective, and sound professional judgment. For detailed information about PRSA’s accreditation program, visit www.praccreditation.org.
Accreditation Increases The Value Of Your Personal Brand
How would “Accredited in Public Relations” look next to your name? The APR mark increasingly is recognized as valuable by many employers and clients, much like optional board certification is considered a positive differentiator in the medical profession.
If APR is MIA from your business card, there is no better time than now to join the approximately 75 PRSA Chicago chapter members who already carry this mark of distinction. APR is a mark of distinction for public relations professionals who demonstrate their commitment to the profession and to its ethical practice, and who are selected based on broad knowledge, strategic perspective, and sound professional judgment. It is a voluntary certification program administered by PRSA to unify, advance and improve the profession.
A New Accreditation Exam
The new Examination in Accreditation for Public Relations was introduced in 2003 after a significant modification to test what PR pros do and encounter in the 21 st century while maintaining the same high level of quality embodied in the previous examination.
Building off the strong personal development aspects of the old exam, the new Examination for Accreditation for Public Relations provides added value to candidates through a readiness process that reinforces and sharpens skills in preparation for the test.
The Readiness Review process is just one of the major changes in the new exam, which employs current best practices in professional certification testing. The exam now is multiple choice and takes 2.5 hours to 3 hours to complete. Candidates can take the Examination at their convenience (no longer limited to twice each year) at one of more than 300 testing locations in the U.S. and Canada. Strict confidentiality procedures are enforced, and results are available quickly.
Candidates must pass a Readiness Review prior to taking the exam. The Readiness Review, which replaces the former oral examination, includes a portfolio review and assessment of the candidate’s readiness to take the exam. The local Readiness Review panel, comprised of accredited members, helps each candidate determine his or her areas of weakness and helps identify specific areas within the body of knowledge in which the candidate should focus further study.
The written exam covers the following 10 areas of professional practice:
- Research, planning, implementing and evaluating programs
- Ethics and law
- Communication models and theories
- Business literacy
- Management skills and issues
- Crisis communication management
- Media relations
- History of and current issues in public relations
- Using information technology efficiently
- Advanced communication skills
Overall, it is a challenging and rigorous exercise for candidates, which can differentiate those who have attained professional mastery from those who have not.
So you’re interested and ready for this leap in career and personal development. What’s next? First, ensure you are qualified. Members of PRSA and partner organizations who have at least five years of paid, full-time experience in the professional practice of public relations, or in the teaching or administration or public relations courses in an accredited college or university are eligible.
Interested in learning more?
View answers to candidates’ frequently asked questions or explore all Accreditation information, including FAQs about the new exam process, application forms, publications and study guides, and more.
For clarification or questions, contact Rick Aspan, APR, the 2004 Chicago Chapter Accreditation Committee chairperson, at 708.614.0885 or rickaspan@comcast.net.
