Sarah Dickson, communications director for the Edmond Economic Development Authority (EEDA), recently completed the Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations, entitling her to use the APR professional designation. The APR program is overseen by the Universal Accreditation Board, a consortium of nine professional communication organizations that directs this competency certification program.
The Accreditation program aims to improve the practice of public relations by assessing competence in 60 areas of knowledge, skills and abilities associated with the profession. Candidates who successfully complete the rigorous process, including presenting a portfolio to a Panel Presentation of three Accredited peers and sitting for a computer-based Examination, are granted the APR. Professionals earning the APR must renew their credential through continuing professional development, providing leadership to the profession and serving their local communities.
“Earning the APR reflects a mastery of the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to succeed in our increasingly complex profession,” said Mitchell E. Marovitz, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA, 2018 chair of the Universal Accreditation Board. “Practitioners who achieve the designation are demonstrating their commitment not only to our profession, but also to a strong code of ethics and to the betterment of their organization and clients.”
Dickson has been with the EEDA for 10 years, serving in multiple communications roles.
For more information about the UAB and the APR designation, visit www.praccreditation.org.