PRSA Hampton Roads Virginia
In today’s competitive job market, companies are looking for only the best to hire. Talent, job experience, and dedication are major pluses when a candidate is evaluated for a position. When it comes to a career in public relations, smart employers should give particular consideration to applicants with an Accredited in Public Relations (APR) credential.
Currently there are only 5,000 public relations practitioners around the world with this voluntary certification. If an accreditation can make a difference in one’s job, why is the number of certified PR practitioners so low?
Accreditation is rarely heard of, if at all, outside the world of public relations. Other jobs like teachers and nurses have to be accredited, why not public relations practitioners? Having APR behind one’s name, shows that he or she has a high level of understanding in the field of public relations. It means that public relations practitioners exhibit the desire to succeed in his or her career. According to Matt Kucharski, Senior Vice President of Padilla Speer Beardsley, “[Accreditation] means that I actually understand and can apply the underlying principles that are important to building successful public relations programs – I’m not shooting from the hip or making it up as I go along.”
How can the PRSA make accreditation in public relations more visible and important to business leaders? Simple, require all public relations practitioners to be accredited. Doctors have to take boards before he or she can really work in a field. Public relations practitioners should have to do the same. This will also cut down on people being over looked for jobs; everyone would be on somewhat of the same level.
Another way would be for the PRSA and business leaders to make a list on how accredited public relations practitioners would add value to an organization. Since PR practitioner are bound to strict ethical guidelines, accreditation would show that he or she is committed to be honest and truthful in his or her career. This list could be put on any organizations’ websites as well as the PRSA website. Public relations practitioners, looking for a job ,would be able to know the benefits of being accredited.
A final idea would be that the PRSA post an APR seal on any PR firms’ offices with accredited public relations practitioners. This would let clients know that the practitioners at an accredited firm can demonstrate skills and knowledge to complete whatever is thrown his or her way.
APR should be required for all PR practitioners because, it is a mark of distinction for public relations practitioners who demonstrate a commitment to the profession and to its ethical practice.
