Welcome to the path to Accreditation in Public Relations (APR). Obtaining your APR demonstrates:

• Your commitment to professional advancement
• Broad and strategic public relations knowledge, skills and abilities 
• Universal best practices - the highest professional level of experience and competence

So what does it take to get started? The process to earn your APR is multi-phased and can be broken down into five steps:

1. Study (An ongoing requirement throughout the process) 

2. Apply to be a candidate for accreditation 

3. Complete the APR questionnaire

4. Sit for and pass the APR panel presentation

5. Pass the APR computer-based examination

Resources

• 2025-2026 MOSPRA APR Study Cohort Syllabus
• Universal Accreditation Board’s APR Study Guide 
• National School Public Relations APR Resources

 

Why should you get your APR?

 

 

 

 

 

"I pursued my Accreditation in Public Relations because it was a natural next step in my professional growth. Preparing for the APR helped me sharpen my skills as a strategic advisor to my school and clients, and gave me a strong framework for best practices. It also challenged me to set personal goals that strengthen my work in school communications and broaden my opportunities across other fields. I'm especially grateful for the support I received from my SPRA colleagues throughout the process." - Marci Orr, APR, director of communications, Mexico (Mo.) Public Schools  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"My journey to earning my APR was long, with more than a few stops and starts along the way—but worth it. The process pushed me to think more strategically, sharpened my ability to proactively guide my district and built greater confidence in my decision-making. What I learned while preparing for the exam has become part of my daily work. Earning my certification gave me the leverage to successfully advocate for a salary increase." - Chris Trahan, APR, director of communications, Normandy Schools Collaborative (St. Louis, Mo.)

 

APR Chair
Michelle Mueller, APR

Communications Coordinator
Ritenour School District
muellerm@ritenourschools.org
Work: (314) 493-6082