I'm Back!

Thanks to Helen Matheny and Jennifer Goddard for becoming the new co-chairs of the APR committee. I'm now "APR chair emeritus", and will continue to help guide our accreditation process.

My older posts on starting the process to get your APR are still valid. But I would add that the hardest thing to do is to take the first steps ... and keep going. All of us have full time jobs, if not full time families. Adding one more thing to the pile is never easy. But like exercise, once you get past the first few workouts, find ways to schedule and exercise, it becomes a good habit. Preparing for the APR is like that, and better.

First, you are in complete charge of the outcome and the process. There is no testing period. No three month study course followed by a written test. No set period you need to study for that matter.

Today, PRSA members decide when they are ready to test. The chapter helps you prepare, and provides through a review panel its opinion of whether you are ready to test or not. The rest is up to you.

Some like deadlines. Then set one. I would study and prepare for at least three months.

Some like to go slow and steady, until they feel ready. That's fine. But stay commited once you start. If you can afford two hours a week for study, then do it two hours a week.

Whatever you do, just do it. It is entirely possible a member could prepare for accreditation on their own, and the chapter would not be involved until the review. But I would encourage preparing for your APR test with others. Grab a mentor. Form a study group. Attend the chapter study sessions. It's more fun that way, particularly if you and your study mates make sessions regular and fun with food or drink.

If not now, when? If not you, who will get you started on the path to professional accreditation?