Certification is optional for public relations specialists. Both the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and the International Association of Business Communicators accredit public relations workers. Accreditation is not required, but it is recognized as a sign of professional experience and competence. Public relations professionals support accreditation as a means of unifying and advancing the profession. Increasingly, public relations employers are asking for accredited candidates.

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) offers the Accredited in Public Relations (APR) accreditation to public relations workers who are members of either the PRSA or the North American Public Relations Council (NAPC). Candidates must meet the following requirements:

• have five years of paid, full-time public relations experience or five years experience as a teacher or administrator at an accredited college or university; and
• pass both written and oral examinations.

The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) accredits public relations workers who have passed a comprehensive examination.

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