The board of directors of the Public Relations Society of America
earlier this month approved plans to offer an introductory public
relations accreditation test to university students pursuing public
relations and communications degrees. To be offered during the fall
accreditation period, Sept. 28-Oct. 7, the exam offers students the
opportunity to try for a new professional designation, FPR, referring
to Fundamentals of Public Relations. PRSA's accreditation exam for
professionals with five or more years experience confers the title APR
(Accredited in Public Relations) on those who pass the test.
PRSA leaders see the program as a means of benchmarking recent
graduates' public relations acumen, and encouraging them to consider
the APR exam as their careers develop. Currently, 4,200 of PRSA's
17,014 members are accredited. (PRSA, 212/995-2230)