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Accreditation

Congratulations to RCC Immediate Past President Doug Cannon for being among the first six in the nation to earn the new APR+M (Accredited in Public Relations+Military) designation from the Universal Accreditation Board.

RCC is one of nine sponsoring organizations of the public relations accreditation credential.

APR+M recognize the unique job skills required of active duty and reserve military personnel and civilians working in defense–related industries. Doug already held the basic APR designation and was required to pass a "readiness review" panel that examined his additional credentials.

He is an experienced Army public relations officer and long-time communicator for Methodist organizations. Doug currently is a visiting assistant professor of communications at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va.

As one benefit of membership, RCC members may seek accreditation in public relations. The voluntary APR designation identifies communicators who have demonstrated broad knowledge, experience and professional judgment in planning and managing public-relations activities. To earn accreditation, candidates must demonstrate mastery of a specified body of public relations knowledge.

Candidates for accreditation need to:

Compile a portfolio showing the range of their public relations work.
Complete a questionnaire about their public relations experience.
Participate in a two-hour readiness review before a panel of accredited practitioners. This panel judges candidates on 16 areas of knowledge, skills and abilities in the public relations body of knowledge.
Pass a computer-based examination covering 44 other areas of knowledge, skills and abilities in the public relations body of knowledge.

The accreditation process is managed by the independent Universal Accreditation Board.

RCC is one of nine communications/public relations organizations represented on the board.

For more information:

Visit the Universal Accreditation Board web site for application forms, provides study resources, and answers frequently asked questions.
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If you have questions about APR, contact our RCC liaison, Brian Gray, APR, at momentum@ncea.org.