November 21, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Denise D’Oliveira, APR

PRCA State VP – Accreditation – 251/605-8777

PRCA TO OFFER ACCREDITATION JUMPSTART CLASS ON MARCH 11, 2006

MONTGOMERY – The Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA) will once again sponsor an Accreditation JumpStart class on Saturday, March 11, 2006, at the First Baptist Church of Montgomery (305 South Perry Street) from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The event is free to all PRCA members and $15 for non-members with pre-registration required. Breakfast, lunch and all course materials will be provided for participants. The class includes a thorough introduction to five of the major topics tested on the new Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations and is a must for PR practitioners planning to study independently. The course also delivers an excellent overview of the accreditation process for those who are interested but as yet undecided about whether to pursue this important milestone in their professional development. To register or for more information, contact Denise D’Oliveira, APR, and PRCA Vice President for Accreditation, at ddolive2000@aol.com or 251/605-8777.

“Professional accreditation is the single most important step a public relations practitioner can take toward advancing his or her career,” D’Oliveira said. “Whether you’ve just begun considering accreditation as a major career move or you’re looking for motivation to push on through the process, this six-hour program is an excellent investment in your professional future.”

The JumpStart program provides an in-depth introduction to the most fundamental areas addressed by the APR examination as well as advice about how to go about reviewing the comprehensive curriculum. Topics to be addressed include:

§         Communication theory

§         Legal aspects – libel, privacy, copyright

§         Professional ethics

§         Research – types and applications

§         Comprehensive public relations planning (i.e., case study work)

Accreditation in Public Relations is a voluntary certification program for public relations professionals, administered by the Universal Accreditation Board. The purpose is to unify and advance the profession by identifying those who have demonstrated broad knowledge, experience and professional judgment in the field. The designation APR signifies a high professional level of experience and competence.

Increasingly, job listings in the PR field are specifying “APR preferred.” Senior public relations professionals are outspoken in their support of accreditation, yet currently less than 10 percent of practitioners in Alabama have attained the APR designation.

For more information, visit www.prcaonline.org or www.praccreditation.org. For directions, go to www.montgomeryfbc.org/directions.cfm.