I’ve been a public relations practitioner for four years. As a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) throughout this time, I have heard during chapter meetings and from several well-respected colleagues about the personal and professional benefits of the APR accreditation offered by PRSA. So, over the past year or two, it has been on my mind to pursue my APR, which I hope to begin later this year.
What’s interesting about the APR accreditation from PRSA is the current debate within the society on whether or not it should be a requirement for national leadership in PRSA. The Ad Hoc Committee to Promote Democracy in PRSA is spearheading a petition effort to eliminate the APR leadership requirement. Their argument is (basically) that 80 percent of PRSA members do not hold accreditation and therefore the leadership is not truly representative of the organization as a whole. Just last week, members of this ad hoc committee were meeting with the current board to again discuss this issue that was voted down by the Assembly in November 2009. So, with a number of high-profile names involved, the debate has been revived and appears to be a significant issue that will continue to move forward, as even members of the Arthur W. Page Society recently joined the cause.
What’s also interesting is that PRSA is apparently deciding how much credence to give this proposal by sending out a survey that seeks input from chapter members on whether or not to take a position.
So what’s my take? Honestly I can see both sides of the issue. Leaders should be recognized as such, and APR accreditation is a great way within PRSA to recognize proven leadership. However, I can also see that there are numerous other ways to recognize good practitioners and leaders, and allow them to serve in national leadership roles. Efforts to promote and cultivate APR and the accreditation process could continue just as easily without the leadership requirement.
While I do not think the success or failure of PRSA hinges on this issue (as some suggested after the first failed bylaw amendment), it will be interesting to see how this whole matter plays out. What’s your thought? Should PRSA require APR accreditation for its national leadership?