Professional Development Accreditation in Public Relations APR Cohort

Registration for the Fall 2024 APR Cohort is now closed. Stay tuned for information about the Winter Cohort soon.

Earning your accreditation in public relations (APR) is easier with a network of support! To help members build that network nationally, NSPRA offers a virtual, free APR Cohort. The cohort program was launched in April 2021, in honor of national APR Month, and is led by NSPRA's Accreditation Committee. 

Help to Start Your APR Journey

The APR Cohort is offered three times a year, with start dates typically in April (spring cohort), September (fall cohort) and January (winter cohort). It is open to NSPRA members only as a free member benefit. The cohort program is designed specifically for those who are serious about earning accreditation but who aren’t sure how or when to start.

NSPRA is committed to supporting aspiring APRs, so it offers this cohort as a free support service for members. It complements but does not replace other, more intensive APR preparation courses and workshops.

Participants in the cohort can expect the following outcomes:

• Develop a personal APR timeline.
• Develop a basic understanding of the four-step strategic PR planning process: research, planning, implementation and evaluation (RPIE). 
• Begin to work on the Candidate Questionnaire.
• Identify a campaign idea for the Panel Presentation.
• Develop a national network of APR study buddies!

Before enrolling in a cohort, member are encouraged to review NSPRA's Frequently Asked Questions about the accreditation process, eligibility and preparation.

Self-Paced Learning, Live Networking Opportunities

Cohort participants receive access to online learning materials, which they can review at any time in NSPRA's online learning management system  (password-restricted access for enrollees only).

Once every two weeks, they meet virtually to learn about the accreditation process from NSPRA Accreditation Committee members and other APRs, to build their professional network and to discuss ideas and challenges. Virtual live meetings are held every other Tuesday via Zoom for one hour beginning at 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT, 1 p.m. MT, noon PT). 

The Fall 2024 APR Cohort will hold live virtual meetings on the following dates:

• Tuesday, Sept. 17 - Module 1: Introduction
• Tuesday, Oct. 1 - Module 2: Research
• Tuesday, Oct. 15 - Module 3: Planning
• Tuesday, Oct. 29 - Module 4: Implementation, Evaluation
• Tuesday, Nov. 12 - Module 5: Workshopping Campaign Ideas
• Tuesday, Dec. 3 - Module 6: Next Steps

Registration is Limited

The APR Cohort program is open to NSPRA members only, as a free member benefit. Each APR Cohort has a maximum registration capacity of 80 members. You MUST be logged into the NSPRA website as an association member to register for the cohort. 

Registration is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and the cohorts are very popular. Spots fill up fast, so interested members should register as soon as possible.