My APR Journey: Why Accreditation Still Matters
Posted on Apr. 30, 2026 / Subscribe 0
By Dave Honchul, APR, Fellow PRSA
April is APR Month for PRSA, and Cincinnati Chapter kicked it off a little early with a panel discussion with five peers who had earned their Accreditation in Public Relations (APR). It was a good mix of seasoned APRs and young APRs who just earned their accreditation last year.
The discussion was moderated by Allison Shroeder, APR, Pomme Communications, who is again serving as the 2026 Accreditation Director for Cincinnati PRSA. Panelists were Cincinnati Chapter APRs: Lauren Vogel, Scooter Media; Sara Cullin, Signal Tree Creative Communications; Sydney Murray, BE NKY; Brandy L. Jones, Cincinnati Metro and Lexi McCoy, Pomme Communications. It was held in Vehr Communications beautiful downtown office.
It was a fun and relaxed evening event titled, “Get the Scoop on Going for Your APR.” The moderated discussion covered a wide range of topics including the panelist giving their experiences on how earning their APR has helped elevate their careers and given them added confidence in their skills and abilities. They also covered areas like what it took to prepare for the written exam and panel presentation.
While I had earned my own accreditation many years ago, I attended to hear the experiences of those who more recently went through it. As the discussion flowed, one question stuck with me. Thinking about it, I felt it was probably the most important one for anyone considering taking part in the program – Why did you pursue your APR?
This one stuck with me because my own story toward accreditation is probably quite unique. My own journey began 25 years ago out in West Texas. I was serving in the Air Force as the Chief of Public Affairs for the 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, in Abilene, Texas. The closest chapter to me was two and a half hours away in Fort Worth. I would go to chapter events when I could. Although I never formally joined the chapter, they adopted me and encouraged me to consider accreditation.
For me, I was interested and I had a very definitive “Why” in my mind. By this time, I had been doing public affairs in the Air Force for 15 years. I had joined PRSA just four years earlier because I wanted to compare what I was doing, the issues I faced and the challenges of being a communicator in the military to my counterparts in the civil sector. I had learned how similar the military and civil sector issues were. So now, the question in my mind…. Do I really know what I’m doing?
That was my “Why.” I didn’t need accreditation to advance in the military. But as I continued my career, I desired the affirmation that “I knew my stuff.”
The panel and test were different from today’s process, and that itself is a story for another time. But, after going through the Chapter’s study program and doing my own homework, I felt I was ready. I had even used some of the study materials with my base staff to help advance their knowledge and, by osmosis, absorb the information myself. I was scheduled to do it all in one day – the panel in the morning, and the exam in the afternoon. I knew it would be a killer of a day. But I felt ready. It was set for Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2001.
Then September 11th struck.
Needless to say, National cancelled all accreditation activities for the rest of the year. Some might think I would be disappointed, but quite frankly, I was moving at the speed of light on a variety of communication issues to care. And all the accreditation preparation was not wasted. It actually had me thinking through problem sets and developing ad hoc communication plans based on the RPIE process.
When all was said and done, Dyess was recognized for the best crisis communication program within my major command that year… something one would have expected to have been earned by a unit ‘closer to the action.’ I credit two things for our success – I had a great team working for me and the accreditation process. The latter helped me put the award package in addressing all the key elements of a communication plan.
So, WHY earn your accreditation? First and foremost, you should want to improve your skills and make you a better communicator.
If you are thinking about it, look for video clips from the panel discussion in the coming weeks. I would encourage you to listen to them. Reach out to other APRs and ask questions. There are plenty within our Chapter as we are one of the top three in the nation for percentage of members being accredited. Lastly, reach out to Allison Schroeder. She can help you take that first important step.
Thinking about it, maybe the question should be ‘Why not get your accreditation?’
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