Is “Five Years Minimum Public Relations Experience” an APR Requirement?

By Kevin P. Kane, MS, APR, Fellow PRSA
November 2025

The answer is “no.”

As a longtime professional Accredited in Public Relations (APR) who regularly talks to potential candidates, the question of “how much experience” is needed to apply frequently comes up. My usual answer is “enough to be knowledgeable on industry practices, experienced enough to explain campaigns and other strategic and tactical efforts and outcomes.”

The “five years” is a recommended, “ballpark” level of experience. Very few new practitioners - or those that enter the public relations ranks from journalism or marketing backgrounds - have the first-hand knowledge to “prove their expertise and experience in a computer-based exam and before a panel of Accredited public relations professionals” fresh out of school or new to the field. But after perhaps three or more years on the job fulfilling a variety of public relations functions, and hopefully learning how to apply the RPIE (Research, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation) process on campaigns, you’ll be able to answer “YES” to these questions:

• Created a comprehensive public relations plan from scratch?
• Had primary responsibility for implementation of a comprehensive plan? 
• Had to measure the results of your plan? 
• Served as a strategic adviser for your organization or client, versus doing more of the tactical activities?
• Designed campaigns, segment audiences and/or craft the messages for each audience vs. carry out the activities in plans built by others?

If you answered “YES” to the questions, then you might be ready! To learn more, talk to your local PRSA Chapter’s APR Chair, or go to https://accreditation.prsa.org/ for details.