Inside the APR Exam: How Preparation and Perseverance Pay Off

By Benjamin Speed, APR

This post is Part 2 of the Maine Public Relations Council’s APR Journey Series, following newly Accredited member Benjamin Speed, APR, as he completes his path toward earning the Accreditation in Public Relations. In Part 1, Benjamin detailed his panel presentation experience. Here, he shares what it took to prepare for — and pass — the written exam.

Earning the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) is more than a professional credential; it’s a journey that tests your balance, focus, and belief in your own experience. When I sat for the written exam this June, I found that preparation and mindset mattered as much as knowledge. In the same way that public relations professionals must stay steady amid constant change, the APR process taught me how to maintain composure under pressure.

When I committed to earning my APR, I knew it would take strategy and structure. I blocked off 30 minutes at the end of each workday to study, joined the 10-week APRPrep online course, and took a PRSA webinar series two months before my exam. My study plan wasn’t perfect, but it was consistent, and consistency proved to be my best tool.

I read the APR Study Guide front to back, highlighted unfamiliar terms, and built flashcards (even though memorization isn’t my strength). Writing my own test questions and reviewing peers’ case studies helped me connect theory to practice.

“You’re already an APR,” one instructor told me. “You just need to demonstrate it on paper.”

That became my mantra.

Flashcards frustrated me, but writing them down still helped. When I got a practice question wrong, I didn’t just note it; I researched it immediately. That active investigation deepened my understanding far beyond rote recall.

I also learned the value of physical practice: using scratch paper, crossing out wrong answers, and circling my choices. It mimicked real test conditions and kept my brain engaged. And yes, caffeine and protein bars helped too.

Through MPRC, I was paired with Cynthia, a newly minted APR who became my accountability partner and cheerleader. We met regularly, traded study tips, and checked in by email each week. Her encouragement (and her reminder to journal my experience) made all the difference.

Peer support kept me grounded. When anxiety crept in, I knew someone understood exactly what I was feeling. If you’re starting your APR journey, find that person. The pros are invaluable, but no one understands the trenches like someone who just climbed out of them.

Test day threw me curveballs, literally. Two laptops failed because I didn’t have admin access, but my personal laptop (thankfully packed as a backup) saved the day. That’s when my maxim kicked in: control what you can, adapt to what you can’t.

I had my checklist: water bottle, scratch paper, extra pens, turned-off phone, and Tylenol (trust me, bring it). I practiced breathing exercises to stay focused and took short breaks to stretch and reset.

The test lasted 3½ hours. It wasn’t easy, but neither is PR work. Both require pacing, endurance, and steady decision-making under uncertainty.

“If it’s hard, that’s the point. The challenge is where the learning happens.”

When the screen flashed my passing score — 73.5 percent — I was relieved, proud, and exhausted. My daughter joked, “D’s get degrees!” But I wasn’t after a grade. I was after growth. The APR process tested not just what I knew, but how I showed up under pressure.

In public relations, the ability to stay composed and credible in uncertain moments is everything. That’s what this year’s Maine Public Relations Council conference theme — “Steady PR: Maintaining Balance and Trust in Chaotic Times” — is all about.

I’m honored to be recognized as one of MPRC’s newest Accredited members and to share my story as a panelist on November 7. If you’re thinking about earning your APR, start the process now. It’s not just a credential; it’s a journey that helps you discover who you are as a communicator.

 

If you’re just starting to explore the APR process, begin with the first installment of Benjamin’s story for practical advice on preparing for your panel presentation.

Read Part 1: Inside the APR Panel Presentation: Turning Preparation into Poise

Interested in beginning your own APR journey? Visit MPRC’s Accreditation page to learn more.