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Seneca Niagara's Astran an APR professional

by jmaloni

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Sat, Feb 8th 2014 08:00 pm

Buffalonian earns accreditation in public relations

Tony Astran, publicity manager for Seneca Gaming Corp., has successfully completed the Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations, entitling him to use the APR professional designation. The announcement was made by the Universal Accreditation Board, a consortium of nine professional communication organizations that directs this competency certification program.

Astran is the 2014 president of the PRSA Buffalo Niagara Chapter, and one of 36 professionals in Western New York to earn accreditation.

The accreditation program aims to improve the practice of public relations by assessing competence in 60 areas of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the profession. The examination is designed for public relations professionals with at least five to seven years of job experience and/or a bachelor's degree in a communication field. Candidates who successfully complete the rigorous process, including presentation of a portfolio to a readiness review panel of three peers and sitting for a computer-based examination, are granted the APR.

"I am thrilled to welcome Tony as a newly accredited member of our chapter," said Barbara Byers, APR, Buffalo Niagara Chapter accreditation chair. "As chapter president, he has set a wonderful example that the APR is worth striving for. I can attest that he worked hard to achieve it, and it paid off."

The computer-based portion of the examination is administered throughout the year at more than 300 Prometric testing centers. The readiness review is conducted prior to the computer-based portion of the examination by a panel of three accredited members of one or more of the nine organizations participating in the UAB. Professionals earning the APR must maintain their credential through continuing professional development, providing leadership to the profession and serving their local communities.

"Earning the APR reflects a mastery of the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to succeed in our increasingly complex profession," said Susan G. Barnes, APR, fellow PRSA, 2013 chair of the Universal Accreditation Board. "Practitioners who achieve the designation are demonstrating their commitment not only to our profession, but also to a strong code of ethics and to the betterment of their organizations and clients."

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