The three main professional PR credentials are the APR from the Universal Accreditation Board in the United States, Chart.PR from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) in the United Kingdom, and the CMP and SCMP from the Global Communication Certification Council (GCCC), which IABC created. They differ in who issues them, how candidates are assessed (panel and exam, one-day group assessment, or exam) and what keeps them active.
How do the main PR certifications compare?
The APR, Chart.PR and the CMP or SCMP are the three professional-body PR credentials with published public requirements, and the table below sets them side by side. Each row comes from the issuing body's own pages.
| Credential | Issuer | How candidates are assessed | How it is maintained |
|---|
| APR (Accredited in Public Relations) | Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), with day-to-day operations at PRSA headquarters | Panel presentation, then a computer-based exam | Continuing education units every three years |
| Chart.PR (Chartered PR Practitioner) | Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) | One-day assessment of leadership, strategy and ethics | CIPR CPD each year and CIPR membership |
| CMP and SCMP | Global Communication Certification Council (GCCC), created by IABC | Exam after eligibility is confirmed | Continuing professional development and an annual fee |
What does each PR certification require?
Each PR certification ties the candidate to its issuing body through eligibility, assessment and upkeep, so the requirements differ more than the titles suggest.
APR requirements
The APR is a voluntary credential, and the UAB recommends at least five years of professional experience before applying. Candidates present a plan they wrote to a panel, then take a computer-based exam, as the UAB's candidate process chart describes. EPR's APR accreditation guide covers the steps, timing and who benefits.
Chart.PR requirements
Chart.PR is the title the CIPR awards after an assessment of leadership, strategy and ethics. Applicants must be MCIPR or FCIPR grade members registered on the CIPR CPD ladder, according to the CIPR's eligibility page, and the CIPR reported 773 Chartered Practitioners as of the fourth quarter of 2024 in its newsroom announcement.
The UK government's regulated professions register lists Chart.PR as a protected title with no reserved activities, so the restriction covers use of the title only.
CMP and SCMP requirements
The Communication Management Professional (CMP) targets established generalist and specialist business communicators, and the Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP) targets communicators who advise an organization's leadership. The IABC British Columbia chapter describes both and says certification is maintained through continuing professional development and an annual fee. The GCCC's certification page says candidates must show eligibility before testing and pass the examination.
How do renewal and retake rules differ across PR certifications?
Each PR certification sets its own rules for staying active and for retrying after a failed attempt, and those rules affect the long-term cost of the credential more than the first assessment does.
How is each credential kept active?
APR holders renew every three years with continuing education units, and nonmember APRs renew at a nonmember rate. The CIPR says Chart.PR holders keep the title by completing CIPR CPD each year and maintaining CIPR membership, and that chartered status can last for life when those requirements are met. IABC's British Columbia chapter says CMP and SCMP holders maintain certification through continuing professional development and an annual fee.
What happens after an unsuccessful attempt?
An APR candidate who does not advance from the panel can repeat it after 90 days and can appeal to the UAB after two retakes. The CIPR says candidates who do not pass receive written feedback within 30 days, with a breakdown for ethics, strategy and leadership. The GCCC offers a retake application for both the CMP and SCMP exams.
Is a PR certification a license?
A PR certification is not a license. The APR is a voluntary credential, and the UK government's regulated professions register says Chart.PR carries no reserved activities and restricts only use of the title. Employers decide how much weight a credential carries, so a candidate should check whether target employers ask for one before paying for an assessment.
Does a PR certification show up on a public register?
Chart.PR holders appear on a public register the CIPR maintains, according to the UK government's regulated professions register, so an employer can check the status. The cited pages for the APR and the CMP and SCMP do not describe an equivalent register, which is worth asking each issuer about.
The same government record notes that Chartership does not recognise prior qualifications from the UK or any other country. Chartered status is granted on the basis of assessment only, so a master's degree or another credential does not shorten the process.
Which PR certification fits which career?
The right PR certification depends on where a practitioner works, which professional body they already belong to, and how senior their advisory role is. The table below is EPR's editorial guidance, not survey data.
| Your situation | Credential to weigh | Why it fits |
|---|
| US-based practitioner with about five years of experience | APR | The UAB recommends five years, and the panel scores a plan you wrote |
| CIPR member at MCIPR or FCIPR grade | Chart.PR | Eligibility starts with that membership grade and CPD |
| Corporate communicator advising executives | SCMP | The credential targets strategic advice to organization leadership |
| Established generalist or specialist communicator | CMP | The credential targets business communicators established in their careers |
| Fewer than five years in PR | None yet | Build a documented portfolio first and see the PR careers hub for next steps |
Which PR certification should you pursue first?
Pursue the credential whose issuing body you already belong to or are willing to join, because membership and continuing education are part of how each credential is kept active. This page covers professional-body credentials only, so vendor and platform training certificates are outside its scope.
Last reviewed October 14, 2026. Details come from the issuing bodies' pages checked on that date. Fees are omitted because published figures differ by source.
