Public Relations Knowledge (PRK)™ exam - Your Entry to Practice

If you are:

  • A student ready to graduate from a public relations program, you'll want to differentiate yourself in the job market.
  • Considering a career shift into public relations, you'll need to demonstrate your PR knowledge.
  • Hiring for junior public relations positions, the risk of a false hire may be a concern.
  • Teaching in a public relations program, you will want to provide the advice students need.

The Public Relations Knowledge (PRK)™ exam is the first standardized public relations Entry-to-Practice exam in Canada, and will be available in 2012. Those who successfully complete the PRK exam will enter the job market, bringing tangible evidence of their knowledge and readiness for the workplace. CPRS is proud to launch this new tool as one means to address challenges faced by those who are currently involved in or entering the public relations profession.

This two hour exam will be written online and comprise multiple choice, short answer and editing exercises. The bulk of the exam will cover ethics, strategic analysis and judgment, and writing proficiency. There will be some focus on general public relations history, theory and concepts, and the fundamentals of practice. Grades will be provided via a transcript which contains an overall grade and a grade for each section. Rewrite options will be available for those who are unsuccessful or simply wish to increase their mark.

What you need to know if you plan to write the Public Relations Knowledge (PRK)™ exam

You are not required to be a member of CPRS to write the exam, but you do have the option to join CPRS as an Affiliate member. This membership level is available exclusively to new graduates for a two year period and is priced at a reduced rate. As an Affiliate member you will receive the following benefits:

  • Access to the PRK Readiness Package (for an additional fee) to help you prepare for the exam. For the first year (2012), this package is offered at a 50% discounted price.
  • Recognition on the CPRS website as a Public Relations Knowledge (PRK)™ professional (if successful)
  • Recognition at the annual CPRS national conference (if successful)
  • Recognition in any relevant CPRS newsletters and local society communications (if successful)
  • Automatic upload of a CV in the CPRS Career File resume bank (available soon)

What this means to employers

Resumes are necessary tools for describing a candidate's education, work experience and achievements. But how do you know about workplace readiness? Making basic judgement calls? Specific writing skills?

The Public Relations Knowledge (PRK)™ can help by:

  • Offering a professional tool to guide you to the best graduating students.
  • Instilling confidence that seasoned professionals have pre-screened key workplace proficiencies such as writing, judgment and ability to work in teams.
  • Providing the opportunity to be used as a benchmarking tool for your employees, and gearing training to their own needs.

New practitioners, recent graduates and students currently enrolled in public relations programs across the country will be sharing their thoughts on the PRK exam through video testimonials, which will be made available for viewing. Click on the videos below to hear what they are saying about opportunities the PRK exam can provide.
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*The views expressed in the Public Relations Knowledge (PRK)™ Exam testimonial videos are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the academic institution they are attending.

 

Contact Information:
For more information on the PRK exam, please do not hesitate to reach out to
Tracey Baker, Director of Education, CPRS National
tbaker@cprs.ca