NEW YORK, NY (July 25, 2005) - The Universal Accreditation Board (UAB) today announced 2nd quarter 2005 results for the Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations.

Quarter Two Results

During the second quarter of 2005, 93 candidates applied for the Examination, 60 candidates participated in a Readiness Review, 52 advanced from Readiness Review, and 51 completed the computer-based Examination. Of those 51 who took the computer-based Examination, 31 passed it and earned Accreditation - a 61 percent pass rate. The overall average pass rate since July 2003 is 65 percent.

"As of the end of June, 2005, 99 candidates have taken the Examination, which is significantly up from last year's full year total of 117, a 69 percent increase," said Blake D. Lewis III, APR, 2005 chair of the UAB. "Members of the Universal Accreditation Board are pleased with the progress being made in building interest in the credential."

Under the Examination protocol, candidates cannot sit for the computer-based Examination until they advance from Readiness Review, which assesses a candidate's professional experience. Readiness Review includes a body of work review and an extended discussion between Accredited public relations practitioners and the candidate. Information gained from the Readiness Review helps the panelists assess the candidate's readiness to take the Examination and helps him or her identify specific areas of the body of knowledge in which they should focus further study.

The Universal Accreditation Board, which was created in 1998, is a consortium of professional communications organizations including the Agricultural Relations Council, Asociación de Relacionistas Profesionales de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Public Relations Association), Florida Public Relations Association, Maine Public Relations Council, National School Public Relations Association, Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Religion Communicators Council, Southern Public Relations Federation and Texas Public Relations Association. Each organization contributes resources and senior-level volunteer members who represent all segments of the public relations profession. The UAB oversees the public relations profession's professional certification program.

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The results include all candidate activity for the second quarter of 2005.