NEW YORK, NY (January 24, 2005) - The Universal Accreditation Board (UAB) has announced the most recent results for the Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations. The results include all candidate activity during the second half of 2004.

From July through December 2004, 113 candidates applied to sit for the Examination, 113 candidates participated in a Readiness Review, 93 advanced from Readiness Review, and 65 took the computer-based Examination. Of those 65 who took the computer-based Examination, 42 passed it and earned Accreditation - a 65% pass rate.

"We're pleased that the number of individuals participating in Readiness Review sessions and sitting for the Examination both increased during the second half of 2004," said Blake D. Lewis III, APR, 2005 chair of the UAB. "However, the board and the ten professional organizations that participate in the UAB program know the importance of broadening visibility for the credential and, thus, are highly focused on promoting Accreditation and attracting appropriate candidates for the credential. We also will continue to work with local Accreditation volunteers to identify ways of enhancing the preparation process for candidates."

Under the protocol of the re-engineered Examination, 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 help 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 ten professional communications organizations including the Agricultural Relations Council, 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, Texas Public Relations Association and now the Asociaci—n de Relacionistas Profesionales de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico 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. The revised Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations was launched in July 2003.