MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

Membership is voluntary and is restricted to individuals (not firms) who are engaged in the practice of public relations on behalf of business and industrial concerns, consulting firms, trade and professional associations, governments, educational institutions, health and welfare organizations and other similar endeavors.

Eligibility requirements are fully described in part 4 of the National Society's Bylaws. To be eligible for membership in the Canadian Public Relations Society, applicants must devote most of their work-for-pay time to the practice of public relations; have a degree in public relations; or be a career teacher or administer engaged in public relations/communications education at an accredited post secondary insititution.

VOTING MEMBERS

Accredited Members - Accredited Members must be members of CPRS with a minimum of five years experience in full-time public relations and, having voluntarily engaged in special studies, submitted a work sample and passed a written and oral examination conducted by the National Council on Accreditation of the Society. Accredited members have met high standards in experience, character and reputation in the field of public relations. They are entitled to use the designation APR (Accredited Public Relations).

Members - Members shall be considered by the executive Director and local Membership Chair to ensure they meet the requirements established by the Regulations.

Life Members - Life Members are honoured with Life Membership by their Member Society for their contribution both to public relations and the Society.

Individual Members - Individual Members are those members located at a considerable distance from a Member society, the geographic area for which is established by the Board of Directors, or who live outside Canada, and who meet the requirements of eligibility.

Fellows: The Society established and maintains a College of Fellows to honour its senior practitioners who have made significant contributions to the profession of public relations as it is practiced in Canada. Each Fellow is accredited and has 20 years or more experience in the field. As individuals, they have each demonstrated superior capability as practitioners, exhibit personal and professional qualities that serve as role models for other practitioners, and have advanced the state of the profession in their community and across Canada. Please see the CPRS National Website for more information.

NON-VOTING MEMBERS

Associate Members - Associate Members are those who are not devoting most of their work-for-pay time to the practice or teaching public relations can be considered as "associates" (these include suppliers of services to the field of public relations).  Associates are non-voting members.

Inactive Members - Inactive Members are are Members who have withdrawn from full-time employment in the practice of public relations.

Student Members - Student Members are individuals who do not qualify for voting member status and who are enrolled full-time in a course of studies that would lead them to a career in public relations. Upon graduation from their course of study, student members may maintain their student membership status for a period of 12 months and are eligible to pay the student membership dues for that period of time. Student members are admitted by the Calgary Society are aligned with the Calgary Society alone and are not part of the National Society. Student Members are Non-Voting Members.

Students are also eligible to join the Society as Associate Members to enjoy the increased benefits associated with this category (see above).

Retired Members - Retired Members are Members who have retired from active work in the field and meet the pre-requisites for this category. (The applicant must have been a member for a total period of not less than 10 full years, of which not less than five years have been at a Voting Member status, and has retired from full time employement in public relations.)

Download a membership application here

Download a student membership here

For more information, contact membership@cprscalgary.com

NOTES

• The CPRS Membership is valid for one full year from the date of issue.