Contact details

Aims & Objectives

With the vision to unify, strengthen and advance the profession of public relations, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has established itself as the pre-eminent organization that builds value, demand and global understanding for public relations in the US.

PRSA is the world’s largest organization for public relations professionals. Its nearly 20,000 members, organized into 117 chapters, represent business and industry, technology, counseling firms, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations.

Chartered in 1947, PRSA’s primary objectives are to advance the standards of the public relations profession and to provide members with professional development opportunities through continuing education programs, information exchange forums and research projects conducted on the national and local levels.

PRSA builds the public relations profession and the public relations professional in three core areas:

I. Advancing the Profession
To attain the overall goal as the standard bearer for public relations, PRSA maintains and continually enhances all existing Professional Development programs using media opportunities at all levels – individual member, chapter, section and national – concentrating on Accreditation and the Code of Ethics.

II. Strengthening the Society
While constantly seeking new strategies to increase membership and enrich member services, the Society will strive to develop cohesion among the national staff, board and the local operating units of the society. The Society will continue to develop a governance structure well adapted to change and one which will constantly measure the effectiveness of its performance.

III. Establishing Global Leadership
In order to position PRSA as the acknowledged worldwide brand of public relations excellence, PRSA is dedicated to strengthening alliances with other public relations organizations throughout the world, internationally marketing its products and services, and continuing to extend Accreditation worldwide.

Membership of PRSA

PRSA membership is individual.

To qualify for membership, you must devote a substantial portion of time (at least 50%) to the paid professional practice of public relations or to the teaching or administration of public relations curriculum in an Accredited college or university and adhere to the PRSA Member Code of Ethics 2000. If you are currently unemployed, a prior position held within the last five years must meet the above requirement, or one of the following: you hold a degree in Public Relations; you hold another academic degree program which meets the standards for a PRSSA charter; you hold PRSA certification for Education in Public Relations or you have achieved accreditation in Public Relations.

• Associate Members: You may only remain an Associate Member for a maximum of two years, at such time you will be upgraded to Full Membership (M) and will be required to pay the initiation fee. Associates are not eligible to hold certain elected or appointed positions within PRSA.

• PRSSA Graduates: You must be a member of PRSSA at time of graduation. Application needs to be submitted within two years of graduation.

• Graduate Students: An individual who is devoting full time to earn an advanced degree for the purpose of teaching public relations may apply for Graduate Student Associate membership. Proof of full-time matriculation is required and needs to be submitted with your application. Graduate Students may remain Associate members for a maximum of six years.