Maintaining your Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) is a rewarding way to stay sharp and advance your public sector communications career. CAPIO offers many opportunities to earn the required 15 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) over your three-year renewal cycle, including 7 CEUs in Continuing Education and Professional Development, 1 CEU in Ethics Training, and up to 7 CEUs in Professionalism or Public Service. Below are some CAPIO-specific activities tailored to public sector communicators, but you can also earn CEUs through other trainings and groups, such as PRSA, CalSPRA, universities, or other professional organizations. Track and submit your CEUs online along with a $75 filing fee. Questions? Email accred@prsa.org or contact CAPIO’s Education Chair Julie Prayter, APR, at  apr@capio.org.

Continuing Education and Professional Development (7 CEUs Required)

Earn CEUs through CAPIO’s training and educational activities to enhance your PR skills.

Attend CAPIO Webinars: Attend CAPIO webinar series or public sector-focused sessions. Each webinar (typically 1 hour) earns 0.5 CEUs. Example: Attending four CAPIO webinars earns 2 CEUs.

Participate in CAPIO’s Annual Conference, Leadership Summit, Emergency Academy or Regional Workshops: Attend a one-day session at CAPIO’s Annual Conference, Leadership Summit, Emergency Academy, or Regional Workshops. Each one-day session earns 1 CEU. Example: A full-day workshop on digital storytelling earns 1 CEU.

Take the APR Online Study Course: As an Accredited member, complete the APR Online Study Course to refresh your skills. This earns 1.5 CEUs. Example: Completing the course during your renewal cycle contributes significantly to your 7 CEUs.

Enroll in a College Course: Take a public relations or communications course at a regionally accredited institution, such as a 3-credit-hour course on public sector crisis management at a California university. This earns 4.5 CEUs. Example: A semester-long course at CSU Fullerton earns 4.5 CEUs.

Deliver a CAPIO Presentation: Present a session at a CAPIO event, like a webinar on public sector social media strategies. Each presentation earns 0.5 CEUs. Example: Speaking at CAPIO’s regional workshop on transparency in government earns 0.5 CEUs.

Publish a Public Sector Article: Write an article for CAPIO’s newsletter or a public relations journal. Each published article (minimum 250 words) earns 0.5 CEUs. Example: Two articles in CAPIO’s blog earn 1 CEU.

Ethics Training (1 CEU Required)

Complete ethics training to reinforce your commitment to ethical public sector communications.

Attend CAPIO’s Ethics Webinar: Join a CAPIO ethics webinar offered virtually or in-person. A less-than-one-day session earns 0.5 CEUs. Example: Attending two CAPIO ethics webinars earns 1 CEU.

Professionalism (Up to 7 CEUs)

Contribute to CAPIO and the PR profession through leadership and accreditation activities to earn CEUs.

Serve as a CAPIO Board Member: Serve as board member for CAPIO. This earns 3 CEUs per cycle. Example: Serving as a CAPIO CAPIO Regional Chair or Vice President for three years earns 3 CEUs.

Mentor an APR Candidate: Mentor a CAPIO member through the APR process, leveraging your public sector expertise. Each mentorship earns 2 CEUs. Example: Guiding a water district PIO to their APR earns 2 CEUs.

Judge CAPIO Awards: Participate in CAPIO’s EPIC as a judge. Each half-day judging assignment earns 0.5 CEUs (up to 10 CEUs per cycle). Example: Judging awards for two half-days earns 1 CEU.

Lead a CAPIO Webinar: Present a CAPIO webinar. This earns 0.5 CEUs per presentation. Example: Leading a webinar on community engagement earns 0.5 CEUs.

Win a CAPIO Award: Receive a CAPIO EPIC Award for a public sector campaign (such as city’s community outreach program or a water conservation campaign) earns 2 CEUs.

Public Service (Up to 7 CEUs)

Volunteer your PR skills to benefit your community, earning CEUs through impactful public sector work.

Provide Pro Bono PR for a Nonprofit: Offer 30 hours of pro bono PR support to a local nonprofit, such as food bank or animal sanctuary. This earns 3 CEUs. Example: Developing a social media plan for an animal sanctuary earns 3 CEUs.

Lead a Community PR Initiative: Volunteer 20 hours to create a public relations campaign for a public sector cause, like a county health fair or voter initative. This earns 2 CEUs. Example: Promoting a school district’s voter education event earns 2 CEUs.

Ready to Renew?

Start earning CEUs today with CAPIO’s tailored opportunities or other professional trainings! Log your CEUs online and submit with the $75 fee. Need guidance? Contact CAPIO’s Education and Development Chair, Julie Prayter, APR, at apr@capio.org or (530) 924-5444, or email accred@prsa.org. Start Tracking CEUs