LEWISTON — Julia Munsey, marketing and public relations specialist with Oxford Networks of Lewiston, has successfully completed the examination for accreditation in public relations, entitling her to use the APR professional designation.

The announcement was made by the Universal Accreditation Board, a consortium of nine professional communication organizations that directs this competency certification program.

The accreditation program aims to improve the practice of public relations by assessing competence in 60 areas of knowledge, skills and abilities associated with the profession. The examination is designed for public relations professionals with five to seven years of experience and/or a bachelor’s degree in a communication field. Candidates who successfully complete the rigorous process, including presenting his/her portfolio to a readiness review panel of three peers and sitting for a computer-based examination, are granted APR.

Munsey has a degree in communication from the University of Maine with a concentration in public relations. She has worked as a marketing specialist in tourism, the arts and the trade show industry. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce, the American Folk Festival on the Bangor Waterfront, and the Maine State YMCA Camp in Winthrop.