Education

The PCC ongoing educational series are regularly scheduled short programs on a variety of timely topics. These are listed in the EVENTS section of this website. In addition, paid members have access to past programming.

Besides these 1-2 hour programs, the USPS offers online in depth longer courses through their Business Mail Academy.

LINK TO BMA:  https://postalpro.usps.com/node/2724

The BMA offers an exciting curriculum of courses in business mail management for both USPS employees and business customers throughout the country. Courses provide hands-on experience in business mail functions, SOX compliance, plus administration and supervisory techniques to improve mailing operations. Curriculum is provided in blended learning format. We offer instructor led, self- study, and eLearning courses.

ONLINE/SELF-DIRECTED PROGRAM (FREE PROGRAM):

Mail Design Professional (MDP) course provides in-depth training on postal standards related to designing letter and flat mail to facilitate processing on high speed automation equipment while maximizing cost effectiveness and reducing processing delays. This course is available at www.nced.com/bma and may be taken at any time. There is no charge to take the course. However, in order to be certified, the student must complete the MDP examination and pass at 80 % or higher accuracy. Course modules consist of: Classes of Mail, Basic Mail Design, Addressing, Automation Mail, Reply Mail, Address Information Systems

Estimated time to complete course:  12 hours.

LINK TO MDP:  https://www.nced.com/bma/class.html?id=10017726

IN PERSON/CLASSROOM PROGRAMS (FEE BASED PROGRAMS):

Certified Direct Mail Professional (CDMP) is designed for the mailing industry professional to develop and strengthen core skills that build and maintain successful Direct Mail business within this highly competitive environment. Key topics include Omni Marketing, Mailing List Management, Mailpiece Creation, Response Rates, and Technology. This course is sponsored by the USPS and was developed by a committee of USPS and mailing industry experts.  The target audience is external mailing industry customers who wish to augment their professionalism in Direct Mail by utilizing this opportunity to achieve a stronger level of competence, earn recognition within the industry, and enhance their reputation and that of their company.

Course Completion Requirements: The learner is required to attend the entire 12 hours of training and successfully complete an end-of-course exam.

Please note there is a fee for this exam.

LINK TO CDMP: https://www.nced.com/bma/class.html?id=10025011

Executive Mail Center Manager (EMCM) course is for an individual who wishes to emphasize their professionalism in Mail Center Management. This course will give participants the guidance necessary to boost productivity, increase efficiency, maximize the use of leading-edge technology and enhance results for their department and company. This program is for mailing professionals who wish to enhance their professional credentials in Mail Center Management by taking this opportunity to achieve a professional level of competence, earn recognition within the industry, and enhance their personal reputation and that of their company.

Course modules consist of: People Management, Sales and Marketing, Technology, Safety and Security, Finances, Basic Mail Design, Operations, Tool and Resources

Please note there is a fee for this program.

Course Completion Requirements: The learner is required to attend the entire 32 hours of training and successfully complete an end-of-course exam.

LINK TO PROGRAM:  https://www.nced.com/bma/class.html?id=10022651

Periodicals Professional Program course provides training in the administration, acceptance, and verification of periodicals mailing. Topics include:

• Basic mail piece elements and authorization categories
  
  

• Advertising

• Statements of ownership

• Publisher records

• Eligibility reviews

• Mail piece construction, preparation and sortation standards

• Documentation 

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

• Identify the elements that a publication must meet to qualify for periodicals eligibility.

• Identify periodicals authorization categories and the elements of each category.

• Identify the requirements that must be met as a mailer to qualify for a category; including: how to apply for periodicals mailing privileges and how to identify which records are needed to substantiate the application.

• Identify Outside-Country and non-profit rate eligibility, how to file for additional entry and reentry, and how to complete a PS Form 3510.

• Identify requirements relevant to the physical characteristics of periodicals mailings, advertising when they see it in a publication, and how to compute the percentage of advertising in a publication.

• Correctly complete the Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation (form 3526), and learn to conduct an exceptional dispatch review.

• Generate reports of periodicals from the Permit System, identify discrepancies in the reports, discuss the history of periodicals, and use a checklist to verify a periodicals mailing.

• Identify the differences in verification procedures between standard mail, first class and periodicals, verify the contents of an Identification Statement, and recognize the characteristics of bound and unbound publications.

• Determine the mailability of periodical mail that includes supplements.

• Identify the differences in preparation between periodical mail, standard mail, first class mail, and foreign periodicals mail.

Passing this course requires the student to: attend all training days and participate in all required tasks.

Please note there is a fee for this program.

Link to program: https://www.nced.com/bma/class.html?id=5760105