PCMA to Align All CMP^® Educational Tools and Courses With New Material in CIC Manual, 8th Edition

CHICAGO, IL, March 14, 2008 -- In an effort to stay on top of the latest industry trends and continue its support of the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP^®) designation, the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) has updated all of its CMP^® educational resources and tools to correspond with new material covered in the Convention Industry Council (CIC) Manual, 8th edition.

"PCMA is always seeking to stay on top of the latest information and trends in the meetings industry. We're always looking for new and innovative ways to raise the level of professionalism," said PCMA President and CEO Deborah Sexton. "Our support of the CMP^® credential demonstrates PCMA's dedication to elevating the entire industry, while the overhaul of the CMP® Online Prep™ Course shows an ongoing commitment to developing unique and convenient learning solutions."

CMP^® Online Prep™ Course
PCMA's completely revamped online study course addresses topics presented on the rigorous CMP® examination through a 23-modular, interactive, online course. The program is wholly aligned with three reference books recommended by the CIC to ensure content accuracy, credibility and educational value: CIC Manual, 8th Edition; CIC International Manual, 1st Edition; and Professional Meeting Management, Fifth Edition (PMM5). PMM5 is a leading educational text for the meetings industry. The book is adopted by those seeking to obtain their CMP® designation, seasoned meeting professionals, and more than 100 colleges and universities.

New PCMA CMP^® Online Prep™ Course Features Include:

• Completely rebuilt to align with the official CMP^® Examination Blueprint
• Self-Assessment Inventory with immediate feedback on strengths and areas for improvement
• Pre-Test and Post-Test for each module with immediate feedback Overview and learner outcomes included with all 23 modules
• Specific and relevant reading assignments from each of the three recommended texts
• Comprehensive PowerPoint study outline to guide participants through the course material
• Two, timed Practice Exams following course that replicate the actual CMP^® examination in terms of length and number of test items
• Additional section with expert tips on studying and preparing for exam day

The online course is just $299 for PCMA members; $399 for non-members; and $249/participant for groups of three or more from the same organization. For more information, please visit www.pcma.org/CMP. Groups should call Jenna Bishop at 312-423-7263 to obtain the special group rate.

One-Stop-Solution for All CMP® Exam Resources
In addition to the online course, PCMA offers a wealth of other solutions to help potential CMPs prepare for the examination, including:

• PCMA Live Learning Center: Includes a complimentary CMP application presentation. Plus CEUs can now be earned from all other online educational sessions from past PCMA meetings.
• Ultimate CMP® Study Package: Includes CIC Manual, 8th Edition; CIC International Manual; and Professional Meeting Management, Fifth Edition
• PCMA CMP® Study Course™: Designed for those interested in facilitating a study group. CMP® Study Course™ materials are available for participants and the group facilitator. Groups adopting the PCMA CMP® Study Course™ materials will receive access to portions of the online course, including the Self-Assessment Inventory and Practice Exams. 
• PCMA CMP® Study Course™ "Train-the-Trainer:" A facilitator workshop held in conjunction with the PCMA Annual Meeting.
• PCMA CMP® CRAM Course™: Pre-exam and last minute study session, Jan. 9th at the 2009 PCMA Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
• CMP® Exam Jan. 10th at the 2009 PCMA Annual Meeting in New Orleans: CMP candidates can take the exam on the 10th and then stay for the PCMA Annual Meeting, which begins Jan. 11th. ·
• PCMA CMP® Connect™: Coming soon: online community for potential and current CMP^®s to discuss the exam and other professional issues.

To learn more about all of the CMP^® study and learning resources PCMA has to offer, sign-up for the online or study course, or to purchase materials, visit the PCMA Web site at www.pcma.org/CMP.

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The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) is the professional resource and premier educator for the meetings and convention industry. Founded in 1957, PCMA represents the interests of meeting management executives from associations, non-profit organizations, corporations, independent meeting planning companies, and multi-management firms who recognize the importance of meetings to their organization. PCMA empowers members with the tools they need to succeed as meeting professionals and to promote the value of the industry to their organizations and the general public. Headquartered in Chicago, PCMA has 16 chapters throughout the United States and Canada. For additional information, please visit the PCMA Web site at www.pcma.org.

The role of the PCMA Education Foundation is to support the mission of the PCMA through fundraising and grant giving focused on education and research that will benefit the meetings and conventions industry. Established in 1985, the Foundation supports educational programs to improve professionalism in the meetings industry and to provide a university-level meeting management curriculum. The Foundation funds educational programs for meeting managers, hotels, convention and visitors bureaus, and other members of the meetings industry. It also conducts ongoing research of industry issues and concerns. The Foundation continually funds new programs to encourage the highest levels of professionalism in the meetings industry.