I thought you all might be interested in this.  I'm wondering if this
would apply to us.

Greg

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Congressional Support: Certification & Professional Development
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 08:35:39 -0500
From: NCMA Communications Department
<xxxxxx@xmr3.com>
To: xxxxxx@cox.rr.com

Announcement to all NCMA Members:  Congressional Support for Payment of
Certification & Professional
Development Expenses

Among NCMA's primary organizational objectives is to be a chief
information and knowledge resource for its members.  With that objective
in mind, there is a late-breaking piece of information that we thought
imperative to share with you.

President Bush signed the Department of Defense Appropriations Bill
(P.L. 107-107).  Within that enactment is a provision that permits
reimbursement to contracts and procurement professionals for the cost of
attaining a professional designation, including certification.

NCMA has long supported the concept that professional certification is
integral to both career management and identification of those
individuals who have demonstrated a thorough understanding of the
principles of a profession.  This action by the federal government
sustains and supports this conclusion.

The bill as adopted and signed, authorizes appropriations for fiscal
year 2002 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for
military constructions, and for defense activities of the Department of
Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the
Armed Forces, and for other purposes.  Specifically stated in
P.L.107-107 (Sec. 1126) DOD is authorized to use available funds to pay
for professional credentials of employees, as well as for the
examinations required to obtain such credentials. Guidelines and
procedures for the process for individuals attaining reimbursements were
not contained in the legislation.

NCMA has two professional certification programs;

CACM-Intermediate professional designation focusing on federal
government contract management.

CPCM-Advanced contract management professional designation focusing on
the full breadth of general and specific knowledge of the field.

Recently, the Department of Veterans Affairs determined that veterans
were eligible for reimbursement for professional designations as well.
NCMA is listed on the VA web-site as having eligible certifications.

Clearly, the federal government has given recognition to the critical
importance professional designations can play in career development and
quality service to various constituents.  A growing number of federal
departments and agencies, as well as, private sector companies place
significant emphasis on certification as a mark of professional
distinction.

NCMA's certification program enjoys widespread recognition as a major
contributor to professionalism in the contract management field.

Please visit the web-site at www.ncmahq.org for a full description of
the NCMA certification programs.  Access is on the home page of the NCMA
web-site (drop down menu).NCMA
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