The Central Illinois Postal Customer Council - Mail Design Professional (MDP) Online

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Many members have requested information on the Mail Design Professional certification course. GREAT NEWS! It’s available online at NO COST and can be accessed at any time.

Below is information from PostalPro regarding the online course and exam. Once on PostalPro, enter MDP into the search bar and click on Mail Design Professional (MDP) Online.

Mail Design Professional (MDP) Online

Mail Design Professional is a self-paced online certification course approved by the U.S. Postal Service®. The course can be accessed at any time and as many times as desired for free. It is estimated at 12 hours for full completion, but this will vary depending on the individual. In addition to the free course material online, if a student would like to become a certified Mail Design Professional, successful completion of the exam is required. Please visit https://imbg.usps.com/mdp to enroll.

This course is ideal for those who wish to maximize their proficiency in designing letter-size and flat-size mail to meet USPS® standards and obtain certification as a Mail Design Professional. The course includes:

Postal addressing standards
Classes of mail and processing categories
Intelligent Mail® and package barcode format and print specifications
Designing automation letters and flats (tabbing, polywrap, deflection, flexibility, etc.)
Reply mail (Business, Courtesy, Meter, Permit Reply and Merchandise Return Service)
Address Information products and Move Update

Learners will also receive information on design standards for:

Customized Market Mail
Repositionable Notes
Election Mail Logos
Privately Printed Labels
Reusable Envelopes

To become a certified Mail Design Professional, successful completion of the exam is required. You can sign up to take the exam from the MDP website. The certification is good for a two-year period once you have successfully completed the 100-question exam at 80% proficiency.

Please remember that the new exam is completed online on the MDP website.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

USPS National and Illinois News

News from USPS National and USPS Great Lakes Area.

U.S. Postal Service to Observe Columbus Day, Oct. 13

USPS News 10/07/2025 08:40

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service will observe Columbus Day on Monday, Oct. 13. Post Office locations will be closed in recognition of the federal holiday. Only Priority Mail Express items will be delivered on the holiday, and regular mail delivery and retail services will resume on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

USPS News 10/02/2025 09:00

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service has launched its new Informed Delivery Mobile app, designed to provide customers with greater convenience for managing their mail and packages anytime, anywhere.

USPS News 10/01/2025 10:30

WASHINGTON – The Operations Committee of the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors will meet on Oct. 7 in a closed meeting at USPS headquarters, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20260-1000. The committee will discuss the following:

USPS News 10/01/2025 08:21

ATLANTA — The U.S. Postal Service commemorated the life and legacy of President Jimmy Carter today with the issuance of a commemorative stamp on what would have been his 101st birthday. The dedication ceremony took place at The Carter Center in Atlanta.

Illinois News Releases 10/01/2025 07:58

HANOVER PARK, IL — The U.S. Postal Service today highlighted upgrades and new technology at the Hanover Park Sorting and Delivery Center (SDC). The upgrades come as part of the organization’s transformation and modernization strategies intended to increase operational precision and improve service performance across the country. The Postal Service’s sweeping operational overhaul is modernizing and optimizing its unrivaled integrated mail and package network.

USPS News 09/30/2025 08:52

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Postal Service is transforming the customer experience by introducing redesigned, technology-forward lobbies in retail locations nationwide.

Illinois News Releases 08/26/2025 09:56

Chicago, IL - The Greater Illinois Postal Customer Council (PCC), Chicagoland’s largest mailer event is extending a cordial invitation to all business partners to attend the 2025 National Postal Customer Council Week celebration. The theme – “Leading Forward” – is a continuation of the concepts shared at the 2025 National Postal Forum in Nashville earlier this year.

Illinois News Releases 08/12/2025 11:11

At the 2025 Great American Stamp Show in Schaumburg IL, the U.S. Postal Service will issue a set of stamps in anticipation of the Boston 2026 World Stamp Exposition. Issued to celebrate this once-a-decade extravaganza, these two stamps highlight the special role of Boston in the American Revolution as the Postal Service prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation.

USPS Stamp Encore Voting Open Now

Illinois News Releases 08/06/2025 15:55

Chicago, IL — Today, the U.S. Postal Service is excited to announce the Stamp Encore Contest. To celebrate the organization’s 250th anniversary, and gear up to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary, the public is invited to select a stamp pane from the past for re-printing as part of the 2026 Stamp program.

Postal Service Event in Bloomington

Illinois News Releases 07/25/2025 13:48

BLOOMINGTON, IL — The U.S. Postal Service recently welcomed employees to an event celebrating the opening of the Bloomington Sorting and Delivery Center (SDC) located at 1511 E. Empire St. The special event offered employees a first look at the Postal Service’s latest investments to improve the employee experience and provide the community and surrounding regions with faster, more reliable service.