AICPA, NASBA and Prometric Sign Contract for New Computerized CPA Exam.

Business/Technology Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 28, 2002

Today, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and Prometric announced the signing of a joint agreement to deliver a computerized

The transition to a computer-based test will enhance the CPA examination by incorporating the assessment of critical skills, such as research and communication, and will include increased emphasis on information technology, general business knowledge as well as broadening the scope of the examination in the audit and attest area. In addition, the computer-based test, which is scheduled for implementation in early 2004, will afford more flexibility to CPA examination candidates. A final paper-based version of the examination will be delivered in November 2003.

The AICPA will continue to create and grade the computerized CPA examination, and NASBA and the State Boards of Accountancy will be responsible for the overall administration of the exam to the more than 100,000 candidates who sit for the exam each year. Prometric, the world's leading technology-based testing company, will deliver the exam to the candidates through more than 300 testing centers in the United States and U.S. territories.

"All three parties are firmly committed to working together to bring the revised CPA examination to fruition," said Barry C. Melancon, AICPA President and CEO. "The computerized exam will better assess the skills that new CPAs must possess in order to carry out their essential charge: safeguarding the public interest."

David Costello, President and CEO of NASBA agreed. "The business world has changed dramatically since the Uniform CPA Examination was first introduced," he said. "State Boards of Accountancy, in meeting their public interest responsibilities, require an examination that, together with relevant education and experience criteria, qualifies candidates to be CPAs in a tough and challenging business environment."

"Prometric is honored to help AICPA and NASBA transition this vital examination to a computer-based format," said Michael Brannick, Prometric President and CEO. "Our unrivaled experience with helping professional authorities and organizations to convert their important licensing and certification examinations to a computer-based format uniquely qualifies us for this partnership, which is focused on creating and delivering the best examination possible."

The Uniform CPA Examination is presently administered twice annually in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. When the computerized version is introduced, candidates will be able to sit for the exam up to four times a year, as opposed to the current two times per year. Under computer-based testing, the exam will be available up to six days a week.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants is the national, professional organization of CPAs, with more than 330,000 members in business and industry, public practice, government, and education. It sets U.S. auditing and professional ethics standards and, with the Financial Accounting Standards Board, U.S. accounting standards. The AICPA is the first national, professional association to be ISO 9001-certified, in recognition of its quality management and assurance practices.

The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy serves as a forum for its 54 member boards of accountancy in the U.S. and jurisdictions of Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands and Washington D.C. Over a half million CPAs are currently licensed or certified by the boards. NASBA sponsors a variety of programs and services designed to enhance the effectiveness of its member boards.

As part of The Thomson Corporation (TSX:TOC), Prometric (www.prometric.com) is the global leader in technology-enabled testing and assessment services for information technology certification, academic admissions, and professional licensure and certifications. Prometric delivers standardized tests for more than 200 clients, in more than 25 languages, over the web or through a network of more than 4,800 testing centers in more than 140 countries.