Activation of PMI Certifications: A Note on PDUs

Project management is a challenging and evolving forum of principles, terminologies, and top-notch practices. Hence, it's not surprising why Project Management Institute (PMI) argues that continuing education is a vital part of a project manager's career growth.

Inevitably, PMI needs specific post-exam educational standards to be fulfilled to maintain accreditation status. At first, these criteria, called the Professional Development Units (PDUs), may seem vague; however, through this article, you will understand why one must need PDU, what constitutes a PDU and how to obtain it.

What are Professional Development Units (PDUs)?

PDUs are one-hour blocks of time that you invest in teaching others, learning, or volunteering. By gathering and monitoring these over three years, you can maintain the certification status active with PMI.

What Forms a PDU?

PMI divides each relevant learning activity into six sections. The first three sections have direct professional education and can be leveraged without limit to meet PDU criteria. The latter sections involve giving back to the project management community under the limit.

The six sections of relevant activities are as follows:

Section A: Programs provided by PMI's Authorized Training Providers (ATPs), Communities, and Chapters.

Section B: Continuing education, a formal training from non-PMI sources.

Section C: Self-directed learning.

Section D: You are creating new project management knowledge, including course development, formal presentations, and authorship. However, it must be related to your expertise area.

Section E: Volunteering services.

Section F: Work as a professional in project management. If you work in the project management field for a minimum of 6 months out of every year - this will fulfill part of your credential criteria.

Do I Need PDUs?

PDUs are the central part of the PMI credential journey, proving that the credential holders continue developing their professional skills. Hence, yes, you do need PDUs.

However, you can't restrict your actions to just earning them - instead, claim them to avoid your certification from getting inactive.

Maintaining your accreditation is all about flexibility. Let's see how?

If you hold a PgMP, PMI-PBA, PMP or PfMP credential, you have to earn 60 PDUs every 3 years to keep your badge active.

These 60 PDUs are categorized into:

• Education PDUs: minimum 35
• Giving Back PDUs: maximum 25

Source: https://www.pmi.org/certifications/certification-resources/maintain/requirements

Once you fill each category, the remaining PDUs can go into any of the 3 sections.

If you hold a CAPM credential, you must earn 15 PDUs every 3-years to keep the badge active.

These 15 PDUs are categorized into:

• Education PDUs: minimum 9
• Giving Back PDUs: maximum 6

Source: https://www.pmi.org/certifications/certification-resources/maintain/requirements

Once you fill each category, the remaining PDUs can go into any of the 3 sections.

If you hold a PMI-ACP, PMI-SP, or PMI-RMP credential, you must earn 30 PDUs every 3-years to keep the badge active.

These 30 PDUs are categorized into:

• Education PDUs: minimum 18
• Giving Back PDUs: maximum 12

Source: https://www.pmi.org/certifications/certification-resources/maintain/requirements

Once you fill each category, the remaining PDUs can go into any of the 3 sections.

Ways to Earn PDUs for PMI Certifications

Though maintaining your PMI credential may be arduous initially, project managers agree that continuing education is essential to keep pace in such a dynamic market.

With so many opportunities available for attaining PDUs, you should have no difficulty choosing a continuing education course that satisfies your desired schedule.