Collecting PDUs
On this page: How to Claim PDUs | Sources for PDU Collection | What are PDUs?
How to Claim PDUs
To sustain your status as a certified individual, you must collect PDUs (= Professional Development Units). For example, holders of the PMP status need 60 PDUs in a three-year cycle for renewal and extension by another three years on a rolling basis.
Are you unsure about the CCR process and PDUs? Click here for the details.
Sources for PDUs
LinkedIn articles on inexpensive and easy ways to collect PDUs.
Easy PDU Collection #1:
Read and Review Books
Easy PDU Collection #2:
Research Project Management Literature
Easy PDU Collection #3:
Online Media – Webinars, Online Conferences, Podcasts, PM Games
Do you know more sources with great tips? Please submit the details for publication.
What are PDUs?
Note: PDUs are often confused with Contact Hours of Training
Contact hours are a prerequisite to becoming eligible for the CAPM and PMP certifications.
They are described here.
Acronyms:
CCR – Continuing Certification Requirements
PDU – Professional Development Unit
PDUs are points or credits that PMI-certified individuals must collect and report during three-year time frames (CCR cycles) to sustain their certification status.
PMI requires:
| Status | Categories | Minimum PDUs | Maximum PDUs |
|---|---|---|---|
| PMP | 60 | ||
| Ways of working (= approaches and methods) | 8 | ||
| Power skills (= soft skills and leadership) | 8 | ||
| Business acumen (= embedding the project in a business environment) | 8 | ||
| Volunteering & creating knowledge | 17 | ||
| Practitioning as a project manager | 8 |
| Status | Categories | Minimum PDUs | Maximum PDUs |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAPM | 15 | ||
| Ways of working (= approaches and methods) | 2 | ||
| Power skills (= soft skills and leadership) | 2 | ||
| Business acumen (= embedding the project in a business environment) | 2 | ||
| Volunteering & creating knowledge | 4 | ||
| Practitioning as a project manager | 2 |
PDUs are best gathered through any form of learning activities. One hour of learning = 1 PDU.
PDUs are claimed at https://ccrs.pmi.org. When the CCR cycle is completed, PMI adds another three years at the end of the current cycle. During these three years, the next PDUs must be collected. A dashboard informs you of your current certification status. This is what it looks like when your status is renewed:
More: CCR Handbook
