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PMP Certification Requirements – Summarized

January 2017


If you’re like me, pouring over a 22 page handbook and watching videos to learn how earning PDUs has changed, can be a bit daunting. In between PM contracts, I finally found the time to go through all the material from PMI, and have put together a summary that can fits into a smaller package that I hope if more concise and less confusing. PMI, in revamping the PDU system, has placed more emphasis on education (min 35 PDUs per cycle) and less on giving back to the profession (max 25 PDUs per cycle). The target of 60 PDUs per cycle remains unchanged.



PMP Re-certification Requirements


Requirements are no longer broken up into 6 categories (A thru F), but have been simplified into two: Education and Giving Back to the Profession. A PDU represents an hour of time devoted to an approved list of activities.


Education (35 PDUs or more)


Education PDUs are further divided into one of three areas, known as the PMI Talent Triangle. A minimum of eight (8) PDUs must be earned in each of these three areas: Technical Project Management (PM hard skills), Leadership (PM soft skills), and Strategic and Business Management. The remaining 11 PDUs may fall into any of these three areas. Education PDUs may be earned by a combination of engaging in these activities:

  1. Courses or Training

  2. Chapter Meetings

  3. Online or Digital Media

  4. Reading

  5. Informal Learning



Giving Back to the Profession (25 PDUs or less)


Giving Back to the Profession PDUs is not subject to the PMI Talent Triangle, and may be earned by a combination of engaging in these activities:

  1. Working in the certified role (max 8 PDUs per cycle – only one claim per cycle)

  2. Creating content on Project Management

  3. Giving formal presentations on Project Management

  4. Sharing Knowledge with other Project Managers

  5. Volunteering


Ideas on how to Reach 60 PDUs in a 3-year Cycle


Year 1

  • Attend 5 monthly PMI Chapter meetings. [5 Education PDUs]

  • Read 5 PMI publications. [5 Education PDUs]

  • Watch (and make notes on) 5 online webinars on the PMI website. [5 Education PDUs]

  • Write and publish a blog (like this one). [1 Give Back to the Profession PDUs]

Year 2

  • Attend 5 monthly PMI Chapter meetings. [5 Education PDUs]

  • Read 5 PMI publications (free). [5 Education PDUs]

  • Watch (and make notes on) 5 online webinars on the PMI website. [5 Education PDUs]

  • Write and publish 5 more blogs on Project Management. [5 Give Back to the Profession PDUs].

Year 3

  • Claim 8 PDUs for working as a PM Practitioner. [8 Giving Back to the Profession PDUs]

  • Attend 5 monthly PMI Chapter meetings. [5 Education PDUs]

  • Read 5 PMI publications. [5 Education PDUs]

  • Watch (and make notes on) 5 online webinars on the PMI website. [5 Education PDUs]

  • Write and publish 5 more blogs on Project Management. [5 Give Back to the Profession PDUs].

3-Year Total: 45 Education PDUs + 19 Give Back to the Profession PDUs = 64 PDUs


Summary


As you can see from the ideas above, it is possible to earn 20 Education PDUs per year. Remember to keep evidence that you participated in the activities you claim, should PMI exercise their right to audit. Here is a handy tracker (MS Excel) that you can use.


 
 
 

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