Do it is advisable earn PDUs to keep up your PMI certification? You’re in the best place!
On this article, we’ll cowl what it is advisable know in regards to the completely different classes of PDUs and what number of it is advisable get, plus some easy and free methods to earn PDUs in 2024.
There are additionally some additional recommendations that take a bit extra effort however are equally worthwhile in case you’ve received extra time and power to spare on your skilled improvement.
What’s a PDU ?
PDUs are skilled improvement items. They’re a measure of how a lot skilled, steady studying you could have executed.
PDUs are measured in hours. You’ll be able to declare them in 15 minute chunks in case you spend a part of an hour on skilled improvement.
What number of PDUs do I would like?
Should you maintain a
That may be timed as 20 PDUs yearly or 60 PDUs within the final 3 months of the three yr cycle as you panic and attempt to get all of them in earlier than your certification expires.
Should you maintain a
Should you maintain a
The PDUs for each certification should be made up of training undertaken in particular areas. Extra on that in a minute.
The tables under exhibits the completely different variety of PDUs required for every certificates.
| Certification | Certification Cycle | Whole PDUs Required | Training Minimal PDUs | Giving Again Most PDUs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 60 | 35 | 25 | |
| PgMP | 3 years | 60 | 35 | 25 |
| PfMP | 3 years | 60 | 35 | 25 |
| PMI-PBA | 3 years | 60 | 35 | 25 |
| 3 years | 30 | 18 | 12 | |
| PMI-RMP | 3 years | 30 | 18 | 12 |
| PMI-SP | 3 years | 30 | 18 | 12 |
| 3 years | 15 | 9 | 6 |
These are detailed within the Persevering with Certification Necessities (CCR) Handbook, so it’s price getting a duplicate of that from the PMI web site.
If you’re near your recertification deadline, learn my information on how to quickly earn PDUs for renewal.
PDU classes
There are two classes of
- Training PDUs
- Giving Again PDUs
Training PDUs
Training PDUs are these earned from formal and casual studying throughout the three areas of the PMI Expertise Triangle: Methods of Working, Power Skills, and Enterprise Acumen.
Examples of the way to earn Training PDUs embody:
- Taking a course in-person
- Attending an internet course, coaching session both reside or as self-paced studying
- Attending a PMI Chapter assembly or PMI occasion the place there may be an academic session
- Self-directed studying
- Mentoring or different structured skilled discussions along with your colleagues and community e.g. lunch and be taught conferences.
| Certification | Technical PDUs Required | Management PDUs Required | Strategic PDUs Required | Remaining PDUs from any Expertise Triangle Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | |
| PgMP | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 |
| PfMP | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 |
| PMI-PBA | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | |
| PMI-RMP | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| PMI-SP | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Giving Again PDUs
The Giving Again class of PDUs are these earned from contributing to the career and increasing your horizons by means of volunteering.
Examples of the way to earn Giving Again PDUs embody:
- Doing all of your day job
- Sharing your data by means of publishing articles, podcasts, movies by yourself web site, your organization web site or a neighborhood platform
- Giving a presentation at an occasion
- Instructing others.
Most Necessities
| Certification | Working as a Skilled | Volunteering & Creating Information |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 17 | |
| PgMP | 8 | 17 |
| PfMP | 8 | 17 |
| PMI-PBA | 8 | 17 |
| 4 | 8 | |
| PMI-RMP | 4 | 8 |
| PMI-SP | 4 | 8 |
| 2 | 4 |
Obtain the CCR Handbook from the PMI web site for an entire step-by-step breakdown of what you want on your explicit circumstances.
preserve a number of PMI certifications
Did you notice that in case you’ve received a number of certifications, your
That’s an enormous bonus! You don’t need to earn model new PDUs for every certification. Merely do some skilled improvement that earns you credit score throughout your portfolio of certificates.
Make your PDUs do double responsibility supporting you for all of your credentials!
Keep in mind to report PDUs towards all of your related certificates within the CCR.
Energy Abilities and Enterprise Acumen PDUs rely for each certification you maintain.
Methods of Working PDUs can apply to multiple of your certifications so long as the topic is related. All Methods of Working PDUs rely in the direction of Mission Administration Skilled (
OK, now we’ve received that out of the way in which, let’s take a look at how one can enhance your
15 Simple methods to earn PDUs
Listed below are some easy methods to earn PDUs on your PMI re-certification cycle. Many of those are free methods to get PDUs. Others are easy to do however include a value. There are a great deal of eligible actions to select from, so let’s get began!
1. Do your job
Did you discover within the tables above that you could earn PDUs merely for doing all of your job? That’s received to be the best option to get began in your
If you’re working in any sort of challenge supply function, PMO function, or related in any trade, you possibly can rely a few of your skilled service working hours in the direction of the utmost necessities for Giving Again.
You need to use a duplicate of your job description as a part of your proof for any such
You’ll be able to’t declare quite a bit this fashion, so the most effective method is to be taught how to find time for continuous development as a part of your common schedule.
2. Declare for mentoring
Whether or not you mentor others or are being mentored, you possibly can declare that point as it’s a structured skilled dialogue. You might be working as a practitioner, so that you’ve undoubtedly received one thing to share with others.
Don’t have a mentor? I can help with that!
Extra formal teaching preparations additionally work – report the hours you spend teaching others or receiving teaching. Speak to your supervisor to seek out out what choices can be found to you funded by your organization.
3. Give a presentation at work
Should you take a coaching course or attend a webinar, provide to provide a 15-minute abstract model to your crew on the subsequent crew assembly. That’s 0.25 PDUs proper there for data sharing! Plus any time it takes you to organize the presentation.
It is a easy method of earning PDUs for CAPM because it doesn’t require something particular to make occur.
4. Declare pre-course work and homework
If you’re doing an internet or in-person coaching course, you’ll most likely be despatched some pre-course work or assignments to do exterior of sophistication time.
You’ll be able to declare the time you spend on reviewing the course materials as self-directed studying. That’s on high of the hours you spend truly within the course itself – extra on that later.
5. Hearken to The PDU Podcast
That is actually the best option to earn these PDUs. Join The PDU Podcast. Get 60 related PDUs delivered to your system and watch them once you want them. Get your
It’s simple as a result of you then’ve received all of the PDUs you want for the entire renewal cycle at a low worth per
There are numerous completely different merchandise relying on what number of PDUs you want. I’ve used this product, listened to lots of the podcast episodes and even been in a few of the episodes! From my expertise, this can be a nice, dependable option to earn PDUs backed up with wonderful customer support.
Beneath you possibly can see the choices and select the most effective product on your wants. Personally, I’m a fan of the Energy Abilities package deal as a result of incomes Energy Abilities PDUs is trickier than getting the Methods of Working PDUs.
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Earn 30.5 PDUs by listening to The Agile PrepCast and studying extra about agile instruments and strategies.
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Get on the spot entry to 10 prime quality webinars on management and specialist matters that can assist you earn the tough ‘Energy Abilities’ PDUs. The PDU Podcast Energy Abilities Bundle is completely aligned to the PMI Expertise Triangle and offers you 15 PDUs.
We earn a fee in case you click on this hyperlink and make a purchase order, at no extra price to you #advert
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The PDU Podcast CAPM Bundle offers you quick, handy entry to the PDU studying supplies you want. Merely add your subscription to your favourite free or premium podcast app, obtain the webinars and begin incomes your PDUs.
With The PDU Podcast CAPM Bundle you get on the spot entry to 10 high-quality webinars on curated matters, completely aligned to the Expertise Triangle®.
We earn a fee in case you click on this hyperlink and make a purchase order, at no extra price to you #advert
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Earn all the 60 PDUs it is advisable renew your PMP certification. It’s aligned with the PMI Expertise Triangle and features a certificates of completion.
We earn a fee in case you click on this hyperlink and make a purchase order, at no extra price to you #advert
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Earn 60 PDUs by listening to those podcasts in your cellphone, cellular system, or pc. Study from 25 challenge administration consultants when it’s handy to you, protecting Methods of Working, Energy Abilities and Enterprise Acumen.
We earn a fee in case you click on this hyperlink and make a purchase order, at no extra price to you #advert
6. Go to a (related) assembly
You don’t need to be a PMI member to go to a Chapter assembly. And with an increasing number of Chapters providing webinars on-line, it’s possible you’ll discover it simpler than ever to get to an occasion.
Sometimes, PMI will solely allow you to declare 1-2 PDUs for group conferences per certification renewal cycle, so overview the upcoming calendar on your native Chapter and see what occasions are arising. Select one thing that sounds attention-grabbing!
Do examine first if there’s a payment: some Chapters provide occasions free to members and cost non-members. You may determine it’s price joining the Chapter if the occasions look ok.
7. Take a course
The best option to earn quite a lot of PDUs in a single go is to take a category. It is a significantly good choice in case you maintain multiple certification as a result of you possibly can break up the PDUs and use them to rely in the direction of the assorted re-certification necessities.
Online, self-paced video courses are good as a result of you possibly can match them in round your work duties, however any challenge administration coaching will rely.
Actually, any related administration or management or enterprise abilities coaching counts. I’ve taken the IBM Project Management Certificate but in addition the
I take advantage of the Coursera app on my iPad so I can examine on the go and it allows you to obtain video classes so you possibly can work even once you don’t have an web connection. Take a look at my favourite project management courses on Coursera.
I may personally suggest the UVA Darden course if you wish to enhance your challenge planning, scheduling and monitoring.
Do in a day
Fundamentals of Project Planning and Management
5.0
An excellent brief course from UVA Darden protecting the fundamentals at stage. Greatest for challenge managers with some expertise who need to enhance their planning and challenge management.
We earn a fee in case you click on this hyperlink and make a purchase order, at no extra price to you #advert
Should you want in-person studying, look into what your local people faculty is providing as night courses or weekend examine.
8. Studying
Membership {of professional} our bodies usually comes with a journal or journal. You’ll be able to declare time for studying that, and heck, even this web site!
Books additionally rely, and there are some excellent project management books on the market.
Simply keep in mind to put in writing down what you discovered and what you learn, so you could have an proof log if it is advisable submit extra info to PMI.
9. Watch a webinar
Get began with the webinars right here:
That’s no less than a few free PDUs for you!
On-line video is an easy option to be taught new issues, and it’s one thing you possibly can match into your lunch break at work. It’s additionally a great way to spice up your management abilities, as you’ll usually discover reside and on-demand webinars protecting management matters.
10. Contribute to a wiki
If you have already got a Wikipedia login, you can begin on the largest wiki on this planet and contribute your challenge administration data to that.
Or go small and contribute to the projectmanagement.com wiki, sharing what you realize.
Maybe you even have an in-house wiki on your crew – that counts too.
11. Host a lunch and be taught session
One in every of my favourite issues to do at work was internet hosting the lunch and be taught classes. I curated a sequence of webinars over a couple of yr. Mission supply professionals from all around the enterprise joined the webinars (or watched the replays) over lunchtime.
It was surprisingly simple to prepare in-house. You don’t want exterior audio system. Ask for volunteers to speak about what they discovered on a challenge, or to do a deep-dive into one thing that went properly (or not).
Or just pull up an article in your favourite PM web site, or a case examine in {a magazine} and speak about what you’d do in that state of affairs.
I emailed the heads of departments about my lunchtime webinars and requested them to ahead my message on. Then anybody who needed to affix the webinars may. I merely despatched out a calendar invite to the individuals on the checklist.
You’ll be able to declare PDUs for organizing the occasion and in addition talking at it.
12. Spend time on ProjectManagement.com
You’ll be able to earn PDUs for contributing to the neighborhood or watching videos. ProjectManagement.com is an internet site owned by PMI, and I consider it just like the neighborhood wing. It’s full of discussions, blogs, and different forms of user-generated content material, and it has an enormous library of user-submitted templates.
There’s an enormous choice of challenge administration matters to browse.
Create content material and take part! Write a weblog submit, contribute to a dialogue, take a ballot or a quiz, and begin counting your hours.
13. Volunteer
Personally, I don’t suppose that volunteering is a simple option to earn PDUs. It’s quite a lot of work and whereas it’s very rewarding, it’s not one thing to decide to with out understanding what it includes.
Speak to your native challenge administration or enterprise group first and see what volunteer alternatives there are. It’s free – and volunteer work will usually get you into massive occasions at no cost – but it surely’s not at all times ‘simple’.
Nonetheless, when you’ve got loads of free time and reside or work near the place your native Chapter hosts conferences, then it may be a neater choice for you. It’s additionally a good way to construct a community of colleagues and make associates within the career.
You’ll additionally get expertise in several types of challenge and occasion administration which could open doorways in your profession later.
14. Take a PMI e-learning course
PMI have some video-on-demand studying programs, together with some which can be at no cost, like this introduction to Agile course.
PMI adjustments its choices on a regular basis (goodbye, PMI Edge) and proper now there are 2 free programs on the PMI web site which can be going to provide you PDUs: the PMI Kickoff badges.
Free coaching!
Kickoff from PMI
A superb free newbies challenge administration course that is available in Agile and Predictive variations. Excellent for unintended challenge managers and other people needing a structured method to challenge work for the primary time.
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If you’d like a easy option to rapidly earn PDUs, paying for them is certainly a simple route and there are many paid coaching choices just like the Wicked Problem Solving course which is sensible.
Alternatives that give you badges, quiz outcomes, certificates and so forth are nice as a result of they provide you proof that you could simply discuss with in case your improvement report is ever audited.
15. Research on your subsequent certificates
If you’re already within the progress of learning for an additional certification or challenge administration examination, that examine time counts.
For instance, in case you examine for the
Research time doesn’t solely need to be for PMI certificates. You can rely coaching in the direction of Scrum Grasp or different trade certificates too.
Additional concepts for incomes PDUs
Lastly, listed below are a few further concepts for incomes PDUs. These ones don’t rely in my e-book as ‘simple’ however they’re definitely doable in case you put the hassle in.
You’ll be able to create new content material. That’s something from an article in your organization e-newsletter (so long as it’s about one thing to do with challenge administration) by means of to delivering a keynote speech or writing a e-book.
The best option to get began is to put in writing some articles and share them on LinkedIn.
I don’t suppose that creating content material for the challenge administration neighborhood is especially simple both, particularly if you’re new to placing your self and your concepts on the market. However if you wish to enhance your public talking or company writing abilities, then it’s undoubtedly one thing you could possibly do.
declare PDUs
All
Tip: I like to recommend you place a recurring calendar appointment in your diary to replace the CCRS system each three months no less than. Then you definitely’ll be motivated to do it and have an up-to-date report of what skilled improvement you’ve already executed.
PDU FAQ
How lengthy are PDUs legitimate?
PDUs are legitimate for the re-certification cycle you earned them in (each 3 years). After you have claimed the PDU for a re-certification cycle, it is advisable earn new ones to cowl you for the subsequent 3 years.
What number of hours is a PDU?
A PDU equals one hour {of professional} improvement time. It may be spend doing a wide range of studying actions. You may also declare PDUs in 15 minute increments in case your studying timeslot goes over one hour e.g. declare 1.75 PDUs for a webinar that was 1 hour 45 minutes lengthy.
How can I get free PDUs?
You’ll be able to undoubtedly get free PDUs for PMP renewal this yr. Earn free PDUs from doing all of your job, listening to podcast episodes, volunteering, studying related supplies and contributing to the career, amongst different methods.
Subsequent steps
Prepared to begin amassing these PDUs to keep up your lively standing? Listed below are your subsequent steps:
- Obtain the CCR Handbook and familiarize your self with the necessities.
- Signal as much as The PDU Podcast
- Register on ProjectManagement.com and put half-hour per 30 days in your diary to contribute to the discussions, learn the content material and many others
- Begin amassing supporting documentation,
PDU declare codes and proof to again up your certification renewal.
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