PDUs or Professional Development Units track the professinal development and continuing education of Prject Management Institute (PMI) credential holders. PMI is a professional association recognized worldwide that offer several credentials for project and program management professionals.
PMI started with two credentials: Certified Associate in Project ManagementProject Management ProfessionalProgram Management ProfessionalPMI’s Scheduling ProfessionalPMI’s Risk Management ProfessionalPMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® credential was added to the list.
As a PMI credential holder you must accrue a minimum number of PDUs to maintain your certification status in a three year cycle. Effective March 1st, 2011 PDUs had a new classification.
The Certified Associate in Project Management ® (CAPM®) is the only credential that does not need to accrue PDUs. This credential last for five years and it expires. The CAPM® credential holder may decide to re-take the CAPM® exam or to pursue another PMI credential.
PDUs Reporting
I have seen a lot of questions from other fellow PMI credential holders on how to get PDUs to maintain their credential status. Many of the questions look to get PDUs in a “quick and cheap” fashion.
After the new classification takes effect all categories use the rule of 1 hour of learning = 1 PDU.
A simply way to maintain your PMP® and/or PgMP® credentials under the new PDU Category Structure would include the following activities:
a) Education Categories
i. Courses offered by PMI’s R.E.P.s or Chapters and Communities (Category A). Attending one PMI Global Congress within the three year cycle will award you with 16+ PDUs (assuming you attend two full days of the congress)
ii. Continuing Education (Category B). Attending every monthly meeting of your local chapter adds up to 12 PDUs per year or 36 PDUs per cycle (assuming you attend every monthly chapter meeting) and the opportunity to meet other project and program management professionals in your area
b) Giving Back to the Profession Categories
i. Creating new Project Management Knowledge (Category D). Authoring or co-authoring articles for PMI’s Knowledge Shelf or relevant electronic newsletters. Writing an article will accrue 1 PDU per one hour of activity in this category.
ii. Working as a Professional in Project Management (Category F). Accrue 5 PDUs per year working as a project manager for a minimum of 6 months within the 12 month period. This may be a category missed by many project and program management professionals. This is a natural alternative to earn PDUs
At the end accruing PDUs is as easy as the ABC.
