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PMI mandates you to acquire 60 professional development units (PDUs) every three years in addition to a $119 annual renewal fee ($129 for new members). They're earned by furthering one's education and contributing back to the project management community. One PDU is earned for one hour of activity.
Education
Attending training classes and organization meetings might earn you education PDUs. Local PMI chapters and Registered Education Providers can deliver these. These can be gained from a variety of sources, including institutions and even your own company.
Reading, on the other hand, is one of the simplest and most common ways to earn education PDUs. Because the PMBOK Guide is the reference book for PMPs, it is extremely useful and authoritative. Articles, whitepapers, and blogs are examples of PMP-relevant publications that can be read for PDUs. You can also earn PMP credits by watching on-demand videos and participating in live webinars.
PMI introduced the Talent Triangle in 2015. It consists of three skill areas that work together to create a well-rounded practitioner. In each of these skill areas, you must obtain a minimum of 8 PDUs:
- Technical project management: Data gathering and project governance are examples of project, program, and portfolio management tasks.
- Leadership: Negotiation, dispute resolution, and other similar actions that assist a company in achieving its objectives.
- Strategic and business management: Business models and market analysis are examples of skills and knowledge of the industry or organization.
PMP requires at least 35 PDUs in education, therefore the remaining ones can be in any skill area.
- Giving Back
Giving back, as opposed to education, is about sharing your knowledge and putting your skills to use. In this category, there are five ways to earn PDUs:
- Work as a practitioner.
- Create content.
- Give a presentation.
- Share knowledge.
Getting the Balance Right
In the category of giving back, you can claim up to 25 PDUs. This is a decrease from 45 previous to the 2015 amendments. As a result, education must now account for the majority of your PDUs. In fact, you can earn all 60 PDUs while working in the classroom.
Make sure the category balance is correct. Don't expect that your daily work as a project manager will provide you with the majority of your PDUs. Also, keep track of how much time you spend on those credits. For example, you may read about project management for an hour each week and attend a one-hour webinar every two months. You'd earn enough PDUs in a year to cover the entire three-year cycle. Don't make the mistake of attempting to earn all 60 points at the last possible moment.
It's not easy to earn and keep a prominent certificate like the PMP Certification. But maybe, now that you've read this, you've gained a better grasp of it.