How to earn PDUs for PMP recertification?

At the special request of my friends I’m presentin a post about how to renew the PMP certification, and in particular how to obtain required by the PMI – 60 PDUs credits.

The most important formal conditions to be met in order to extend the validity of PMP certification (without need to re-testing) are: pay a fee for recertification, acquire 60 PDUs and report them to PMI.

I believe that it is worth to understand that the recertification requirement raises the value of PMP certification, an employer gives a sense that the PMP is more than a paper to certify that John Doe have passed the exam x years ago. So, please do not treat recertification as a necessary evil.

I’ve prepared the post in the form of FAQ, I consider that will be more natural for me to explain the matter.

1. What is the PDU?

PDU stands for Professional Development Unit, which may be explained, as the unit of measurement of personal development. 1 PDU is to express one hour of time spent on personal development in the field of project management. But not for all activists it is a true. Keep in mind that the minimum amount that you can apply to PMI for a given activity is 0.25 PDU.

2. How many PDUs do I need to earn and how much time do I have for this in order to extend PMP certification?

You need to earn 60 PDUs. To get those PDUs, you have exactly 3 years since the PMP examination. My advice – start to collect and report your PDUs as soon as possible! If you don’t do that, you may find difficult to gather the required number of PDUs.

3. Can I transfer exceeded PDUs (over 60) to the next certification period (CCR)?

Yes, but only partially. Only maximum of 20 PDUs can be transfered into the next CCR cycle, but only those credits collected in the last year of the certification cycle (in the third year).

4. What will happen when I fall short to collect 60 PDUs in the required time?

PMI gives one additional year (the 4th) to complete the missing PDUs, but at the time the certificate is suspended (it is so-called suspension period). During the suspension period, you can not use the PMP credential.

5. What for do I get PDUs?

PDUs are awarded for different types of activities that contributes to personal development in the field of project management, for example: education, sharing knowledge with people interested in project management discipline, project management activities, activities in the branches of PMI and other organizations involved in project management or even for a charity work.

6. Can you be more specific?

Of course, the PMI in a document presenting the rules for the recertification of PMP recertificate, presents a through breakdown by type of activity, for which PDUs can be earned. Although PMI splits activities into 6 categories (including 12 Subcategories activities) it can be classified in three main areas.

• Education
• Knowledge sharing
• Professional services

In the second part of the article, you will find much more detailed summary.

7. Where can I submit my PDUs?

PDUs can be reported via special www site. You can also report PDUs using the paper form (sent by fax or by snail mail), but as we live in the twenty-first century I think that it isn’t preferred way. Keep in mind that you need to maintain a folder with evidences of preformed activities (in case you were selected for audit process.)

8. The page provided by you is asking me about: PMI ID Number, and PMP Cert Number, what are they?

PMP Cert Number is simply an ID of your PMP certificate, you can find it on your certificate.. PMP Cert Number can also be found in the PMI system, in which you submited the application for the PMP exam.

PMI number is the member ID for PMI members. If you are not a member of PMI you have to get it by e-mailing the following address pmihq@pmi.org . Sample e-mail content below.

Dear Sir or Madame,

I’d like to get my “PMI identification number” in order to get access to PDU Self Report Form.

My PMP Certificate number is: xxxxxx

Best Regards,

–

John Smith

More interesting links about PMP, PDU and recertification can be find below.

In the next part of this article (unfortunately it won’t be posted until the first week of May, after my deserved vacation) you’ll read more about”

Summary table of activities for which you can earn your PDUs.

Can I get PDUs for writing a blog ?

Sample of places, opportunities where you can earn PDUs for free or very cheap, and gain the occasion to get a lot of interesting knowledge and courses in project management field.

A few tips about how to earn PDUs wisely.

Tags: certification, certified project manager, earn pdu, pdu, pmi, pmp

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Tags: certification, certified project manager, earn pdu, pdu, pmi, pmp