All You Need To Know About The PMI PDUs
The Project Management Institute (PMI) is one of the largest professional bodies in project management with over 650,000 members in 213 countries, offering members access to a global community network. There are over 303 Chapters spread across the globe, offering members localized meetings.
The PMI offers a wide range of credentials and certifications, and it has something for everyone. Whether you are a project manager or someone who has just started his/her career, the PMI will always have something to suit your need. The PMI has both entry-level and specialist certification schemes that are specifically designed to help professionals recognize their knowledge and competency, and then use it to grow in their profession.
By joining the PMI, you are offered a progression route from Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) through to the Project Management Professional (PMP) credential.
All members follow a syllabus from the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) guide culminating in the PMI exam.
Once members have passed the PMI exam, they must follow the Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) that is aimed at continually developing the newly qualified individual. The CCR program provides a general framework and guidance, but ultimately it is up to the individual to determine their development path. The CCR program consists of Professional Development Units (PDUs) with most PMI certification candidates having to gain 60 PDUs within a three-year period to maintain their PMI membership.
PMI PDUs
PDUs are acquired in multiple ways, ranging from attending PMI chapter meetings, PMI conferences, training courses, and online digital media. PDUs are built around the PMI triangle of Technical Project Management, Strategic and Business Management, and Leadership.
PMI Talent TriangleTM
For a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), the 60 PDUs required are divided into different areas:
- A minimum requirement of 35 in education
- 8 PDUs must be gained from Technical Project Management
- 8 must be gained from Strategic and Business Management
- 8 must be gained from Leadership
- The remaining 11 can be gained from any area of the PMI talent triangle
Education is the largest area where PDUs can be achieved. Formal courses may cover more than one area of the triangle, offering the individual the option to divide overall PDUs in more than one area. For formal courses, one hour of a course equates to 1 PDU therefore a full two-day course equals 16 PDUs. Courses can be offered by third-party providers as it is the content of the course that is important rather than if it is provided by PMI registered trainers.
A maximum of 25 PDUs can be gained by Giving Back. These can be gained by volunteering for the PMI at a Chapter meeting or a PMI Conference, creating knowledge and working as a professional. Examples of proof for reporting these hours include, an employment contract if working as a professional or proof of a published article or webinar if creating knowledge.
Reporting PDUs
Over the three-year period, it is the individual’s responsibility to report their PDUs to the PMI. The PMI recommends that the PDUs should be reported as soon as possible using the CCR program. When third-party trainers have provided a relevant training course, proof of these courses can be provided by a completion certificate.
Failure to report PDUs to the PMI in a timely fashion will result in certification suspension. It is vital to earn the correct number of PDUs during a CCR cycle. This is usually a three-year period but does vary with the type of PMI qualification.
Summary
When you gain a PMI qualification, you become a member of a professional body aimed at helping you progress your career. To maintain an active membership, you automatically join the PMI’s CCR, and over an average of three years (this can differ slightly according to the PMI certification you hold) you need to collect 60 PDUs.
Although the PDUs are categorized, education is the largest area to collect PDU’s. Formal training that helps your employment is a good way to obtain PDUs as courses can overlap different areas of the PMI Talent Triangle. Formal training can be offered by third-party companies and reporting of these PDU’s can be done with proof of a certificate upon course completion. 1 PDU is earned for every hour of the course attended.
PMI and PMP are registered marks and The PMI talent TriangleTM is a service mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc.