Are you a proud holder of the PMP credential? Congrats! But did you know that your journey to becoming a certified project manager is far from over? To keep the coveted post-nominal letter “PMP” after your name, you must continue proving your competence by earning Professional Development Units (PDUs) over three years.
But don’t worry; earning PDUs doesn’t have to be daunting. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about PMI PDUs, including how to earn them, document them, and use them to renew your PMP certification in 10 easy steps.
So, grab your calendars and start planning your professional development because we’re about to embark on a journey to keep your PMP certification current and renewed. And as a bonus, you’ll also learn how this process applies to other PMI certifications, such as the CAPM—check out our step-by-step guide to renewing your CAPM certification in 2025 for more details.
Here are the certification Maintenance requirements across various PMI certifications
| 60 PDUs | 30 PDUs | 15 PDUs |
|---|---|---|
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Let’s begin and see the 10 Steps to renew PMP certification!
Step 1: Download and Understand the CCR Handbook
Are you ready to embark on the journey of renewing your PMP certification? The first step is downloading the Continuing Certification Requirements Handbook (CCR Handbook).
This 19-page PDF document is your ultimate guide to understanding the policies and procedures for actively maintaining your certification. As a PMP, it’s crucial to comply with the requirements outlined in the handbook, and reading it thoroughly will give you a clear understanding of what PMI expects of you.
Why the need for renewal? The answer is simple; it’s a three-year cycle. Every three years, you’ll need to prove that you’ve kept up your professional development to maintain your PMP certification status. But don’t worry; understanding the CCR Handbook can smooth the renewal process. For a deeper dive into the CCR process, explore our guide on Understanding the PMP® Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) Process for Renewal. So, go ahead and download the CCR Handbook, and let’s get started on renewing your PMP certification.
Step 2: Master the PMI Talent Triangleâ„¢
As a project manager, your skillset is like a puzzle – all the pieces must fit together seamlessly to create a successful outcome. And that’s where the PMI Talent Triangleâ„¢ comes in – it’s a framework that defines the three essential elements of a well-rounded project manager: Ways of Working, Power Skills, and Business Acumen.
To understand how many PDUs you need in each Talent Triangle area, check out our detailed blog on How Many PDUs from Each Section of the PMI Talent Triangle Do You Need to Recertify?.
- Ways of Working: More than one way exists to get work done today. Master multiple ways of working for successful results.
- Power Skills: Interpersonal skills, such as collaborative leadership, communication, innovation, empathy, and a focus on purpose, help teams maintain influence with stakeholders and drive change.
- Business Acumen: Effective decision-making and understanding of how projects align with organizational strategy and global trends are essential for professionals at all levels.
Step 3: Keep Track of the Minimum and Maximum PDU Requirements
Are you ready to earn those Professional Development Units (PDUs) for PMI renewal? You have two options to earn PDUs: education and giving back to the profession.
PMI has set clear guidelines for the minimum and maximum number of PDUs you can earn for each option.
For Education, you must earn a minimum of 35 PDUs, broken down across the three Talent Triangle areas. For PMP certificate holders, the minimums are 8 PDUs in Ways of Working, 8 PDUs in Power Skills, and 8 PDUs in Business Acumen. Depending on your professional development goals, the remaining 11 PDUs can be earned from any of the Talent Triangle areas.
To reach the target of 60 PDUs across three years, you need to earn an additional 25 PDUs. That’s where the Giving Back component comes in. You have three options to allocate your PDUs: Volunteering, Creating Knowledge, and Working as a Professional. You can earn a maximum of 25 PDUs from Giving Back, with a maximum of 8 PDUs earned from Working as a Professional. For more insights on this optional component, read our blog on Are Giving Back PDUs Required in 2025?.
Note: The Giving Back component is optional, and you can earn all your PDUs via Education. As long as you keep the minimum and maximum requirements in mind, you can split your PDUs between Education and Giving Back. For example, you can earn 45 Education PDUs, 8 for Working as a Professional, and the remaining 7 from other Giving Back activities. Want to simplify the process? Use our PDU Calculator to determine exactly how many PDUs you need for your PMI certification renewal.
Remember, there’s no limit to how many PDUs you can earn through Education, making it a popular and straightforward way for PMP holders to earn a lot of PDUs for PMP renewal quickly.
60 PDUs
(PMP/PgMP/PfMP/PMI-PBA)
35 Minimum Education PDUs
- 8 Minimum on each Talent Triangle skill (8*3)
- Remaining 11 in any area of the Talent Triangle
25 Maximum Giving Back PDUs
- Volunteering
- Creating knowledge
30 PDUs
(PMI-ACP/PMI-RMP/PMI-SP)
18 Minimum Education PDUs
- 4 Minimum on each Talent Triangle skill (4*3)
- Remaining 6 in any area of the Talent Triangle
12 Maximum Giving Back PDUs
- Volunteering
- Creating knowledge
15 PDUs
(CAPM)
9 Minimum Education PDUs
- 2 Minimum on each Talent Triangle skill (2*3)
- Remaining 3 in any area of the Talent Triangle
6 Maximum Giving Back PDUs
- Volunteering
- Creating knowledge
Step 4: Take a Peek into Your CCRS Account
When did you last check in on your Continuing Certification Requirements System (CCRS) account? Don’t be the one who reaches out for renewal help during their suspension period because they missed the deadline.
We have come across many who reached out to Gururo for the renewal during their suspension period as they missed to checking.
Take a moment to visit https://ccrs.pmi.org/ and have a look around your account. The system will clearly show how many PDUs you’ve earned and how many you still need. The dashboard also displays the number of days remaining until your PMP renewal date, providing a helpful deadline reminder. You may be pleasantly surprised that some of your training and PDUs have already been automatically applied to your account, such as attending a PMI event. For a step-by-step guide on checking your PDU status, see our blog on Checking Your PMI PDUs: A Step-by-Step Guide in 2025.
You may be pleasantly surprised that some of your training and PDUs have already been automatically applied to your account, such as attending a PMI event. So, it’s always worth checking before you start earning more PDUs.
Step 5: Craft a Blueprint for Earning Your PDUs
One of the most common questions PMP holders ask is, “How do I earn PDUs for PMP renewal?” The answer is simple: Plan it out like any good project.
The three-year cycle allows you to calculate how many PDUs you need to earn regularly. As a best practice, we recommend earning around 2 PDUs per month.
Developing the habit of earning, tracking, and logging your PDUs will make the process effortless. Be consistent and make time for your professional development during the workweek. Utilize tools like Gururo’s PDU bundles to make earning PDUs a routine.
Remember, if you don’t plan your PDU activities, you may find yourself scrambling to earn 60 PDUs in the months leading up to your renewal. That’s equivalent to 60 hours of development at short notice! Avoid the stress and plan your learning journey.
Step 6: Put Your Plan into Action and Earn Those PDUs
All the thinking and planning are done. Now it’s time to put it into action and earn those all-important PDUs.
There’s no way around it. It would be best if you put in the effort and complete qualifying activities to earn your PDUs. But don’t worry. The hard part is over.
Many PMP holders find it easier to earn their PDUs online, thanks to the flexibility it offers. For example, you can watch Gururo’s high-quality online courses at your own pace right from the comfort of your computer or Mobile. So, put your plan into action and earn those PDUs.
Step 7: Don't Delay. Claim Your PDUs Right Away
Have you just finished a course or webinar, or are you using Gururo’s online courses? Don’t wait; claim the PDUs immediately after you finish a course! Reach out to the event organizer or download your PDU certificate as soon as possible.
Gururo’s courses make it easy to stay on track and get your PDUs approved faster. So, don’t delay; claim those PDUs now!
Gururo has designed step-by-step tutorials to help you see the approval coming through in under 2 minutes. For additional guidance on managing your certification status, check out our blog on Mastering Your PMP® Certification Status: A Guide to Avoiding Expiration.
Step 8: Keep Detailed Records of Your PDUs for a Potential Audit
A random selection of certification holders will be chosen for PMI’s audit process. During this process, you will be asked to submit supporting material to verify the PDUs you’ve claimed. Therefore, it’s important to keep documentation for all PDU claims for at least 18 months after the CCR cycle has ended.
PMI needs to ensure that individuals are performing the development activities they claim, and that’s where the audit comes in. You’ll need to provide evidence of your PDU activities if selected. This may include registration letters for formal training courses, letters of attendance for organization meetings, proof of employment, copies of presentations or materials, or any other documentation showing you completed the activity. For a comprehensive guide on navigating this process, read our blog on Pass the PMP Audit: A Step-by-Step Guide.
An easy way to keep track of your PDUs is to use Gururo’s dashboard to download certificates and track all your activities. This includes what activity you completed, your study notes, how many PDUs you earned, and which Talent Triangle sections they align with. Keep these records for at least 18 months after the CCR cycle has finished in case you are audited. Once that time has passed, it’s safe to discard these certificates and other documents unless you need them for another purpose.
Step 9: Pay and Renew Your Certification with Confidence
You’ve worked hard to earn the necessary PDUs for recertification, and now it’s time to make it official. PMI will send you email reminders to renew your certification, but don’t wait for that reminder.
Use PMI’s online system to pay the renewal fee and officially renew your certification for another three years. If you’re a PMI member, you’ll save on the renewal fee. However, if you’re not taking full advantage of your membership, it may be cheaper to pay the renewal fee alone.
Bonus Step 10: Keep the Learning Going!
Congratulations on reaching your PDU goal for PMP renewal, but don’t stop there! You may reach your target well before the deadline if you’ve set up good habits and consistently earned PDUs.
Did you know that you can roll over up to 20 PDUs into the next cycle? This is a great way to get a head start on your next three years of professional development. You never know what projects you might be working on in the future, and it’s always wise to plan.
Note: Only PDUs earned in the third year of your cycle can be rolled over, so wait to start earning extra PDUs until you’re in the final year of your current renewal cycle. For tips on maximizing your PMP credential, explore our blog on How to Make the Most of Your PMP Certification: A Comprehensive Guide.
Conclusion : 10 Steps to renew PMP certification
PMP certification renewal is vital to ensure that you maintain the required knowledge and skills to be an effective project manager. Following the ten steps outlined above, you can provide a smooth renewal process and keep your PMP certification for another three years. These steps will guide you through the renewal process, from understanding the PMI Talent Triangle to planning and scheduling your PDU earnings to document your activities for potential audits. Remember, with good planning and consistent effort, you can earn extra PDUs and get a head start on your next renewal cycle.
If you’re concerned about the cost of renewal, our blog on How to Avoid Overpaying for PMP Renewal: Lifetime vs. 3-Year PDUs compares lifetime renewal options with standard 3-year cycles, helping you save over $1,000 in the long run. For those looking for a hassle-free solution, Gururo’s Lifetime PMP Renewal Service offers unlimited renewal support with a one-time payment.
Gururo’s PDU packs are an excellent choice, and here’s the three-step renewal process
Obtaining a PMP certification renewal has always been challenging. With our streamlined process, there’s no need to worry about exams, audits, or any other hassle. The process is simple, requiring only three easy steps.
Step one: Select and pay for the desired PDU bundle. Our plans are all-inclusive, meaning there are no hidden fees or recurring payments.
Step two: Earn your PDUs at your own pace. Our flexible system allows you to study at any time, on any device, and from any location, making it easy to fit your professional development into your busy schedule.
Step three: Claim and receive approval for your PDUs in just minutes. With just a few clicks, you can have your PDUs approved, and your certification renewed in no time.
For more details on the renewal cycle and tips to stay on track, read our blog on PMP Renewal Cycle Explained – How to Renew Your PMP Certification on Time. If your certification has expired, don’t worry—check out our guide on How to Renew PMP After Expiry in 2025: Step by Step Guide to learn how to reinstate it without retaking the exam.
