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.
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!
Table of Contents
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. So, go ahead and download the CCR Handbook, and let’s get started on renewing your PMP certification.
Step 2: Master the PMI Talent Triangle™
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 Triangle™ 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.
- 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.
Think about it, could you be a great project manager if you had excellent technical skills for building schedules and managing risk but your people skills could have improved? No way! Or what if you had exceptional leadership skills but needed to understand your business and business strategy in general? That wouldn’t work, either. That’s why the Talent Triangle™ is so essential – it’s a reminder that you need all three elements to be a truly exceptional project manager.
As you renew your PMP certification, it’s crucial to understand the Talent Triangle™ because you have to demonstrate that your professional development and PDUs align with the Talent Triangle areas. The goal is to showcase your skills to remain relevant and thriving in today’s rapidly changing business environment.
Remember, you may have gained your PMP certification 10 years ago, but the world of work has changed drastically since then. Keeping your skills current and relevant is vital to maintaining your certification. So, take the time to master the Talent Triangle™ and keep your project management skills sharp.
Education requirements are divided into the PMI Talent Triangle skill areas, as outlined below:
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.
But wait, there’s more. To reach the target of 60 PDUs across three years, you need to earn an additional 25 PDUs. And 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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
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: Remember that 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.
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.
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.
