In this article, we cover all about PDUs in PMI, from understanding the meaning of PDUs to exploring the PMI requirements for PDU acquisition. Whether you’re new to PMI certification or a seasoned professional, we offer insights into earning PDUs and ensuring your credentials stay up to date.
What is a PDU in meaning ?
A PDU, or Professional Development Unit, is a unit used to measure ongoing development within the field of project management.Â
To maintain certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP), you’ll need to maintain a precise number of PDUs, earned by attending events or performing courses. 60 PDUs are needed over three years.Â
What are PDU PMI requirements, why PMI PDUs?
After getting a PMI certificate, you require to maintain it. Maintenance of your PMI certificates is a necessary condition by PMI. It’s necessary to keep your certificate valid and active. All PMI certificate maintenance requires that you acquire the needed number of Professional Development Units (PDUs) in a three-year cycle. This cycle starts the day you pass your PMI certificate test.Â
PDUs are primarily hours that you actually devote to training, gaining knowledge, reading, creating, working, or volunteering in project management or affiliated jobs. You require to earn a minimal number of PDUs for every PMI certificate that you hold, over a period of three years. Once you have accumulated the required PDUs against your PMI certificates, you can submit these to PMI and pay a certificate renewal fee. PMI PDU submission and fee payment is done at PMI’s website. By completing this PMI PDU submitting process, you renew your certificate for another three-year cycle.Â
Remember, if you failed to earn the required PDU then your credential will no longer remain valid, it’ll expire! And if this does happen, If you don’t acquire the needed number of PDUs in your current three-year cycle. PMI’ll allow 1 year grace period so that you can make up your PMI PDU and make the renewal fee payment. During this grace period, your certificate status will display as suspended even so. Â
During this suspension period, PMI doesn’t allow that you refer to yourself as a project management professional. You’re further given one year to make up the due PDUs. However, your credential will be restored but if you failed to earn the needed PDUs, your credential will be canceled and you’ll have to apply to reappear for the PMP test if you successfully earn the PDUs.
How to earn and calculate PDUs?
There are two different types of PDUs that can be earned in different ways Education and Giving Back to the Profession. you need to earn 60 PMI PDUs in a three-year cycle. Education is the necessary category while the Giving Back category is optional. Generally, the sixty PDU demand is broken down into a minimum of thirty-five Education PDUs and a max of twenty-five Giving Back PDUs. 1 hour of instruction related to project management, project risk, project scheduling, or program management equals 1 PDU.
Education PDUs
Education PDUs are exactly as they sound; they’re earned by nourishing your education in project management. Ongoing education Take in-person or online courses, attend forums, webinars, and industry events, or get into self-directed knowledge and grasp it at your own pace. Just make sure the course you are holding is officially sanctioned to give out PDUs. These can be earned in a number of ways, similar to the example listed belowÂ
- Â Take a fixed course or gain excess training.
- Â Educator-led courses, both online and offline, are a great source of PDUs.Â
- Both the PMI and multitudinous third-party companies offer courses designed to nourish education in project management.Â
However, you can also attend forums held by the PMI, If you don’t want to commit to taking a course.Â
- Â Attend meetings or regional events related to your profession. These are frequently held at PMI chapters and can double as a chance to network. Be sure to check the PMI events timetable to find chapter events near you.Â
- Self-directed education also counts towards earning PDUs. These can be earned by both online self-paced education or self-directed reading applicable to your certificate. Online education can be pursued on the project management website and the PMI store offers numerous relative reading stuff.Â
PMI PDU types
PMI Professional Development Units (PDUs) are a way for Project Management Institute (PMI) credential holders to demonstrate their ongoing professional development and commitment to project management. There are several categories of activities that can be counted towards earning PDUs, including:
- Education: This category includes courses, workshops, seminars, and other formal education activities that are related to the field of project management. This can consist of online courses, in-person training, and self-study materials.
- Giving back to the profession: This category includes activities such as volunteering with PMI, presenting at conferences or events, or serving as an instructor or mentor.
- Working as a practitioner: This category includes activities related to your current job or profession that involve applying project management skills and knowledge. This can include leading projects, participating in project teams, or conducting project reviews.
- Professional and self-directed learning: This category includes activities such as reading professional journals, participating in professional development programs, or engaging in self-study activities.
It’s important to note that not all activities will qualify for PDUs, and the credential holder’s responsibility is to ensure that the activities they are claiming for PDUs meet the requirements set by PMI. You can find more information about earning PDUs and the specific requirements for each category on the PMI website.
PMI PDU coupon code
PMI does not offer coupon codes for PDUs, but there are several ways that PMI credential holders can earn PDUs at a reduced cost. It’s important to note that not all activities will qualify for PDUs, and the credential holder’s responsibility is to ensure that the activities they are claiming for PDUs meet the requirements set by PMI. You can find more information about earning PDUs and the specific requirements for each category on the PMI website.
PMI PDU for mentoring
Mentoring can be a valuable way to earn Professional Development Units (PDUs) for Project Management Institute (PMI) credential holders. In addition, mentoring activities can be counted towards the “Giving Back to the Profession” category of PDUs, including volunteering with PMI, presenting at conferences or events, or serving as an instructor or mentor.
To earn PDUs for mentoring, you must be actively engaged in the mentoring process and demonstrate that you have provided guidance and support to the mentee. The number of PDUs you can earn for mentoring will depend on the length and intensity of the mentoring relationship.
For example, if you mentor a colleague for one hour per week for six months, you could earn 36 PDUs in the “Giving Back to the Profession” category (assuming a one-hour mentoring session counts as one PDU). However, PMI limits giving back to the professional category to a maximum of 8 PDUs, so even if you report 36 PDUs, only eight will be approved.
PMI PDU hours
One PDU is equal to one hour of professional development activity. This means that if you participate in a one-hour course or workshop, you can claim one PDU. If you participate in a half-day seminar, you can claim 3.5 PDUs (assuming the seminar is 3.5 hours long).
PMI PDU for presentation
Presenting at conferences or events can be a valuable way to earn Professional Development Units (PDUs) for Project Management Institute (PMI) credential holders. In addition, presenting activities can be counted towards the “Giving Back to the Profession” category of PDUs, including volunteering with PMI, presenting at conferences or events, or serving as an instructor or mentor.
To earn PDUs for presenting, you must be actively engaged in the presentation and demonstrate that you have provided valuable information or insights to the audience. The number of PDUs you can earn for presenting will depend on the length and intensity of the presentation.
For example, if you present a one-hour session at a conference, you could earn one PDU in the “Giving Back to the Profession” category. On the other hand, if you present a full-day workshop, you could earn seven PDUs (assuming a one-hour presentation counts as one PDU).
It’s important to note that not all activities will qualify for PDUs, and the credential holder’s responsibility is to ensure that the activities they are claiming for PDUs meet the requirements set by PMI. You can find more information about earning PDUs and the specific requirements for each category on the PMI website.
PMI PDUs for recertification
PMI Professional Development Units (PDUs) are a way for Project Management Institute (PMI) credential holders to demonstrate their ongoing professional development and commitment to project management. If you hold a PMI credential, you must earn and report a certain number of PDUs to maintain your credential. The number of PDUs required for each credential and the renewal cycle varies depending on the specific credential.
For example, the renewal cycle for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) and the Project Management Professional (PMP) is every three years, and the number of PDUs required is 60. This means that during each three-year renewal cycle, Practitioner level credential holders must earn and report a minimum of 60 PDUs to PMI to maintain their credentials.
In addition to earning and reporting PDUs, PMI credential holders must also maintain their current contact information and pay an annual credential maintenance fee to maintain their credentials.
PMI PDU vs. contact hours
PMI Professional Development Units (PDUs) and contact hours are both measures of professional development activities. However, they have different requirements and purposes.
Contact hours are required to sit for the PMP exam, and 35 contact hours are required to be precise.
PDUs are required once your clear the PMP exam. So, contact hours are required before the exam, and PDUs are PMP of post-needed examination to maintain the PMP credentials.
Give back PDUs
 Produce content that can be added to the body of knowledge, volunteer to give your project management services outside of your company, or just do your job ( exercising project management daily counts toward your credentials). Further details are on the page Project Management Institute (PMI).Â
How many PMI PDUs for work as a practitioner
For Practitioner level PMI credentials, such as the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) and the Project Management Professional (PMP), the renewal cycle is every three years, and the number of PDUs required is 60. This means that during each three-year renewal cycle, Practitioner level credential holders must earn and report a minimum of 60 PDUs to PMI to maintain their credentials.
Also, you can report 8 PDUs under the work as practitioner category.
How many PMI pdus for a college course
The number of Professional Development Units (PDUs) you can earn for taking a college course depends on the certification you hold and the certification program’s requirements.
In general, the Project Management Institute (PMI), which is the organization that administers the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, allows individuals to earn PDUs for learning activities such as taking a college course that is relevant to the field of project management.
According to PMI’s guidelines, individuals can earn one PDU for every hour of learning activity, up to a maximum of 8 PDUs per year in the self-directed learning category. This means that if you take a college course that is relevant to project management and takes 8 hours to complete, you could earn 8 PDUs for that activity.
It’s important to note that to claim PDUs for taking a college course, you must be able to demonstrate that the course is relevant to the field of project management and that you have completed the learning activity. You may need to provide a transcript or certificate of completion to demonstrate that you have completed the course.
Suppose you have questions about earning PDUs for a college course or other learning activities. In that case, you should contact PMI directly or refer to the guidelines for your specific certification program.
How many PMI PDUs for reading a book?
The number of Professional Development Units (PDUs) you can earn for reading a book depends on your certification and the certification program’s requirements.
In general, the Project Management Institute (PMI), which is the organization that administers the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, allows individuals to earn PDUs for learning activities such as reading a book that is relevant to the field of project management.
According to PMI’s guidelines, individuals can earn one PDU for every hour of learning activity, up to a maximum of 8 PDUs per year in the self-directed learning category. This means that if you read a book that is relevant to project management and takes 8 hours to complete, you could earn 8 PDUs for that activity.
It’s important to note that to claim PDUs for reading a book, you must demonstrate that the book is relevant to the field of project management and that you have completed the learning activity. It would help if you summarized what you learned from the book or completed a quiz or other assessment to demonstrate your knowledge.
If you have questions about earning PDUs for reading a book or other learning activities, you should contact PMI directly or refer to the guidelines for your specific certification program.
How to submit PDU for PMI?
To submit Professional Development Units (PDUs) for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, follow these steps:
- Log in to your account on the Project Management Institute (PMI) website.
- Navigate to the Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) system.
- Click on the “Report PDUs” tab.
- Select the category of PDU that you are reporting (e.g., “Education,” “Giving Back to the Profession,” etc.).
- Enter the details of the PDU activity, including the title, date, and number of PDUs earned. You may also need to provide additional information, such as the activity provider or a description of the activity.
- Attach any supporting documentation, if required.
- Review your submission and click “Submit” to complete the process.
It’s crucial to ensure that you only submit PDUs for activities eligible for PDU credit and accurately report the number of PDUs earned. PMI may request additional documentation or verification if they have questions about your PDU submission. By accurately reporting your PDUs, you can ensure that you meet the requirements for PMP renewal and maintain your certification.
What if I obtain more than 60 PDUs?
You are allowed to transfer up to 20 PDUs (Professional Development Units) from the previous 12 months of your CCR (Continuing Certification Requirements) cycle to the next CCR cycle
Can i Claim PDU on the same course twice?
It is generally only allowed once to claim PDUs for the same course or activity. The purpose of PDUs is to recognize your efforts to maintain and enhance your professional knowledge and skills, and to claim PDUs for the same course or activity multiple times would not fulfill this purpose.
However, suppose you have completed a course or activity that has significantly expanded your knowledge and skills. In that case, you can claim additional PDUs by demonstrating how it has benefited your professional practice.
It is recommended that you consult the guidelines of the certification body from which you are seeking PDUs for more information on this.
How to earn free PDUs?
It’s not necessary that you always have to pay for your PDU, you can also fetch a few PDUs through free mediums.
You can earn free PDUs through the following ways.Â
- Gururo offers free PDU Claim here
- PodcastÂ
- Attending Association meetingsÂ
- Reading or Self– studyÂ
- VolunteeringÂ
- Creating contentÂ
- Working in your day jobÂ
- Conducting presentationÂ
- Webinars etc.Â
All About PDUs In PMI
Yes, PMI allows you to carry over up to 20 PDUs from the final year of your current certification cycle into the next cycle. This means if you earn more than the required 60 PDUs during the last year of your cycle, you can apply a maximum of 20 excess PDUs to your next three-year cycle. However, PDUs earned in the first two years of the cycle cannot be carried forward.
This option gives you some flexibility if you’ve accumulated extra PDUs toward the end of your cycle, helping you get a head start on the next renewal.
For more information on managing your PDUs, check out the 60 PMP PDU Course Bundle to earn PDUs at your convenience.
What's The PMI Talent Triangle ®?
The PMI Talent Triangle® has been updated to reflect the evolving skills needed in today’s project management landscape. It now includes three critical areas of focus that professionals must master for ongoing development and success: Ways of Working, Power Skills, and Business Acumen. These areas are essential for project and program leaders to thrive in an increasingly complex business environment.
Here’s a breakdown of the updated PMI Talent Triangle®:
- Ways of Working (Previously: Technical Project Management)
What it means: This covers how you approach delivering projects. It’s about having a toolkit of methods and knowing when to use each one, whether it’s Agile, Waterfall, or Hybrid. You’re not tied to one way—you choose the best method for each project.
Example: Let’s say you’re managing a software development project. You might use Agile for parts of the project where there’s uncertainty and rapid iteration is needed, but stick to Waterfall for sections that have clearly defined requirements. Having the flexibility to switch between approaches based on the situation is “Ways of Working” in action.
- Power Skills (Previously: Leadership)
What it means: These are the soft skills that help you work with people—communication, leadership, emotional intelligence, and influence. It’s not just about managing tasks; it’s about leading people effectively.
Example: Imagine you’re leading a project, and your team is facing a tight deadline. By using Power Skills like active listening, empathy, and clear communication, you can motivate your team, manage conflicts, and help them stay focused. Instead of simply pushing for results, you foster an environment where people feel heard and supported.
- Business Acumen (Previously: Strategic and Business Management)
What it means: This is your ability to understand the business context of your projects. It’s about knowing your industry, understanding the organization’s strategic goals, and ensuring your project delivers value aligned with those goals.
Example: Suppose you’re managing a marketing campaign for a product launch. If you have Business Acumen, you won’t just focus on meeting the deadlines or the budget. You’ll understand the bigger picture—how this campaign fits into the company’s overall strategy, what the competitive landscape looks like, and how your project can help achieve long-term business objectives.
How the New PMI Talent Triangle® Helps You
With the updated PMI Talent Triangle®, the idea is to build a more adaptable, well-rounded project manager. It’s no longer just about getting things done technically (as it was in the old “Technical Project Management” focus). Now, you need to combine Ways of Working (choosing the right project approach), Power Skills (leading and influencing your team), and Business Acumen (understanding the business strategy).
To stay certified, you’ll need to earn PDUs across all three areas. You can renew your PMP with ease from here.
Why earning online PDU is the new trend for PMP Renewal?
Why are numerous project managers choosing for the online PDU mode, specifically PMP PDU online courses for completing their 60 PDU requisite for PMP Renewal? Let us dissect to see if that works for you tooÂ
- Â Self– paced These PMI PDU Online courses allow you the facility to complete as numerous courses as you want at your pace. You’re self-dependent on the time, venue, or day for these PMP PDUs. During one weekend, you may complete courses and earn 12 online PDU while on regular days 2-4 online PDU. How numerous online PDU you want to earn is up to you.
- Accessible You can attend the course from any location, no constraints on the venue, no trip.. Are you traveling? You can still attend these PMP PDU courses and earn online PDUsÂ
- Affordable Earning online PDU is less costly than a regular classroom session. While classroom training or education courses may bring you close to$ 150 to$ 200 per PDU, you can get the entire 60 online PDU package for under$ 100 too occasionally.Â
- Talent Triangle You need to earn a PDU total of 8 minimum in each division of the Talent Triangle. This means you have to report at least 8 online PDUs in Leadership, Strategic & Business, and Specialized elements. The PDU courses are designed in such a way as to meet these essentials. Thus, earning and reporting online PDU for the 3 factors is important.Â
- Variety You get to complete a rich blend of courses that meet the talent triangle as well as each division required by PMI.Â
- PDU in Education While PMI states that you need to report at a minimal 35 PDUs from any of the orders in Education, there’s no cap on the outside. This implies that you can get your full 60 online PDU from education.
Check our 60 PMP PDU course bundle, You will get 1-year access to these courses which you can complete at your own pace.
