How Many PDUs Do You Need to Renew Your PMP & Other PMI Certifications?
Figures verified against PMI's Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) Handbook · Last updated September 2026
Calculate the PDUs you still need
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PDU requirements by PMI certification
Every PMI certification below renews on a three-year cycle. Talent Triangle areas are Ways of Working (WoW), Power Skills (PS) and Business Acumen (BA). "Free education" means Education PDUs beyond the per-area minimums, claimable in any area.
| Certification | Total PDUs | Education min | WoW | PS | BA | Free education | Giving Back max | Practitioner sub-cap | Carryover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PMPProject Management Professional | 60 | 35 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 25 | 8 | 20 |
| PgMPProgram Management Professional | 60 | 35 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 25 | 8 | 20 |
| PfMPPortfolio Management Professional | 60 | 35 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 25 | 8 | 20 |
| PMI-PBAProfessional in Business Analysis | 60 | 35 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 25 | 8 | 20 |
| PMI-ACPAgile Certified Practitioner | 30 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 10 |
| PMI-RMPRisk Management Professional | 30 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 10 |
| PMI-SPScheduling Professional | 30 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 10 |
| PMI-CPConstruction Professional | 30 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 10 |
| PMI-CPMAICertified Professional in Managing AI | 30 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 10 |
| PMI-PMOCPPMO Certified Professional | 30 | 20 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 10 |
| CAPMCertified Associate in Project Management | 15 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2 | — |
Note on PMI-PMOCP: unlike every other certification, its Education minimums are 3 / 7 / 10 across WoW / PS / BA and sum to the full 20-PDU education requirement, so there are no "free" Education PDUs. CAPM carryover is not separately published by PMI; treat it conservatively.
How these numbers are set (and sourced)
All requirements come from PMI's Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) Handbook and PMI's official "maintain your certification" guidance. PMI groups its credentials into three renewal tiers — 60-PDU, 30-PDU and 15-PDU — with per-area Talent Triangle minimums inside the Education requirement. Education has no ceiling (you may earn all your PDUs there), while Giving Back is capped, and within Giving Back the "working as a practitioner" activity is sub-capped.
Fees: PMI's certification renewal fee is $60 for PMI members and $150 for non-members per three-year cycle, the same across certifications (verified September 2026). Fees and rules change and can vary by membership — always confirm current figures on PMI.org before you rely on them.
Sources: PMI CCR Handbook (2026 edition); PMI "How to maintain your certification". Verified September 2026. A credential named "CSPP" appears in some PMI listings; it is being verified and will be added once confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
How many PDUs do I need to renew my PMP?
60 PDUs every three years: at least 35 from Education — with a minimum of 8 each in Ways of Working, Power Skills and Business Acumen — and no more than 25 from Giving Back.
What is the 8-8-8 rule?
Inside the 35 required Education PDUs, PMP holders must earn at least 8 in each Talent Triangle area (Ways of Working, Power Skills, Business Acumen). That fixes 24 of the 35; the remaining 11 Education PDUs can be in any area.
How many PDUs do other PMI certifications need?
PMI-ACP, PMI-RMP, PMI-SP, PMI-CP, PMI-CPMAI and PMI-PMOCP require 30 PDUs per cycle (18 Education minimum, except PMI-PMOCP which requires 20). CAPM requires 15 PDUs (9 Education minimum). PgMP, PfMP and PMI-PBA match PMP at 60.
Can all my PDUs come from Education?
Yes. Education has no maximum, so you can earn your full requirement there — as long as the per-area Talent Triangle minimums are met. Giving Back is optional and capped.
How much does PMI renewal cost?
$60 for PMI members and $150 for non-members, every three years. Earning the PDUs themselves can cost anywhere from nothing (free webinars, practitioner PDUs) to a paid course bundle.
What is the PDU carryover?
PDUs earned in the final year of your cycle, beyond your requirement, can carry into the next cycle — up to 20 for the 60-PDU certifications and 10 for the 30-PDU certifications.
