It is actually very easy for serious professionals to earn PDUs and maintain PMP and PgMP certification. The PMI provides many opportunities to earn the required 60 PDUs every 3 years, such that it really can be accomplished fairly easily doing many of the things a project management or program management professional would be doing regardless of the requirement! Here is a short summary of the key points related to PMP and PgMP credential maintenance and earning PDUs.
PMP and PgMP Credential Maintenance and CCR Program
Once an individual has already attained a PMP or PgMP credential, it doesn’t guarantee that he or she can have that credential forever. PMP or PgMP credentials must be maintained or renewed, depending on the given circumstances.
The PMI’s Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program enables individuals to maintain an active status of certification. The certification cycle of PMP lasts for three calendar years, during which one must attain no less than 60 PDUs (Professional Development Units) to maintain his or her credential(s).
Determining One’s Certification Cycle
Active certification or CCR cycle starts at the day that an individual passes the examination and ends 36 months later. To know more about the length of CCR cycles, see the CCR Program Handbook at the PMI web site.
Purpose of the CCR Program
Continuing Certification Requirements program supports the ongoing educational and professional development of individuals who have successfully attained the PgMP or PMP credentials. CCR programs improve the ongoing professional development of credential holders as well as encourage them to recognize and value individualized opportunities for learning. CCR also provides an objective and standardized mechanism for recording and attaining activities pertaining to professional development and enhancement.
Active, Suspended and Retired Status
Once an individual renews his credential and submits his PDUs prior to the expiration date of his certification, he will be considered as active in status. One will be under the suspended status when he cannot satisfy the requirements needed within the active certification dates. A credential holder in good standing who wishes to voluntarily surrender his active status due to retirement can be considered to be under the retired status.
Professional Development Units (PDUs) Categories
PDUs can be divided into five categories:
- Category 1: Formal academic education
- Category 2: Professional activities and self-directed learning
- Category 3: Educational programs offered by PMI Registered Education Providers (R.E.P.) or PMI components
- Category 4: Educational programs offered by other providers
- Category 5: Volunteer service to professional or community organizations
To know more about the different PDUs categories, see the CCR Program Handbook .
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John Reiling, PMP
Project Management Training Online
