Like many occupations, Project Management Professionals (PMPs) need to keep their skills fresh and mind refined if they want to continue doing their best work. Although you have already gone through the PMP training and received your certification, the journey is not yet over. A PMP needs to continue on with their education by meeting specific professional development requirements. If you fall behind on your professional development training, you could potentially lose your PMP status.
Additionally, the Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) Program created by the Project Management Institute (PMI) requires certified members to complete a number of Professional Development Units, or PDUs, in order to grow professionally.
You might be wondering if you have the time to commit to receiving these PDUs. Don’t worry. There are a number of ways for you to fulfill the requirements and maintain your Project Management Professional status.
PDU Requirements
Those who have been certified by PMI are required to re-certify every 3 years. Those who have the following certifications must have 60 PDUs in order to keep their title:
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)
- Program Management Professional (PgMP)
- PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)
- PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
- PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)
- PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)
- Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
PDU Types
Every unit of professional development will either be an hour of teaching, learning, or volunteering.
Learning or teaching can be done in a classroom, via video seminar, or other informal options. For instance, there are instructor-proctored courses found in the PMI SeminarsWorld and other web-based courses. You could also use the PMI Global Accreditation Center (GAC), the PMI Registered Education Provider (REP), or accredited third-party providers. Many of the options are even self-directed, so you don’t have to worry about making a class if you are busy.
Another way to get your PDUs is to volunteer. There are plenty of options to help you give back while learning simultaneously. For instance, you can volunteer to work a few hours outside of your industry, help with content creation, offer speeches or presentations, mentor other young professionals, or find other ways to share your knowledge.
If you don’t know where to begin searching for volunteering options, you can find a number by joining a support or standards committee, by becoming a part of PMI Educational Foundation (PMIEF), or the Member Advisory Groups (MAGs).
Remember, while continuing professional development might not be high on your list of priorities right now, it is necessary. Continuing professional development will help you stay relevant within your field while maintaining your skill level. You have 3 years to commit to continuing your education, and those hours can go beyond what PMI offers. With a broad range of online courses, seminars, TED talks, local and distant events, and even books, you could take a few hours our of your weekend to maintain or even gain new knowledge.
Project Management Professionals need professional development, but it doesn’t have to be a chore. Now that you know a little more about the options open to you for getting your PDUs, it’s time to start opening up opportunities. By staying knowledgeable, you are making the most out of your education and taking yourself farther than ever before.
