Sitting in on my local PMI chapter meeting is good for three things; the food, the content of the speeches and learning material, and of course the food. But there is one other reason these meetings are typically packed full; we PMPs are mostly there to claim the two Professional Development Units (PDUs) we need towards comfortably recertifying ourselves every three years.

So it was with a bit of surprise that in a recent event I got chatting with a chap there who told me that he’s looking for ways to get a lot more PDUs than that. Rather urgently, in fact.

Although in my head the old line “go on, tell us the joke, I promise I won’t laugh” sprang to mind, I managed to keep a professionally concerned face as he chimed on to me the all too familiar story of how he’d not done anything to earn any PDUs since he passed his exam, and now needed to get nearly the entire contingent within the coming two months. I cheerfully volunteered that he might sign up for a BMC training course or two, passing him my business card, but it set my mind on writing something about this subject because, as a BMC consultant and trainer, I’m aware that newly-qualified PMPs are often unclear about what they need to do to ensure recertification and how to go about it.

One thing you need to know for sure is that you can’t simply earn all the PDUs you need by working every day as a project manager. You need to do more than that. So let’s see if I can clarify the process for the sake of everyone who’s curious. We’re looking at three points to examine.

 

1 How long do I have?

You have to earn sixty (yes 60) PDUs within three years of the date of passing the PMP exam. So for example if you walk out of the testing centre with a pass on 6^th August 2009, you have until 6^th August 2012 to earn all your PDUs. You’ll start with zero PDUs when you pass the exam, incidentally, even if you previously earned more than the 35 you needed to sit it. To find out your precise credential expiration date, log into the PMI website – www.pmi.org (you’ve got your password yes?) and there’s a panel marked “Certification Status” which displays this. You can also click through to the Continuous Certification Requirements System (CCRS) and it’ll show you how many PDUs you have earned to date.

 

2 How can I earn PDUs?

Basically, the PMI offers five categories of activities where you can earn PDUs, and you’re able to earn them from ANY or ALL categories to make up your sixty. Here they are:

Category 1: Formal Academic Education. This option requires a lot of time and funds, but some people do it; get yourself on a degree course or some other academic study with a project management aspect. A lot of these courses are part time or online, but do note that the PMI stipulate that the course be “offered for degree credit”. The educational provider may be able to advise you on the PDUs you can earn, although it’s recommended to check with the PMI before you sign up. Do some research and try and look for courses recommended or endorsed by the PMI (there’s a list on their website).

Category 2: Professional Activities and Self-Directed Learning. This is where people get many of their PDUs, and it’s here you get your head start. First, if you’ve been working full time (that’s 1500 hours a year) as a project manager for the past three years you can claim an instant 15. Next up is self-directed learning; if you coach colleagues or do some reading or view some training material you can claim up to 15 more. So most career project managers can claim 30 PDU’s right off the bat and be half way there. After that you can write an article or paper, even a book, and claim PDUs for that, and you can double them if you’re doing it for a refereed (i.e. PMI) journal. You may also sit on a panel or be a speaker and get 5 PDUs each time you do it.

Category 3: PMI Registered Education Providers/PMI Components. Get active in your local PMI chapter. They’ll usually give you 1-2 PDUs every time you attend an evening event, and maybe more if it’s a special occasion, for example a PMI Symposium. Or you can take a training course with a PMI Registered Education Provider, or REP. BMC is a good example of an REP, and we offer courses spanning two or three days which can earn you up to 24 PDUs. Quality training, as guaranteed by an REP, is fully in line with the PMI and will definitely keep you refreshed and up-to-date.

Category 4: Other Providers. You can of course attend project management training by organisations that aren’t REPs. You can claim one PDU per hour where the subject is directly related to managing projects. Be careful though, you’ll need to keep the certificates of attendance and be ready to respond should the PMI ask you about the course or, indeed, the instructor.

Category 5: Volunteer Service to Professional or Community Organizations. You can get up to 20 PDUs by serving as an officer or helping hand with a charity or non-profit organization. Be aware that the organization must be officially registered and be neither your employer nor customer. You’ll need to keep documentation too for this one.

One other point I’ll make here. If you’re into your second three year cycle of earning PDUs there is one other possibility; you can transfer up to 20 PDUs from the previous year if they’re surplus to your qualifying sixty. So if you did do that three year masters course, you’ll have some spares you can shift forward.

 

3 How do I recertify?

Ok so now you’re on a plan to earn your PDUs, how do you recertify? Well, it’s best to log them online as you get them; don’t wait until the end of the cycle. You can fill up a paper form and fax it to the PMI, but nowadays almost everyone does it online. If you go into the PMI website and sign in, you can select “Claim PDUs” and it’s all there for you. I recommend you claim them as you earn them, so you don’t have to panic at the end of your time, and always keep receipts and paperwork just in case there are questions. And by the way, you’ll need to apply to recertify and pay a small fee when the time comes – you’ll receive a reminder from the PMI.

Finally there is a fourth point; what if I don’t make it?

Well all is not lost. Once your time’s up you automatically go into a suspension period for a maximum of one year. During that time you can’t claim to be a PMP anymore, but you do have the chance to earn your missing PDUs. Once you have them you can be a PMP again, but do note that the suspension year cuts into your new recertification period, so you’ll have to work a little harder to get your sixty for the next cycle. Also note that if you don’t get your sixty by the end of the suspension year you’ll unfortunately have to reapply and take the exam all over again.

So you can see that it’s not too difficult to continue to recertify yourself and keep your hard-earned PMP certification year on year. It’s all a matter of planning (we’re good at that yes?), a little initiative, and enjoying the occasional bit of networking and fine food at your local PMI chapter event. Good luck with your recertification, and enjoy being a PMP for many years to come.

Colin Millward PMP^® is a Principal Consultant at Business Management Consultants.