About PMI's Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification
The PMP credential recognizes demonstrated knowledge and skill in leading and directing project teams and in delivering project results within the constraints of schedule, budget and resources.
Who should apply? Those who lead and direct cross-functional teams to deliver
projects within the constraints of schedule, budget, and scope.
What do PMP candidates do? Candidates are responsible for all aspects of individual projects for the life of the project.
Contents at a Glance
- What is PMP Re-certification?
- Myth #1: You need to write papers, articles or books on Project Management to re-certify
- Myth #2: You need to attend class room training to earn PDUs
- Myth #3: Recertification requires time, energy and lot of money
- My mission
- Do what good Project Managers do
- Let's get to the point
- Category 4 PDUs
- More Free PDU Options !!
- Submit your suggestions for PDU resources here
- Top Ten Project Management Podcasts
- Great Tips for PMP Re-Certification
- Check out the latest buzz on my PMP certification blog
- My Favorite Books
- Hidden Treasures
- Got PMP? Flaunt it !
- Cool Gift Ideas for Project Managers
- Please take a moment to answer this survey question
- Love This Lens?
- I'd love to hear from you
What is PMP Re-certification?
Who needs to read this information?
Please refer to the CCR Handbook for the details of this program.
This lens is meant for current Project Management Professional (PMP) credential holders. PMP aspirants are also encouraged to read this information.
Myth #1: You need to write papers, articles or books on Project Management to re-certify
Not necessarily. There are other alternatives. Read on.
Myth #2: You need to attend class room training to earn PDUs
Not necessarily again. I have good news for you. Stay with me.
Myth #3: Recertification requires time, energy and lot of money
Well, it does require time, energy and motivation, but it is not necessarily expensive.
My mission
After I passed my PMP exam, I experienced a sense of relief and satisfaction. Three months of rigorous preparation had turned into sweet success. I also received good recognition for my achievement, from my employer. I was on a high, and time whizzed-by. Before I knew, six months had passed. That's when it struck me that PMP Certification is not forever. I need to re-certify (by earning 60 PDUs) every three years in order to maintain my credentials. But I was left with not three, but only two and a half years to achieve this target.I started searching for information on earning PDUs and found a lot of it. So much so that I was totally overwhelmed and confused. I had no idea where to begin from and where these 60 PDUs would come from. I found several courses, which offered 20-30 PDUs, but costed hundreds of dollars. I certainly did not want to spend this amount of money every year on earning PDUs. I said to myself that with 250 thousand PMPs out there, there ought to be some easier and cost-effective ways to get these PDUs. So, I decided to dig further.
Gradually, the hard work started paying off. I started finding several good and effective ways to earn these PDUs, without burning a hole in my pocket. Just to give you an idea, I managed to earn 35 PDUs within just 5 months using the sources listed below, and without spending too much money.
I shared these ideas with many of my fellow PMP friends and colleagues. Their positive response encouraged me to create this lens.
With this article, my aim is to help familiarize fellow PMPs with the 'simplest' and most 'economical' means to earn the 60 PDUs, which will qualify for PMI's Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR).
Do what good Project Managers do

Let's consider a few aspects of PMI's Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program:
- Earn 60 PDUs in a Certification Cycle (3 years): A Certification Cycle is 3 years in duration. As per the new PMI guidelines, the certification cycle ends exactly 3 years from the date you certify (or recertify). To know more about the recent changes to the Certification Cycle, click here.
60 PDUs in three years breaks down into an average of 20 PDUs per year.
This breaks down into 20 PDUs every year. My advice is to plan early and start accumulating PDUs as early in your Certification Cycle as possible. - Know the Categories of PDUs: There are five categories under which you can earn PDUs. Those categories include:
- Category 1: Formal Academic Education
- Category 2: Professional Activities and Self-Directed Learning
- Category 3: Courses offered by PMI Registered Education Providers (R.E.P.) or Components
- Category 4: Courses Offered by Other Education Providers
- Category 5: Volunteer Service to Professional or Community Organizations
- Maintain a Record of your PDUs: PMI randomly selects a small percentage of re-certification applications for auditing. If your application is selected for an audit, you need to produce evidence of all the PDUs that you reported. Therefore, you should maintain a folder of all PDU certificates or other documentation, which validates your claim. It is best to maintain this folder along the way.
- Report your PDUs to PMI: PMI provides an Online application to report and track your PDUs. Though PMI does not mandate the frequency of reporting the PDUs within a Certification Cycle, it is in your best interest to report them periodically to keep track of your progress and avoid forgetting to report them altogether.
- Carry over excess PDUs to next Certification Cycle: Yes, you can carry over upto 20 PDUs earned in the last (third) year of your Certification Cycle over to the next cycle. For example, if you have earned 50 PDUs in the first 2 years of your Certification Cycle and you earn 30 PDUs in the third year, 20 of your 30 PDUs (earned in the third year) can be carried over to the next Certification Cycle.
- Review CCR Handbook: Last, but not the least, review the CCR Handbook for a deeper insight into PMI's CCR Program.
Let's get to the point
Following are some of the easiest and cost-effective means to earn the 60 PDUs, which will qualify for PMI's Continuous Certification Requirements (CCR):1. Category 2H - Practice Project Management: Claim upto 5 PDUs per calendar year by doing what you already do, i.e. Project Management. You can claim total upto 15 PDUs per certification cycle (CC), which is typically 3 years in duration, under this category.
2. Category 2-SDL - Self-Directed Learning activities: Claim upto 15 PDUs per CC. This includes:
- Reading project management related books
- Listening to free podcasts available online. Some sources of free podcasts:
- International Institute for Learning: Currently offering a free podcast from project management Guru, Dr. Harold Kerner that is worth 2.5 PDUs
- The PM Podcast
- ESI International
- Developing skills in project management tools such as MS Project.
3. Category 3 - Join your local PMI Chapter (such as Singapore PMI Chapter - SPMI) and attend PM seminars and focus group meetings. Attendance to these events fetch upto 1 PDU per hr of the event. Moreover, registration for these events is free (most of the time) for the chapter members. If you can attend one 2-hr event (worth 2 PDUs) per quarter, you can earn about 8 PDUs per year => 24 PDUs per CC.
- Note: There is no limit to the number of PDUs that you can earn in Category 3.
4. Category 3 - Attend free Webinars: Even if you attend 2 webinars per calendar year, you can achieve 6 PDUs per CC. Some sources of free webinars:
- International Institute for Learning: Currently offers 11 free webinars worth 1 PDU each
- ESI International: Offering several On-Demand webinars, which can be downloaded for free.
- RMC Project Management: Currently offering 1 free webinar worth 1 PDU; more webinars will be available in future
If you do your math, you can earn 60 PDUs (15 + 15 + 24 + 6) without much sweat, by following the 4 simple steps listed above.
There are many ways to earn PDUs under several other categories. I suggest that you refer to PMI's CCR Handbook for more details.
I do plan to write a more comprehensive article covering all the categories in detail. But, that's for another day.
Category 4 PDUs
If you are interested in quality education and don't mind spending some money, then check this out:
PM Lectures
More Free PDU Options !!
I'll update this list as and when I find more options
- PMSoft
- (Category 3) Earn PDUs by attending free webinars. Read my review on PMSoft Webinar here.
- Solutions Cube Group
- (Category 3) Offers one or two free webinar every month. But you need to register at least 2 months in advance to get a slot.
- Project Times
- (Category 3) Currently offers 2 free (recorded) webinars worth 1 PDU each.
- ITMPI
- (Category 3) Mine of free webinars
http://solutionscubegroup.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97 - Project Management Bookstore Author Webinar Series
- (Category 3) Earn PDUs for PMP re-certification by attending Author Webinar Series from The Project Management Bookstore. They conduct one webinar every month. We can register in advance to attend live webinars for free, but it's open to first 1000 registered participants only. We also have the option to purchase recordings of past webinars at a nominal cost.
- AMS Consulting
- (Category 3) Earn free PDUs by attending Project Management Webinars from AMS Consulting. The event list is updated weekly.
Submit your suggestions for PDU resources here
Feel free to make your own contributions to this list and help your fellow PMPs.
PgMP - What You Need to Know!
ESI International ; 1 PDU0 points
Project Management Bookstore The Magic Megaphone Webinar
Free Webinar (1 PDU):<br /><br /><b more...0 points
Maintain and Leverage Your PMP
You are a certified PMP. Congratulations!<br / more...0 points
Earn Free PDU Directory
Catalog with free PDU opportunities. Share with PD more...0 points
Top Ten Project Management Podcasts
Great Tips for PMP Re-Certification
http://tips.deepfriedbrainpmp.com
Visit PMP Certification Tips - by Deep Fried Brain for more tips.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byCheck out the latest buzz on my PMP certification blog
http://www.deepfriedbrainpmp.com
Visit Deep Fried Brain - PMP Certification Blog for more information on PMI's Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification exam. Get information on test preparation approach, learning resources, test material reviews, lessons learnt from PMP Exam, PMP re-certification for existing credential holders, and other tips and techniques.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byMy Favorite Books
Hidden Treasures
Treasures under $10
If you are interested in management, productivity improvement and self-improvement books, then check out my hand-picked collection of best books under $10.
Got PMP? Flaunt it !
PMP Tag Cloud Fitted T-Shirt
Cool PMP Tag Cloud shirt for PMP Nerds. Wear it to a Seminar, conference or just around the office.
PMP Tag Cloud Yellow T-Shirt
Simple and Elegant shirt with cool oval PMP Tag Cloud
World's Best Project Manager Sweatshirt
Stylish gift for Project Managers.
Got PMP Hoodie (dark)
Got PMP? Flaunt it or gift it to a Project Manager friend.Simple and Elegant gift for Project Managers.Wear it to PM conferences, seminars or sport it around the office.Printed in contrasting colors.
PMP Women's Long Sleeve Dark T-Shirt
Very Beautiful Pattern. Sure to be loved by female Project Managers. Nice and Elegant.
Cool Gift Ideas for Project Managers
Ultra Cool PMP Flip MinoHD Camcorder
Ultra Cool, Stylish, Advanced, Affordable PMP Flip MinoHD Camcorder. Technology and Style in one product.
PMP Tag Cloud Mousepad
PMP Tag Cloud Mousepad. Great gift for Project Managers.
PMP Tag Cloud Ceramic Travel Mug
Cool tag cloud design. A great gift for Project Managers.
PMP Tag Cloud Mug
Cool Design with Project Management Labels. Great gift for Project Managers. Great Gift.
Got PMP Cap
Got PMP? Flaunt It ! Nice, cool shade with matching "Got PMP" logo. Really nice gift for a Project Management Professional.
Please take a moment to answer this survey question
Love This Lens?
I'd love to hear from you
Feel free to express your ideas, thoughts, comments, suggestions and emotional outbursts here
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Reply
- pmprepcast pmprepcast Sep 26, 2009 @ 2:46 am
- Great source of information!
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Reply
- Venkat P Venkat P Sep 12, 2009 @ 10:50 am
- Really it is useful info. It helped me to visit good PMP related web sites where I can see for free webnairs and plan for earning my PDUs
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Reply
- Brain_Washer Brain_Washer Sep 5, 2009 @ 10:01 pm
- Hi Kumar,
Who's Lakshmi here ? :)
Read - How to Become a PMP in 6 Steps: http://www.squidoo.com/PMP-Certification-Exam
[in reply to Kumar]
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Reply
- Kumar Kumar Sep 5, 2009 @ 8:38 pm
- Hi Lakshmi,
Congrats for your success.Can you please guide me on how did you prepare for PMP?
My id: downloads.all@gmail.com
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Reply
- Pavankumar Chayanam Pavankumar Chayanam Aug 26, 2009 @ 7:34 am
- Information provided about PDU's is Very Useful
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Reply
- Kat Kat Aug 18, 2009 @ 5:39 am
- About to embark on getting my certification - already found several freed PDUs along the way - but this site is an excellent resource - will be using the suggestions and sharing with my colleagues. Thanks very much
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Reply
- PMICertifications PMICertifications Aug 5, 2009 @ 1:05 pm
- Thanks for sharing this information.
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Reply
- Brain_Washer Brain_Washer Jul 23, 2009 @ 1:11 am
- Hi Lakshmi,
If you read this page carefully, you'll find so many free webinar options. All of them are genuinely free and I've personally benefited from them.
So, please follow the links and make use of the free resources.
Thanks.
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Reply
- Lakshmi Lakshmi Jul 23, 2009 @ 12:56 am
- Thanks a lot for sharing information..
Currently I passed my PMP and looking for some free Pdus related websites,but I hardly find them,everyone says free but very few are like that..
can any bosy tell where can I find free web seminars .
Thanks in advance
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Reply
- Jyothi G Jyothi G Jul 8, 2009 @ 1:49 pm
- Great help. Had I only visited your article earlier to really take advantage of the time would have been nice.
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