Cost Effective method of obtaining PDU’s to maintain PMP certification

Introduction

The PMP certification is valid for a period of three years from the day you pass the exam. To maintain the PMP certification beyond that, you need to accumulate at least 60 Professional Development Units [PDU’s] during the three year period. As per the PMP handbook, you earn one PDU for every hour of planned, structured learning experience or activity. This learning has to be related to Project Management. Further the handbook lists the various categories under which one can accumulate PDU’s. Here let me highlight some of the categories under which PDU’s can be obtained in a cost effective manner.

PDU Categories

The following are the commonly used categories to obtain PDU’s. For the complete list please refer to the PMP handbook.

Category 2 D : Under this category you can earn PDU’s for speaking on a topic related to Project Management at a PMI component meeting, like the PMI Bangalore Chapter meeting. You earn 5 PDU’s per topic that you speak on.

Category 2 H: Many of you would be actively performing the role of a Project Manager at your organization. Under this category, you can earn 5 PDU’s per calendar year if you are a Project Manager for at least 1500 hours in that calendar year.

Category 3: Under this category you can earn PDU’s by attending knowledge sharing sessions organized by PMI components like the PM Footprints at PMI Bangalore Chapter. You earn one PDU for each session you attend.

Also under this category, you can earn PDU’s by attending educational courses offered by PMI Registered Education Providers [REP’s]. Many of these REP’s offer courses in the form of online books, webinars and white papers. Depending upon the length of the course you can earn one or more PDU’s. Some of the prominent REP’s are International Institute for Learning, Prodevia and Learning Curve Associates. The PMP handbook provides a searchable database of REP’s.

Category 5: Under this category, you can earn PDU’s for becoming a volunteer at a Project Management Organization like the PMI Bangalore Chapter. You need to be a volunteer for a minimum period of three months and can earn up to 5 PDU’s in a year.

Plan Certification Maintenance

Consider PMP Certification Maintenance as a mini Project where the scope is to obtain 60 PDU’s in a three year schedule at minimum cost. With this in mind, prepare a plan at the beginning of the first year in the following manner:

·         List out all the categories under which you would like to earn your PDU’s. Understand the constraints in each of the categories. For example, Category 2H allows you to earn only 5 PDU’s in a year.

·         Next, consider the cost per PDU in every category. For example, to earn one PDU in Category 3 could cost you upto10$. Search for educational courses that are offered free of cost by REP’s.

·         Last but not the least; consider the Quality of the activities planned. Do not plan to attend all the knowledge sharing sessions for simply obtaining the PDU’s. Plan to attend those sessions where the topic would have a direct relevance to your area of work.

Based on these calculate how many PDU’s you can earn in each of these categories. Ensure the total is at least 60 PDU’s. Spread these activities over a three year period and prepare a schedule. Have milestone targets for one year and two years.

In this method you accumulate PDU slowly. It is time consuming but cost effective. This method is suitable if you still have time left for your recertification. But if you are already late you will not be able to follow the above method. In that case you will have to attend costly educational courses which will offer you PDU’s in a short span of time.

Some of the best practices that you can follow:

1.      Remember you can claim your PDU’s online at the PMI website. Raise your claim as soon as you complete the activity and have received the certificate of completion. This way you will not loose track of your activities.

2.      Maintain proof of completion of activity. This would be required if there is an audit check at the time of recertification.