Project management is a highly sought-after skill in today’s job market, and the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is one of the most respected and widely recognized credentials in the field. However, obtaining and maintaining the PMP certification requires a significant investment of time and effort. Once you have obtained the coveted PMP certificate, you are expected to maintain it by meeting certain requirements as part of the Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR).
What are the PMI Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR)
The PMI CCR program stands for the “Continuing Certification Requirements” program. It is the program implemented by the Project Management Institute (PMI) to ensure that PMI’s certified professionals, such as PMP (Project Management Professional), PMI-ACP (PMI Agile Certified Practitioner), PMI-RMP (PMI Risk Management Professional), etc, maintain the currency and relevance of their certification by participating in professional development activities.
According to PMI’s CCR Handbook the CCR Program serves to :
- Enhance continuous learning and development among certification holders
- Provide direction in development areas to ensure the relevancy of certified practitioners
- Encourage and recognize individualized learning opportunities
- Offer a mechanism for attaining and recording professional development activities
- Sustain the global recognition and value of PMI certifications
This program has certain requirements that must be met every three years in order to renew the certification. One of the key requirements is the earning of Professional Development Units (PDUs) in one of two categories such as education and giving back to the profession
Earn Education PDUs Aligned with the Talent Triangle
Education PDUs can be earned through attending professional seminars, webinars, classes, or self-directed learning aligned with the PMI Talent Triangle.
The PMI Talent Triangle is a framework for developing and measuring the skills needed for success in today’s project management landscape. It is made up of three skill areas: Ways of Working, Power Skills, and Business Acumen. Ways of Working focuses on mastering different techniques for getting work done, Power Skills are interpersonal skills such as communication and leadership, and Business Acumen is about understanding how projects align with broader organizational strategy and global trends. The PMI Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program is aligned with the PMI Talent Triangle to ensure that certification holders are equipped to remain relevant in a continually changing business environment
A PMP can have to obtain a minimum of 35 educational PDUs and a minimum of 8 in each of the 3 Talent Triangl, the remaining 11 PDUs can be obtained across any area of the PMI Triangle.
Earn Giving Back to the Profession PDUs
The Project Management Institute (PMI) encourages its members to share their knowledge and skills by participating in activities that give back to the profession. These activities, such as volunteering and mentoring, can be a valuable way to contribute to the profession and enhance one’s own professional development. Giving back activities are eligible for Professional Development Units (PDUs) and are included in the Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program.
The number of PDUs that can be earned through giving back is capped at 25, which means the rest needs to be obtain through educational PDUS
Where can you earn PMI PDUS?
PMI maintains a list of approved training providers, which includes both online and in-person options. MPUG (Microsoft Project User Group) has been an authorized training provider for the Project Management Institute (PMI) for over 15 years. This means that they have been approved by PMI to provide professional development courses and training that can be used to earn PDUs (Professional Development Units) towards PMP (Project Management Professional) certification.
To achieve this authorization, MPUG had to demonstrate that their training programs meet the standards set by PMI for quality and relevance to the project management profession. They have also been regularly reviewed and re-approved by PMI to maintain their status as an authorized training provider.
Over the years, MPUG has developed a reputation for providing high-quality, relevant and up-to-date training for project managers. This has helped them establish a loyal customer base and maintain their authorization from PMI for 15 years, which is a testament to their commitment to providing quality education for professionals in the field of project management.
How do you earn PMI PDUS?
There are several ways to earn PDUs, including:
Participating in professional development courses and training programs
- Taking a PMP certification course from a PMI-approved provider
- Attending a workshop or seminar on project management best practices
- Completing an online course on a specific project management topic, such as risk management or agile project management
Volunteering as a mentor or coach for project management-related activities
- Mentoring a new project manager in your organization
- Volunteering as a coach for a local PMI chapter
- Participating in a PMI mentoring program
Participating in project management-related activities, such as attending conferences or seminars
- Attending a PMI Global Congress or PMI Regional Symposium
- Participating in a local PMI chapter event
- Attending a project management conference or seminar
Authoring or presenting on project management-related topics
- Writing an article on project management for a professional publication
- Presenting a case study on a successful project you managed at a conference or seminar
- Creating a webinar on a specific project management topic for PMI chapter members
Earning additional PMI certifications
- Obtaining a PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) certification
- Earning a PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP) certification
- Acquiring a PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP) certification.
How do you earn PMI PDUS with MPUG?
MPUG offers a variety of online training courses and resources for project management professionals, all of which are PMI-approved for PDU credit. Some of the options available through MPUG include:
- Online training courses: MPUG offers a wide range of online training courses covering various aspects of project management, including project planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closing. Each course is self-paced and can be completed at the convenience of the learner.
- Webinars: MPUG also offers a variety of live and recorded pmp certification training webinars aligned with the PMI Talent Triangle. These webinars are led by experienced project management professionals and can be watched at any time.
- Discussion forums: MPUG’s discussion forums provide a platform for project management professionals to connect, share ideas, and ask questions. Participation in these forums can also earn PDU credit.
- Resource library: MPUG’s resource library includes a wide range of helpful project management articles, templates, checklists, and other resources.
Below are more ways you can earn free PMI PDUS with an MPUG membership
1. Attend a Chapter Meeting or Event
By attending an online or on-demand web event, you’ll earn one PDU for each hour of formal training.
During each webinar training session or monitored web event recording, attendees will receive an activation code to report to PMI®. Learn how to claim your PMI® PDUs.
MPUG offers PMI® PDU credit on over 500 event recordings. Attendance is monitored on these On-Demand recordings. See #4 for more details!
2. Create MPUG Articles and Presentations
- Articles
By authoring or co-authoring MPUG articles to share with the community, you can earn one PDU for every hour spent preparing your contribution. If interested, send a topic idea and outline to editor@mpug.com. - Presentations
You can also earn PDUs by presenting at an MPUG event (in person or online) or by participating in a panel session. If interested, send your presentation proposal to us at info@mpug.com. Discuss your proposal with a local chapter if applicable.
Learn how to claim your PMI®PDUs for a presentation.
3. View On-Demand Monitored Webinar Recordings
MPUG offers PMI® PDU credit on over 500 event recordings. Attendance is monitored on these On-Demand recordings.
After watching a webinar in it’s entirety, you’ll have earned one PDU for each hour of active viewing. Members can submit the completed session to their MPUG Webinar History as a good way to record attendance. The completed webinar then be available in your MPUG Transcript. You will also receive a certificate of completion for the training session. Learn how to claim your PMI® PDUs.
See a full list of On-Demand Webinars and upcoming live Webinars eligible for PDUs.
See a full list of On-Demand Webinars aligned with the PMI® PDU talent triangle.
4. Read MPUG Articles
MPUG offers hundreds of articles!
Self-directed reading is relevant to the certification you hold. Earn 1 PDU for every hour of reading material. Documentation is required for audit by including notes of what you learned and reading dates.
How Often Should You Report Your Credits to PMI®?
MPUG recommends that you report earned credits to PMI as soon as you’ve earned them in order to keep track of the credit codes and other forms of documentation you’ll receive as part of your MPUG activities. The only exception to that practice is chapter leadership credit, which should be done annually.
Find out more about Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR)
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Written by MPUG Community – A PMI Authorised Training Provider for 15+ years