Passing the PMP is not the end. To keep your certification, you renew it every three years by earning 60 PDUs (professional development units) and paying a renewal fee. One PDU equals one hour of learning or professional activity.
The rules at a glance
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cycle | 3 years |
| PDUs needed | 60 |
| Education PDUs | At least 35 (no maximum) |
| Talent Triangle minimum | At least 8 in each of Ways of Working, Power Skills and Business Acumen |
| Giving Back PDUs | Up to 25 |
| Working as a practitioner | Up to 8 (part of Giving Back) |
| Carry over | Up to 20 PDUs earned in the last 12 months of a cycle |
| Renewal fee | $60 for PMI members, $150 for non-members |
Education PDUs: the 8-8-8 rule
At least 35 of your 60 PDUs must come from education: courses, webinars, podcasts, reading and similar learning. Within those, you need at least 8 PDUs in each of PMI's three skill areas, known as the Talent Triangle:
- Ways of Working: methods and tools, such as agile, risk management or scheduling.
- Power Skills: leadership, communication, collaboration and similar skills.
- Business Acumen: strategy, governance, finance and industry knowledge.
That accounts for 24 PDUs. The other 11 education PDUs can be in any area.
Giving Back PDUs
Up to 25 PDUs can come from giving back to the profession:
- Working as a practitioner: your normal project work counts, up to 8 PDUs per cycle.
- Creating content: writing articles, presenting, or creating training.
- Volunteering and mentoring: for example with your PMI chapter.
Free ways to earn PDUs
You do not need to spend much on renewal. Free or low-cost options include:
- PMI webinars and on-demand content, many of which are free for members.
- Project management podcasts, which count by length.
- Free webinars from training providers.
- PMI chapter events, which often offer PDUs.
- Reading books and articles on project management.
- Your own project work, up to 8 PDUs.
- Mentoring or volunteering, as Giving Back.
How to claim them
Log each activity in PMI's Continuing Certification Requirements System (CCRS) in your PMI account. For each entry, record the activity, provider, date and number of PDUs. Some providers report PDUs for you automatically; the rest you enter yourself.
Keep a certificate or a short note for every activity. PMI may ask for evidence.
Once you reach 60 PDUs that meet the rules, PMI prompts you to pay the renewal fee and your new three-year cycle begins.
What if you miss the deadline?
If your cycle ends before you have 60 PDUs, your certification is suspended for up to 12 months. During suspension you cannot use the PMP title, but you can still earn the missing PDUs and renew. If you do not renew within those 12 months, the certification expires and the only way back is to take the exam again.
Should you stay a PMI member?
Membership costs $129 a year after the first year, and renewal saves you $90. Membership alone does not pay for itself on renewal, but the free member webinars can cover most of your 60 PDUs. See whether PMI membership is worth it.
A simple plan
Earn about 20 PDUs a year, and spread them across the three areas from the start. Then renewal is a formality, not a last-minute scramble.
Still working towards the PMP? Start with the free 30-question PMP quiz.