After I passed my PMP exam, there was 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. 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 thought 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 article.
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).
(If you prefer a more interactive version of this post, visit How to get my 60 PDUs? page on Squidoo.)
Following is the list of several such sources of PDUs:
- (Category 2H) Practice Project Management: Claim upto 5 PDUs per calendar year => Total upto 15 PDUs per certification cycle (CC), which is typically 3 years in duration.
- (Category 2-SDL) Self-Directed Learning activities: Claim upto 15 PDUs per CC. This includes:
- Read project management related books
- Listen to free podcasts available online. Some sources:
- 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
- Develop skills in project management tools such as MS Project.
- (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.
- (Category 3) Attend free Webinars: Even if you attend 2 Webinar per calendar year, you can achieve 6 PDUs per CC. Some sources of free webinars:
- International Institute for Learning: Currently offers upto 11 free PDUs
- 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
There are several other ways of earning PDUs in 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.
More PDU Options
For more PDU options, check out How to get my 60 PDUs? on Squidoo.
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Excellent research and compilation! I was able to earn 30 PDUs by attending online classes at the Emergency Management Institue online. It's a site for free classes that deal with FEMA and a wide range of subjects in disasters and public safety preparedness. They weren't hard and PMI auditted me and accepted all that I took. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeletePlease provide the URL; so everybody will benefit from your post. Is it http://training.fema.gov/?
Hi, This is an excellent PDU resource at a single place. I got the mail for PDU Claim on 'The Kerzner Podcast Series' & it mentions "This is a Category 3 PDU".
ReplyDeleteHello-
ReplyDeleteThis is a nice breakdown. I got my pmp 3 months ago, as a newbie PMP, this blog provides the much need it clarification
Thanks
Pamela Ruiz
Thanks for putting together these resources. You can also get 17 PDUs from IBM site. Here is the link.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ibm.com/developerworks/rational/kits/dw-r-ppmkit/index.html
Also there are more resources on pdu4free.com
I found the IBM Rational University Online Training, but no clues as to how to reference it when claiming the PDUs. I want to know how to claim before I spend the time on a particular course.
ReplyDeleteAnyone have the info?
@ Anonymous:
ReplyDeleteI'm familiar with the IBM training, but I'm not sure about the PDU Category for that course. You can try posting your question to them directly, or you can charge it under Category 2-SDL, which is sort of a "catch all" category. But remember that this category has a limit of max 15 PDUs per certification cycle.
Thanks.
hi
ReplyDeletecan anybody tell me how to refernce pm podcasts. i have tried hard to look for reference but found none. anyone plz help.
Hi Anon,
ReplyDeleteI'm not clear on exactly what you mean by referencing PM Podcast, but I'll try to help anyway.
If you want to listen to the episodes on your computer, you need to install iTunes (or any pod catcher program) on your computer. Otherwise, you can also subscribe using your iPhone or iPod Touch.
Go to The PM Podcast website (link is available in the article above) and click on "Free Subscription" button on the left. You will see a page with a short video with instructions to subscribe to the episodes using iTunes.
Feel free to ask more questions, if that doesn't solve your problem.
Hi All
ReplyDeleteAnybody is able to claim IBM PDU? I claimed one, but presently it is not accepting in PMI.
Hello Anon,
ReplyDeleteI have not taken the IBM course myself. Under which category are you trying to claim the PDUs? Do they tell you the category under which the PDUs should be claimed?
Also, can you elaborate more on what you mean by "not accepting in PMI"?
Thanks.
Hello Harwinder
ReplyDeleteThanks for your reply. IBM has given all the details about how to claim the PDU. I have tried to get help from IBM as well, but failed.
Earlier I claimed 2 PDU, which I was able to search in PMI and claimed. Now when I completed further chapters and tried to claim in PMI, I could not able to find activity number or Activity program title, which IBM provided. So I am not able to claim it. I can find IBM though.
Here is the link. Registered yourself and try to find activity number or activity programe name.
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/rational/kits/dw-r-ppmkit/index.html
Hello Harwinder
ReplyDeleteI finally able to find it out. Thanks for your help.
Hi Harwinder, I found it is a wonderful resource to know about 60 PDUs. I want to shared 1 more tip here. VTC has come up with Category 4 PDU resources like RMP bundle(around 22 PDUs Costs:Indian Rupees:1300) & SP bundle(around 21 PDUs Costs: Indian Rupees: 1200) course materials which works out very cheap to get more PDUs compared to 1 day conferences (that gives 8 PDUs & charge Rs.7000).
ReplyDeleteHi Babou,
ReplyDeleteI checked on VTC site, it is nowhere saying that it gives you PDUs after completing those trainings. Pls. help me in understanding the exact link.
Hi Sanjay,
ReplyDeleteSorry for not providing the right link supporting my information. Please review this link for further information. I did VTC RMP bundle and got Certificate of completion for the same. I claimed PDUs in PMI against my PMP.
http://www.vtc.com/modules/content/pmi.php
Hi Babou,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your contribution to this topic. I enjoy reading the articles on your blog. Keep up the good work. Here's the clickable link to the VTC page:
http://www.vtc.com/modules/content/pmi.php
Does anyone know how can I claim PDU, I earned by taking online IBM courses?
ReplyDeleteThere is already a similar question on this thread but the person who posted it did not tell how he resolved the problem.
Can anyone please help me.
@Harwinder and Babou,
ReplyDeleteHi. I just got my PMP certification 2 weeks ago and now looking into earning my PDUs. It so happen my company has a tie-up with VTC and it's free for me. I do see the PMI Risk Mgmt Prof and the Scheduling Professional courses. My questions are:
1) What category are these PDUs classified under PMI?
2) Since it seems these are for RMP and SP certifications, will it apply as PDUs for my PMP?
3) Does VTC have to the a REP (Recognized Education Provider) of PMI?
Thanks.
Hello HHernandez,
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing in.
1) I'm not sure on this. You may want to write to VTC and check with them on the PDU categories.
2) Yes, PDUs earned for RMP, SP certifications can be used for PMP certification renewal as well. In fact, I know that ITIL trainings also provide PDUs, which can be used for PMP certification renewal.
3) PDUs can be earned from non-REPs also. There are separate categories for them. I don't really remember the exact categories right now. Check the PMI's CCR handbook for the categories.
BR.
@Harwinder,
ReplyDeleteThanks. I emailed PMI as well about the PDU category.
How to claim PDUs for IBM courses:
ReplyDeleteI just answered this question here.
Hope it answers the questions posted above.
Another good way is getting Microsoft Project Course from Simplilearn. This is a 45 PDU course available in 99.99 USD. Its an one year e-learning course and quiet good. You can reference the lessons throughout an year for any issue with Ms Project.
ReplyDeleteWhat I am told that, this 45 PDU with 5 PDU that one can claim every year by just working as Project Manager, can take care of 60 PDU CCR requirement. I think its the best option!
Ahmed
I have recently completed my PMP, and went through your site for gianing PDU, i had few clarification, felt you would be the right person to get it cleared. Here are my list
ReplyDelete1. If i take PMP class to my office colleague, under which category I can claim this (category C, Self-Directed Learning??)
2. There are few institutes (other than PMI registered) who offer training on MSProject, Leadership/soft skill training for reasonable price, can I claim this as PDU, because PMI registered institution charge lump sum for just because of PDU. If i can claim PDU is that cab be claimed under catrgory B Continuing Education.
Hello Murugesan,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on achieving PMP certification.
1. You should be able to claim this under Category D, but you need to conduct the course "formally" and prepare proper training material for the course. Specially, if you are taking a PMP class, make sure that your material complies with PMI Guidelines and does not violate any copyrights. The participants of the course need to claim "Contact Hours" and those may be subject to audit too.
2. Yes, Category B is correct. Make sure that you follow the guidelines listed in this document:
New PDU Category Structure and Policies
Hope that helps.
Harwinder,
ReplyDeleteWould need your help.
Pls can you confirm if my understanding of the PDU' that I can claim are under the correct Categories mentioned below. I have only 3 weeks to renew and I am 10 PDU' short.
The 2 training sessions that I had conducted in my organization = Category D
The PDU’ that I can claim for each year as PM and the Proj Mgmt work that I had done. = Category F
MS Project 2003 professional course attended in my organization = Category B
Hello Anon.,
ReplyDeleteYes, those seem to be the correct categories.
Good luck.
Hi harvinder,
ReplyDeleteNeed your help, need to know can i claim PDUs for the self study that i have doen for the ITIL V3 foundation exam, I have cleared the exam.
Hi harvinder,
ReplyDeleteIn continution to my earlier post... could you also let me know while claiming PDUs for the self study for ITIL under the SDL category, it is asking for the Providers and providers adress..what would be that, and what documentary evidecnce is required for claiming these PDUs..Manoj
Manoj,
ReplyDeleteWhat's eligible under SDL category, isn't defined in black and white. If you can prove that your training is aligned with the objectives defined by PMI, then you are fine.
About the evidence, if you are taking online courses, then you can save course registration emails or attendance acknowledgement as proof. If you are doing self-study, you can prepare notes and produce them as proof.
For provider name, you can provide the organization's name who's course you are taking (example APMG for ITIL), or individual's name (example author name if you are studying from a book).
Hope that helps.
Thanks Harvinder for the reply... still confused.. i had a days training on ITIV3 in my ofice in the month of feb for which i have a documentary evidence, later on i had a self study, for which i had notes but not as such that they could be produced as dcumentary evidence. how can i claim the one day training (8-9 pdus) that was held in my ofc in the month of FEB 2011 and can i probably claim 10 PDus for the self study that i did. please suggest.
ReplyDeleteHi Harvinder,
ReplyDeleteHi,
Recently, i have completed the PMP Certfication. I am planning for obtaining the PDU’s for recertification. Regarding this i have a couple of queries.
1. I have also completed the ITIL V3 foundation course (2 day course) from a REP even before the PMP course?. Can i claim these PDU’s? If so, how many PDU’s can i claim for ITIL V3 Foundation course?
2. As a part of PMP, i completed the mandatory 35 hrs of mandatory PDU’s of training with a REP, before taking the exam. In addition, i have done lot self study before taking the PMP exam. Can i claim this additional time spent on self study as PDU’s for recertification?. If, so under what categopry can i claim it? (I still have the notes prepared during my self study. Can i show this as proof)?
Thanks & Rgds,
Murali
Hello Murali,
ReplyDeleteWhatever study you've done "before" getting the PMP is "not" counted. The PDU meter starts after you get your PMP.
Hope that answers both your questions.
Best regards.
Hi all,
ReplyDeleteWhoever looking for free PDUs:
There are 5 free PDUs to be claimed at www.prodevia.com till nov 30.
Another 12 free PDUs can be claimed by registering and watching the International Project Management Day event at http://events.unisfair.com/index.jsp?eid=1022&seid=374
All the above are Category A.
The International project management day may be conducted every year hence, a chance to gain 12 free PDU every year!!
Thank you Ramesh.
ReplyDeleteDo we need to earn PDUs in each category given above? Is there any mandate on yearly claims? Does it need to cliam each year?
ReplyDeleteSanemi,
ReplyDeleteNo, No, and No :)
You might want to read PMI CCR Handbook (link is in the post above). Moreover, this post is not updated any more. I post all the updates on the Squidoo page (link is at the end of the post above).
Best regards.