How To Maintain The PMP Certification

PMI has the Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program to ensure that credentialed professionals participate in ongoing educational and professional developments. This is a requirement for maintaining its certifications except for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification. Credentialed professionals are required to comply with the details of the CCR to avoid having their credentials suspended or revoked.

1. Acquire 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs)  every 3 years 

For the PMP certification, you are required to acquire 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs) every 3-year cycle.

A new 3-year cycle will be added to your current cycle after you successfully complete a renewal process.

• How to acquire PDUs

PDUs can be obtained by education (35 minimum PDUs) or giving back (25 Maximum PDUs). 

This could include:

• Attending and/or speaking at seminars
• Attending and/or speaking at PMI local chapter events
• Attending and/or speaking at PMI organized conferences or seminars
• Practicing as a Project Manager
• Creating training materials and teaching project management courses 

It is important to note the PDUs acquired should be related to the PMI talent triangle of:

• Technical project management
• Leadership
• Strategic and Business Management

2. Submit PDUs for approval

To claim your PDU you have to enter details of the PDUs into the Continuing Education Requirement System (CCRS) via your PMI account. It will be reviewed by a PMI representative. 

After review, the PDU you are trying to claim may either be approved or you may be asked to provide supporting documentation to verify the details of the PDU you are trying to claim. Your PDU will be approved if you are able to convince the PMI representative of the validity of your claim through the documentation submitted or declined otherwise.

3. Pay renewal fee

Once you have met the PDU requirements of your PMP credential and successfully gotten them approved by PMI, you are now eligible to apply for renewal. You will be required to pay a renewal fee to have the certification extended. PMI members pay $60 while non-members pay $150 for renewal.

You are required to submit payment no later than 90 days after your cycle end date.

4. Get certification extension

You can complete the renewal process anytime during your active cycle once the PDU requirements have been met. You will be sent an updated certificate with a new credential validity period once all the renewal conditions have been met and payment processed. 

For more details read more about the CCR requirements here