Section outline

    • CCR Program Overview

      PMI’s Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program supports the ongoing educational and professional development of our certification holders so they are always prepared to meet the demands of today’s complex business environment. The purpose of the CCR program is to:

      ■ Enhance continuous learning and development among certification holders

      ■ Provide direction in development areas to ensure 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 credentials


      Everyone who earns a PMI certification must actively maintain their certification(s) through participation in the CCR Program and renewal of their certification(s). The renewal cycle is every 3 years for PMP, PgMP, PfMP, PMI-PBA, PMI-ACP, PMI-RMP, PMI-SP and CAPM. There is a 1 year renewal cycle for Discipline Agile certifications. 

      Partaking in professional development and learning activities allows certification holders to earn Professional Development Units (PDUs), fulfilling the continuing certification requirements and ultimately growing and developing as a practitioner.

      We know that each individual has different professional needs and desires.  The CCR program is designed to be flexible so that it can adapt to those needs and allow you to customize your CCR activities.  The CCR program provides a general framework and guidance—you determine your ultimate CCR and development path.


    • What are PDUs?

      PMI’s measurement for project management-related continuing education efforts is called a Professional Development Unit (PDU).

      Professional Development Units (PDUs) are

       “one-hour blocks of time that you spend learning, teaching others, or volunteering.”

      For all PMI certifications and associated PDU efforts, the measurement of the learning, training others, and/or volunteering is measured as:

      1 PDU = 1 Hour

      It is important to know the PMI certification PDU requirements so certification status does not lapse or you would have to reapply for certification!


    • What are PDU requirements for PMI certification maintenance?

      Every PMI certification has a PDU hour requirement to remain active.  Access the PMI Certification Requirement online handbook for information including the graphic below that details PDU hours by certification:


      PMP PDU claim categories

      Here we focus on the “PMP PDU claim” as set by PMI specifically for the PMP® credential. For the most current PMI PDU requirements, go to PMI.org. Using the graphic above, note the required PDUs and how PMI allows for PMP credential holders to maintain their status through the completion of Education PDUs or with a combination of Giving Back and Education PDUs.

      Giving Back PDU

      One way PMI encourages engagement in the profession, and the sharing of best practices, is through the “Giving Back” PDU category:

      “Giving Back to the Profession is a unique opportunity for you to expand your knowledge and skills while growing both personally and professionally.”

      Education PDU

      With the 35 PDU requirement, the education PDU is where PMP® credential holders start and typically focus their initial efforts. PMI shares this insight:

      “Continuing education is at the core of your PMI certification…It’s important for you to keep on top of the latest developments to remain relevant in the ever-changing marketplace.”

      The Education PDU category is further defined through the PMI® Talent Triangle to ensure a balance of project management skills.


    • PMI Talent Triangle

      The PMI Talent Triangle® lays out three categories for project management education and training: 
      (1) Ways of Working, 
      (2) Power Skills, and 
      For the PDUs needed to apply to take the PMP exam and for PDUs needed for PMP credential maintenance, all Education PDUs must align to The PMI Talent Triangle®.

      As a certification holder you must earn a minimum number of PDUs in each of the skill areas of the PMI Talent Triangle—Ways of Working, Power Skills, and Business Acumen. Education PDUs can exceed this amount and there is no limit on the number of PDUs that can be earned in education.

      The education requirements are further broken down based on the PMI Talent Triangle skill areas as detailed below:



    • Giving Back to the Profession

      PMI recognizes that sharing your knowledge and actively applying your skills is a valuable means to contribute to the profession.  Additionally, many find that giving back is an enriching learning experience that enhances your professional development in different ways. That is why giving back activities are PDU eligible and incorporated into the CCR program.

      It is important to note that giving back is an optional manner in which to earn PDUs. The giving back requirements listed above are the maximum number of PDUs allowed for each certification in this category. If giving back PDUs are earned, the total cannot exceed the limits listed above.

      Please refer to the How to Maintain Multiple PMI Certifications section of this document to learn about the policies for earning PDUs to maintain more than one PMI certification.

      Refer to the infographic below for more information on how you can maintain PDUs for your certification(s).