5 Important Reminders for Maintaining PDUs

Following 20 years at a large Canadian telecommunications firm, Bruce established the project management consulting firm Solutions Management Inc (SMI). Since 1999, he has provided contract project/program management services, been a source for project management support personnel and created/delivered courses to over 7,000 participants in Canada, the United States and England.

  Career Development  

I’ve proudly held my PMP® certification for over 20 years. With more than one million PMPs now certified worldwide, I feel my low five-digit certification number reflects that I’ve been actively engaged as a project manager for a long time. It’s incredible how the recognition of the value of being a PMP continues to grow!

Time passes very quickly, and it reflects in the number of times I have renewed my certification. The Project Management Institute requires certification to be renewed every three years, and I am now approaching my eighth renewal!

During my time mentoring and developing project managers, I have been asked many times why it’s necessary to maintain certification. Although there are some designations that do not require maintenance, many professions have mandatory requirements to do so.

When explaining the importance of gathering Professional Development Units (PDUs), I draw an analogy to accountants. Obviously, it’s critical that accountants maintain and grow their knowledge of current accounting standards. To say standards haven’t changed in, for example 20 years, is obviously misleading. International and national standards evolve due in part to regulatory changes, and it’s critical accountants continue to be aware of current standards so they can serve their clients.

In addition, accounting tools …

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