Taking the Plunge

After my last post, I realized that I had not provided an update on the $5 PDUs.

The WBT courses provided good review.  There were a couple of issues with downloadable files that were referenced but I could not find anywhere in the courses, and I can't say that the courses have made me an expert in the subject matter, but they are definitely worth the time and money.  I notified the company about the issues and they said they would fix them.

Regarding time, the course presentations took relatively little time.  I think that what took the most time, and makes the courses worth PDUs, is the research you are asked to do in order to answer questions.

The courses seem to have been originally designed for a classroom setting, a format which I would not have minded as group interaction usually adds to the experience, but they still worked.

All in all, if you need a few inexpensive PDUs quickly, this is an easy way to get them.

BTW, I just went back to the website and found 2 more course offerings I may have to take advantage of - 'Managing a Virtual Team' and a 'PPM (Project Portfolio Management) Overview.'  This brings the total up to 26 PDUs at $5 each, with possibly more titles on the way.

To start, I want to include a disclaimer.  If any members of my local PMI chapter read this post, keep in mind that this is a blog about maintaing my PMP, i.e. PDUs.  Please don't consider this an official statement about why I would make a great board member - I don't think that reading this will give you that impression.

My local chapter is having Board elections, soon.  At one point I thought that being on the Board would be a great way to earn PDUs, but upon reflection I realized that PDUs are not a strong enough motivation for me to commit my time and energy to serving on the Board.  I may be chronicling my quest for PDUs, but I don't see how I could effectively serve my chapter with PDUs as my motivation. 

It's kind of like the T4 (train the trainer) class I took while in Sacramento.  It was a free 8 PDU class as long as participants committed to volunteer to teach the PMP prep class offered by the Sacramento PMI chapter.  I was glad for the PDUs (which I ended up not claiming because I moved and never taught the class), but my real motivation was to be able to teach something meaningful that would help others.  If I hadn't moved, I would have 8 more PDUs for the class, plus additional PDUs for every class I taught.  Even though I missed out on the PDUs, I'm glad I did not miss out on the T4 class.  Similarly, any PDUs from serving on the Board will just be gravy.

In reviewing the chapter bylaws, I found a few positions that interested me, but most of them had incumbents who were running again this year.  Fortunately for me, the position that interests me most is open. I've cast my lot in for the VP of Community Outreach.  Having been involved with two other professional associations' chapters that were new and struggling to grow (Toastmasters and IIBA, while in Sacramento), I've seen how effective outreach can make a difference in the success of an organization.  I tried to get involved with the local IIBA chapter shortly after moving "here", but they are having membership and outreach issues.  Not only have they not gotten off the ground in the past year since I first contacted them, they have not responded to my offers of support.

Even though we have not had elections, yet, and I hope to accomplish great things on the board, this isn't the place to discuss my strategy.  My closing thoughts for fellow PDU seekers: if you are inspired to serve, the Board of your local chapter is one way.  Volunteering to help with chapter activities is another, that I have not addressed, yet, but I will in the future.  Regardless, do it for the opportunity to make a difference, not just for the PDUs.

I was eating lunch when I realized that the year is almost 1/3 over and I still don't have an outline done for my book.

Did I mention I am writing a book?

What is it about?  Project Management, of course, but I don't want to spoil anything.  I still haven't finalized my vision for it, yet, so any details I give out would be subject to change.

I've let major projects at work get in the way of my writing and I need to get back on track.  My goal is to get published next year.  I have over 40 PDUs right now, at less than $10 a PDU, and plan to have close to 60 by the end of this year WITHOUT being published.  I don't want to depend on getting published to maintain my certification - the process may take too long.  But I do want to get published in time to exceed 60 PDUs so that I can roll them over.  I have until December 2011, so the goal is in sight and attainable!

Just a quick recap of how I have gotten to over 40 PDUs in just over a year at less than $10 a PDU:

• Free 1PDU webinars during my lunch break
• Self study
• Chapter events (these raise the average cost, but the networking is worth it); some are only 1 PDU, but there is also an annual event worth 8 PDUs
• Low cost training - it can be hard to find, but it is out there

If I can get my schedule under control, there are local teaching opportunities I hope to take advantage of, but it is getting published that I think will push me over the top.  I am working on taking the "Perish" out fo the equation, and if I don't publish in time to roll the PDUs over, I will just earn them at the beginning of the next cycle.

I was reminded of a good reason to participate in local PMI chapters today - sometimes they have relationships with training companies that have great offers.

I'm going to hold to my practice of not giving free advertising, but I will give the URL and name of the provider to anyone who sends me a message.  I will also tell you that the company is an REP with PMI, and here are the online PDU courses they currently offer:

* Ethics in Business and Life
* The Work Breakdown Structure
* Team Leadership
* Increasing Personal Productivity

Sure, 3 of the 4 don't scream Project Management, but they really do relate, and they are $5 PDUs.  Unless you can be selective or can't handle one more course on Ethics (I had to take 3 between my BS and MBA), they all cover material beneficial to current and future PMPs.

Once you purchase a course you have 90 days to complete it. I went ahead and purchased all 4. Even if I only spend 2 hours a week on the classes I will be done in plenty of time.

My account has not been set up yet, so I can't tell you what I think about the training.  However, I confirmed with the vendor that the pricing is their new, permanent pricing, so if you're not in a hurry I'll be posting my opinion about the training as I work through it.

Good news re: Category 2H.  Or at least good news for those of us who have held the PMP credential for less than a year that might have missed the information in the handbook.  GUILTY!  I checked with PMI regarding the problem I mentioned in my last post - I was unable to submit PDUs for a job where I had worked less than 6 months.  I received the following answer:

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If you are submitting PDU claims under this category, PMI requests that you submit a separate claim for each year they are earned.  Please be sure to enter only 1 claim per year. 

As an example:

Claim 1: January - December 2006
Claim 2: January - December 2007
Claim 3: January - December 2008

Please keep in mind, the number of PDUs to be claimed under this category is capped at five (5) per calendar year with a maximum of 15 per cycle.  When submitting the employer contact information for these PDUs, please enter the information of the employer that you worked for the longest in that particular year.  
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So, according to PMI, if you, like me, will have more than one employer this year just enter the company informaton for the job where you worked the longest during the year, and be sure to claim the whole year.  Or as much of it as applies.

I haven't gone back to the handbook to see if this information is there.  I'd rather just believe I missed it than go back and find proof of how easily I overlooked the information - even if it is not explained in the handbook.