Cornelius Fichtner help you with your PMP Exam Prep (https://www.project-management-prepcast.com) as well as earn free PDUs (www.pm-podcast.com/pdu). Passing the PMP Exam is tough, but keeping your PMP Certification alive is just as challenging. Preparing for the exam requires an in-depth study of the PMBOK Guide and dedicated study discipline. And once you are PMP certified, then you are required to earn 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs) every 3 years to keep your certification alive. Let me help you make this journey easier with tips and tricks on how to prepare for and pass the exam as well as efficiently earning your PDUs once you are certified.
The Project Management Institute (PMI)® has made a number of changes to the Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) in the past 18 months. These requirements define the policies and guidelines that certified project managers must follow in order to earn PDUs and renew their certification.
In this interview we speak with John Kleine (LinkedIn Profile) who is the Global Manager, Product Strategy & Delivery, at Project Management Institute. One of John's responsibilities is overseeing the CCR and any changes made to it.
We begin by discussing the recertification requirements for a certified Project Management Professional (PMP)® and walk you through many of the updated rules. Of course, the interview is also full with good ideas and suggestions on how to earn PDUs. For example, what would you expect are the most frequently used, and the most under-used PDUs earning activities?
To me, this question translates to "I hate having to earn PDUs. I only do it because PMI is making me do it and I want to get it over with as quickly as possible." I understand that many people may feel this way probably because they cannot see earning PDUs as something rewarding, enjoyable, and as something that helps them grow as a project manager. But let's face it. The fact of the matter is that you are required to earn them, and if we can make it more fun for you then you might enjoy it more.
So let's make it more fun for you.
The definite least time consuming way to earn PDUs are from those 3 PDU categories in which you get them "just because": In category 2H you earn 5 PDUs every year just because you are employed as a project manager (we talked about that in an earlier issue). In category 2-SDL you earn up to 15 PDUs in 3 years just because you like to read books or listen to podcasts about project management. And in category 5 you earn PDUs just because you like to be a volunteer in your local project management organization. Yes, there is a time investment, but most of us are involved in these 3 activities anyway and earning the appropriate PDUs is like the cherry on top.
Then there are some categories where you never know how much time you are going to have to invest into it. For instance you'll get 40 PDUs for writing a book, but it takes hundreds of hours to do. Or you get 10 PDUs for giving a presentation at a symposium but you might easily spend 20 hours preparing and travelling.
If you are looking for a clear 1-to-1 benefit, then taking courses in project management is the clear winner. That is because every 1 hour that you spend for instance in a classroom or watching an online webinar will give you exactly 1 PDU (Check out our sponsor for this).
In the end, it all boils down to this: The trick is to know and understand all the categories from your credential handbook and then pick those that offer what you consider to be the best return and the most fun for you.
To me, this question translates to "I hate having to earn PDUs. I only do it because PMI is making me do it and I want to get it over with as quickly as possible." I understand that many people may feel this way probably because they cannot see earning PDUs as something rewarding, enjoyable, and as something that helps them grow as a project manager. But let's face it. The fact of the matter is that you are required to earn them, and if we can make it more fun for you then you might enjoy it more.
