Neil CouttsPM Consultant| KPMGAlloa, United Kingdom
I'm looking into the PMP certification as the de-facto standard for PMs in my organisation. I am am a member of the PMI and have found the experience most valuable - and I am looking forward to having some time to study for my PMP! I do have a slight concern however over the PDU's (Professional Developement Units). I wonder how others have found maintaining the 60pdu's a year? I have read the PMI documentation etc, but from what i understand the majority of points are allocated to speaking at conventions or authoring books - neither of which I willbe doing in the forseeable! Of course you can earn PDUs by attending chapter meetings etc - but this is not convenient for me as I am based in Scotland - and the UK chapter only runs meetings in London!
So, any real life stories/reassurance you can give me on mainting the PMP (assuming i get there!)? Saving Changes...
One point of clarification, according to the PMIs Professional Development Program, PMPs must earn 60 PDUs every 3 years, that's an average of 20 per year. A lot easier to hit than 60/year as stated in the question.
Second, the PDUs are earned on 5 categories, including Formal Academic training and registered education providers. So you can earn by learning. You can earn PDUs for providing training, authoring articles and related activities. I have earned 58 PDUs in my first year, so I don't see any problem earning them over 3 years.
Roger Saving Changes...
Well, if it helps we offer rather a practical way to earn PDUs i.e. self study or online. We have several courses to award you 35, 32, 30, 25 and 10 PDUs. (check out details 11Concepts.com) at PDU simply is the unit of measurement that PMI® uses to quantify approved learning and professional service activities.
How are PDUs reported?
PMPs and PgMPs are responsible for reporting their activities as they occur by completing the Professional Development Activities form at http://tel.occe.ou.edu/pmi/PMI_Member/PDUlogin.php3 .
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=PMP and CAPM Prep course (online, class or self-study) with 35 PDUs or contact hours.
=We also offer 35, 32, 30, 25 or 10 PDUs toward continuing your PMP or PgMP certifications.
=Please refer our location 11Concepts.com for more information. Saving Changes...
David MorganProject Manager| Experian PLCGrantham, United Kingdom
Yep, all PM related training can provide PDUs.
I think, as long as you spend about 3 days a year in related training, then you should hit the 60 target over three years. Of course, you will probably amass a lot more - just remember to keep a file in case you are audited Saving Changes...
Rubin JenEducator/Trainer| Beyond ExecutionTurku, Finland
There are also many more webinars being offered these days that can provide PDUs. Granted, they usually are only an hour long (and 1 PDU) but it helps if you can't attend a function in person. There are several organizations that publicize free webinars, as well as PMI SIGs, that tend to be more virtual in nature. I wouldn't use these as your only source of PDUs, but they can augment your total. Saving Changes...
How did you complete 58 PDUs. I hardly managed to complete 4 since sept 2008. Please help with the details. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Hey Neil, it looks like you’re a getting a lot of good ideas here. Here are a few more that might help. First Idea: Take a look at the page on the PMI site called Ten Ways to Earn PDUs . Second Idea: You can get up to 15 PDU’s in one 3 year cycle by doing self-directed learning. Find yourself a solid book on a project management topic that will help you and keep track of your study time. Third Idea: Here’s one that a lot of PM’s overlook. You can get PDUs if you are a “practitioner of project or program management for more than 1,500 hours per year”. This is Professional Activities and Self-Directed Learning Category 2H. If you are a full-time PM, this is another 5 PDU’s a year, or 15 PDUs in a 3 year cycle. So you are 25% of the way there just by working. Fourth Idea: Read through the PMP Handbook for other ideas. Throw in some of the other ideas people have given you.. and you should have no problem getting there. Saving Changes...
I will say the best way to get the PDUs is either through Formal Academic training and registered education providers. This is where you get good amount of PDUs. If your organization is not providing any such trainings the only way is to get them paid through your own pocket. But there are many such trainings available either through online courses or Physical classes from many providers across the globe.
Need not to mention, gantthead itself provides many ways to earn PDUs online.
I wish you the best of luck for your first step in here, to get certified.
Feel free to contact to get any further info/help in this regard.
- pcbinwal Saving Changes...
Yogish KASenior Technical Manager| Safran Engineering Services IndiaBangalore, Karnataka, India
Hi,
Like everyone have mentioned, you need 20 PDUs per year to complete 60 PDUs over 3 years. It is not mandatory that you need to collect 20 every year. and out of this 20 per year (considering 60 PDUs over 3 years), you can get 5 PDUs if you are a full time project Manager per year. The rest, can either be accruded by attending sessions by REPs. Also you can get PDUs by attending free webinars provided in websites like Gantthead, IIL etc.
Hope, now you have better understanding and all the best for your PMP :)
Regards,
Yogish Saving Changes...
Digvijay SinghProject Manager| Mastek LimitedPune, India
I just wanted to know how others are reporting their PDUs, just after attending session or training or after three years or yearly basis. I am full time project manager, can I report 5 PDUs after one year or I should wait for three years.
This could be silly question but I would like to know what kind of practice other PMPs are following. Saving Changes...
Yogish KASenior Technical Manager| Safran Engineering Services IndiaBangalore, Karnataka, India
Hi Digvijay,
You can either report as soon as you complete or at the end. But it is preferred and advisible to do it as soon as you complete some training. But ensure that you maintain a log or history of what you have submitted and when. So that it acts as a tracker for you. Regarding the PDU claim for your project management experience, you can do it at the end of the year.
I am basically reporting PDUs as and when I complete the training.
