How to Claim PDUs? Learn how Earn, Claim & Maintain PDUS

Once you get PMP® certified, you need to earn a certain number of PDUs in order to maintain your certification credentials. What are PDUs? PDUs or Professional Development Units are a part of PMI’s Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program which you need to earn every three years once your certification credentials expire. PDUs are one-hour blocks of time that you spend learning, teaching others, or volunteering.

If you’re wondering how many PDUs needed for PMP renewal, the answer is 60 PDUs over a three-year cycle to maintain your certification. PMI Talent Triangle™ offers you the opportunity to continue your learning and development process by aligning it with the PDUs which you need to earn to renew your certification credentials. Also, you need to choose between the opportunities and ways provided under education and giving back to the profession to earn these PDUs. Once you earn these PDUs, you need to claim them to earn your online PMP certification. 

8 steps to claim your Education PDUs 

If you're unsure how to get PDUs for PMP, these 8 steps will guide you through the process. It is mandatory for you to submit and claim your PDUs in order to earn your PMP® certification. The most efficient way to record your PDUs is by using CCRS. In order to maintain active certification status, you need to record your PDUs and complete the renewal process. Here’s how to add PDUs in PMI using 8 easy steps through the CCRS platform:

1. Log in to PMI.org. 

You need to log in to the PMI website using your login credentials. Once you log in, you need to click on ‘Report PDUs’.

2. Course or training

In the next landing page, you need to click on ‘Course or Training’ under Education.

3. Enter the name of a provider

Once you enter the name of a provider, the system looks for PMI-approved providers within the search. However, you are also allowed to enter a third-party provider’s name into the field.
You need to select a provider from the list in order to get pre-approved activity information in the claim form. But if you have taken a course or activity offered by a third-party vendor which is not pre-approved by PMI® for its PDUs, you just need to type the name of the provider into the field and do not select any provider from the list.

4. Select a PMI-approved provider

Once you select a PMI-approved provider, CCRS will only return the training or courses that are already associated with that provider.
Typing three letters into the Activity field will search for any activity which matches in the CCRS directory. Do not select any activity from the list if you have taken a course or training activity from a third-party vendor, as it will pre-populate the rest of the form with the information from a pre-approved provider and activity. You just simply need to type the activity name into the field.

5. Fill the remaining fields on this form

• If you have taken training with a PMI® approved provider then you just need to select the dates of the activity. Once you select the provider and activity from the list, the other activity details will be pre-populated into the claim form.
• You need to complete all the fields to provide the details for the claim is you have taken education activities offered by third-party vendors who are not pre-approved by PMI®.

6. Enter or modify the PDUs that align with the PMI Talent Triangle™ 

• You can modify the Talent Triangle™ PDU values for PMI-approved activities that are pre-populated in the claim form is you didn’t stay for the entire activity. You may modify Talent Triangle™ PDUs to values below the maximum limit for the activity.
• You need to manually enter PDU values under the Technical skill area if you have taken training from any third-party provider. Again, you need to enter PDU values for Leadership and Strategic skill areas manually. If you hold multiple certifications, these PDUs will automatically be shared across all your certifications.

7. Agree

In the next step, you need to click on ‘I agree this claim is accurate’.

8. Submit

Once you agree to the terms, you need to submit your PDU claim. Once you click on the ‘Submit’ button, you will receive a transaction notification which shows multiple Claim IDs for multiple certifications and allows you to print the notification or continue to reporting another claim.

Steps to claim ‘Working in the Profession’ PDUs

As a PMI® member, you can earn PDUs for working in the profession in numerous ways. Few of them are as follows:

• Create new content: You can earn PDUs for maintaining your PMP® certification credentials by writing project management books and articles for professional print or electronic publications. You can also write blogs for your company or organisation, or present a podcast or webinar.
• Volunteer Service: Provide professional services to an organisation or group outside your employer in order to earn the required PDUs for maintaining your PMP® credentials. This might include any elected offices that you hold for a project management organisation. PMI® offers numerous volunteer opportunities too.
• Doing your job: You can also claim PDUs by practicing project management professionally. You can maintain your credentials by working as a project manager every day.

Follow the below steps to claim your PDUs under ‘Working in the Profession’:

Step 1: You need to log in to the PMI® website using your log-in credentials to claim your PDUs for working in the profession and select ‘Report PDUs’ and Cat F for the PDU category and click on ‘Next’. But you will need to ensure the following in order to complete the PDU request:

• Workplace name
• Workplace address
• Date started
• Date completed
• Number of hours completed
• Further, you need to consider the Processes and Knowledge Areas that you use in your practice and be prepared to select each of those.

Step 2: If you see your name at the top of the landing page that means, you have successfully logged in.

Step 3: In the next step, you need to select ‘Maintain your certification: Earn and report PDUs’ which will appear on the drop-down list once you hover over ‘Certification’. Or, select myPMI.
Step 4: The above step will take you to a CCRS landing page where you need to select ‘Category F’ in the PDU category.

Step 5: Once you do that, you will land on a complete detail page where you need to select ‘Next’.

Step 6: In the next page, you will see that 5 PDUs are already displayed in the blank. You just need to click ‘Next’.

Step 7: Now you need to click on ‘Agree’ and then click on ‘Submit’ to claim your 5 PDUs.

Step 8: Once you complete the process, check your e-mail for confirmation from PMI®, as you should receive an e-mail from PMI.org indicating that you have successfully submitted your PDU request. This e-mail will be sent to the address which you have provided in your PMI.org profile.

Top Tips for Getting PDUs 

Earning PDUs doesn’t have to be a chore. In fact, with a little planning, it can fit naturally into your routine. These tips are perfect if you're trying to figure out how to get PDUs for PMP certification quickly and efficiently. 

1. Mix it up: Don’t rely on just one source. You can earn PDUs by attending webinars, reading books, volunteering, teaching, or even watching project management videos. Variety keeps it interesting and helps you meet PMI’s Talent Triangle requirements. 

2. Use free resources: PMI offers plenty of free opportunities through webinars and their online platform. Check out PMI’s "Project Management.com" portal—it’s a goldmine for free PDUs. 

3. Track as you go: Don’t wait until the last minute. Log your PDUs in CCRS as soon as you earn them. It saves time and reduces the risk of forgetting what you did. 

4. Align with your goals: Choose activities that actually help you grow. If you're leaning into leadership, pick content that sharpens those skills. 

5. Keep an eye on the categories: Make sure you're earning PDUs across all three areas: Ways of Working, Power Skills, and Business Acumen. 

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Ways to earn PDUs

If you're exploring how to get PDUs for PMP, here are the main categories to focus on. You can earn them by choosing the opportunities provided under:

• Education
• Giving back to the profession.

The following opportunities are offered by PMI® in order to earn the required PDUs in order to maintain your PMP® certification credentials:

1. Course or Training

You can earn PDUs by participating in educational training courses through instructor-led formal education courses or classes held in-person or online. It is a traditional and effective way to learn.

2. Organisation Meetings

You can attend professional meetings organised by Local PMI® chapters and third parties in order to gain the opportunity to learn and also to network as well as earn PDUs.

3. Online or Digital Media

You can customise learning and educational opportunities by choosing self-paced learning conducted online or through varied forms of digital media. This also allows you to earn PDUs to meet the CCR program needs.

4. Read

Earn PDUs by reading books, articles, whitepapers, or blogs and stay informed along with supporting your ongoing professional development.

5. Informal Learning

Even productive interaction with others can help you to earn PDUs in order to maintain your PMP® credential. For example, mentoring sessions or participating in a ‘lunch and learn’ session with your organisation.

You can earn the required PDUs for maintaining your PMP® certification credentials by choosing from the following opportunities available under Giving Back to the Profession:

1. Work as a practitioner

You get to apply your knowledge and skills in a practical setting each day while you work in a domain area related to your certification. This also allows you to earn PDUs in order to meet the CCR requirements.

2.Giving a presentation

You can use this opportunity to earn PDUs by giving a formal presentation to others and share the knowledge that relates to your certification.

3. Share knowledge

Sharing your domain knowledge to help others learn and grow can also provide you with the opportunity to earn PDUs to maintain your PMP® certification credential. You can either choose to mentor or teach or apply your subject matter knowledge towards activity in order to benefit others with your experience and perspective.

What is the Continuing Certification Renewal System (CCRS)? 

The Continuing Certification Renewal System, or CCRS, is PMI’s way of helping certified professionals keep their credentials active and up to date. Getting your PMP certification is a big achievement, but it doesn’t stop there. To maintain it, you need to earn Professional Development Units (PDUs) over a three-year cycle. That’s where CCRS comes in. 

Think of it as your personal tracker for all things related to certification renewal. You use the CCRS platform to log your PDUs, whether you earned them by attending a course, volunteering, teaching, or learning on the job. The system helps you organize your PDU activities under different categories and ensures they meet PMI’s renewal criteria. 

Once you’ve logged the required 60 PDUs, you can submit your renewal through the same system. It’s all online, simple to use, and makes it easy to stay in good standing with PMI. 

So if you’re looking to keep your PMP or any other PMI certification active, CCRS is the tool you’ll be using regularly. 

PMI®’s CCR Process

The following steps are involved in the process of your participation in the CCR program:

Step 1	Earn a PMI certification Your CCR cycle begins on the day you pass your PMP® exam and lasts for 3 years.
Step 2	Participate in professional development activities. Participating in development activities is at the heart of how to get PDUs for PMP. You need to take part in professional development activities in order to earn PDUs.
Step 3	Record and report PDUs You need to submit your PDU claims for your certification through the CCR system (CCRS).
Step 4	Fulfill CCR requirements You need to earn enough PDUs in order to meet the CCR requirements for your certification.
Step 5	Complete CCR application and pay renewal fee You’ll receive information from PMI for renewal and provide payment.
Step 6	CCR Renewal Complete You need to follow guidelines in order to continue maintaining your certification.

To Conclude

PDUs, clearly, are an integral part of your PMP® certification journey. Learning how to get PDUs for PMP is just as important as earning them. Understanding how to claim PDU is just as important as earning them, so be sure to log your activities correctly to keep your certification valid. You need to gain 60 PDUs within a period of three years in order to maintain the validity of your PMP® certification. 

PMI®’s Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program supports your ongoing educational and professional development. There are various suggested opportunities and ways under CCR that show you how to obtain PDUs for PMP and maintain your certification credentials. One PDU is worth one hour of your project management training. You need to earn 35 PDUs under education and 25 PDUs under giving back to the profession. As a PMP® certified professional, you can claim your PDUs by visiting PMI®’s website.