PMP Certification Renewal: A Comprehensive Guide

The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is the most widely recognized credential for project management professionals worldwide. This certification boosts your self-assurance, closes any knowledge gaps you may have, expands the range of professional options available to you, and raises the ceiling on your earning potential.

The certification is only good for three years before it must be renewed, which involves a certification renewal process. All PMP certification holders must earn a certain number of PDUs and report to PMI to complete their PMP certification renewal process.

The PMP certification renewal process is the topic of today’s blog post, in which we will cover everything you need to know about it.

The PMP Certification Renewal

The PMP certification renewal is a requirement to renew PMP certification because it is valid for only three years. If you do not successfully renew your PMP certificate, it will be suspended for one year, during which time you will be required to renew it successfully.

Your certification will be revoked if you continue to neglect to renew it, and if you want to become a PMP again, you will need to take and pass the exam.

In addition to fulfilling this requirement, you will have the chance to increase your skill set, remain current with emerging trends, and forge new professional relationships.

The PMP credential holders will continue to be recognized thanks to the renewal process even after a significant amount of time has passed since they passed the exam. Since this is the case, it is to your advantage to finish the PMP certification renewal process and keep your credential active. 

The PMP Certification Renewal Process

Follow the following process to complete your PMP certification renewal process:

#1. Earn 60 PDUs

PDU stands for professional development units. You must earn 60 PDUs in three years to complete your Continuing Certification Requirement (CCR). To avoid problems at a later point, ensure that you report these PDUs to the PMI CCR system as soon as you earn the PDU.

Maintain a safe location for your record of earning PDUs for 18 months, as this is the period during which the PMI can audit your PDUs, and you will be expected to disclose this information to the PMI.

You should also ensure that you earn these PDUs according to the PMI CCR Triangle.

You have many ways to earn these PDUs, but you can earn them for free. Go to projectmanagement.com and then select the webinars tab from the menu. You will have access to hundreds of free webinars through this platform. You can fulfill your required professional development hours by watching these recorded webinars. These PDUs will be automatically reported to PMI.

This way, you can earn all PDUs for free, and you won’t face any issues in reporting.

#2. Apply for PMP Certification Renewal

Once you earn your 60 PDUs and the three years are about complete, the PMI will send you an email to make the payment and complete the CCR cycle. The complete process is online, and you won’t require to provide any further information.

#3. Agree with the PMI Code of Conduct.

You must agree with the PMI code of ethics and professional conduct to continue valid your PMP credential. The commitment this code ensures you work with honesty, responsibility, fairness, and respect for peers.

#4. Make the Payment

For those not already members of PMI, the cost to renew their PMP certification is 150 USD, whereas PMI members pay only 60 USD. Finish the PMP certification renewal procedure by paying and completing all of the required steps.

Note that although you can finish the process earlier than three years, your cycle won’t begin until the end of the current cycle.

For example, if your cycle ends on January 1, 2023, and you complete the cycle on Nov 1st, 2022, your next cycle will start from January 1, 2023, and the credential will be valid until January 1, 2026.

#5. Get the Renewal Confirmation

After payment, you will receive a confirmation email regarding renewing your PMP certification. This email provides information on your new PMP CCR cycle renewal dates.

We have discussed the PMP certification renewal and now let’s talk about professional development units.

Professional Development Units

One hour of learning contributed to one’s professional development is equivalent to one professional development unit. Learning new skills, producing articles, teaching, making presentations, reading books or journals, and other activities are all examples of possible activities.

To complete the CCR cycle and renew your PMP certification, you must earn 60 PDUs over three years by spending 60 hours participating in activities related to project management. 

PMI has divided these PDUs into two categories:

1. Education
2. Giving Back to Profession

Education PDUs

You must earn 35 Education PDUs. You can earn these PDUs by learning new skills, attending seminars, or watching webinars. These PDUs ensure you are updated with the latest skills and knowledge of current market conditions.

Note that you must satisfy the PMI talent triangle. This means you must earn 8 PDUs in Technical Project Management, 8 PDUs in Leadership, and 8 PDUs in Strategic and Business Management.

These three skills form the talent triangle.

1. Technical: Learning or practicing the technical aspects of project management.
2. Leadership: Improving how you set goals, establish expectations, and motivate or direct a project team to accomplish an objective.
3. Strategic & Business Management: Gaining expertise within your industry or organization to better guide your team, enhance performance, and deliver business outcomes.

There is no maximum limit of PDUs in this category. You can earn all your 60 PDUs here. I earn all my PDUs from this category only.

Giving Back to Profession PDUs

You can earn a maximum of 25 PDUs in this category in each certification renewal cycle. There is no minimum requirement here.

Activities under this category fall into two groups:

• Volunteering: You can earn PDUs by volunteering work; for example, you can join PMI communities and offer your help. 
• Creating Knowledge: If you wring blog posts and articles and provide knowledge to others in any form, you can claim the remaining 17 PDUs from this group (If you have claimed 8 PDUs working as a project manager).
• Working as a Professional: If you are a project manager, you can claim 8 PDU per CCR cycle.

How to Get PDUs

The following Activities fall under the education Group:

• Course or Training (Instructor-led formal education courses or in-person or online classes): You can participate in educational training classes and acquire new skills. You can enroll in training programs provided by PMI and other training providers, whether or not they are linked with PMI.
• Organization Meetings (Meetings, activities, and local events related to the profession): Professional meetings provide opportunities to learn and make connections. PMI local chapter conducts meetings throughout the years; you can join them and earn contact hours. You can also participate in your organizational meetings. 
• Online or Digital Media (Self-paced learning conducted online or through various forms of digital media): Online courses let you select courses and timing per your schedule. You can earn PDUs by participating in any course or watching webinars.
• Read (Self-directed reading relevant to your certification): Reading and project management articles, journals, etc., can count towards your PDUs.
• Informal Learning (Educational opportunities focused on structured discussions): You can earn PDUs by participating in informal discussions with your colleagues. Note down the time, topic, and duration of the discussion.

The following activities fall under the Giving Back to Profession Group:

• Work as a Practitioner (Working in your certified role): If you work in the project management profession, you can earn PDUs. These experiences help you grow your career.
• Create Content (Creating new knowledge resources for practitioners and the public): Creating content allows you to share the knowledge with the community. You can write articles, blog posts, PowerPoint presentations, etc.
• Give a Presentation (Presenting on topics relevant to the profession): Offering a formal presentation and sharing knowledge related to project management can help you earn PDUs.
• Share Knowledge (Sharing your domain knowledge to help others learn and grow): Sharing knowledge helps the community grow. You can monitor or teach knowledge.
• Volunteer (Providing volunteer services to non-employer or non-client organizations): PMI has many active communities of volunteers. You can join these communities and offer your help and earn PDUs.

Please refer to the PMI CCR Handbook for updated information.

The above activities make it easy for you to complete your PM certification renewal cycle easy.

How to Report PDUs

Reporting PDUs is easy. 

Follow the following steps to report the PDUs to PMI and complete your PMP certification renewal cycle:

• Login to your PMI account.
• Click on Certification and then Report PDUs.

• Then select the category you want to report PDU. I have selected “Read.”

• Now fill in all the fields as shown below and submit.

After submitting the PDUs, you will receive an email confirming your submission. You will receive a second email when your PDUs are approved.

Likewise, you can select other categories and report PDUs.

FAQs on PMP Certification Renewal

#1. Is it Mandatory to Renew PMP Certification?

Yes. You are required to recertify as a PMP before the conclusion of your current CCR cycle to preserve your credential in good standing and to keep your ability to use it.

#2. What Happens if I Don’t Renew My PMP Certification?

If you do not keep your PMP certification current by renewing it, your certification will be suspended for one year. If you still don’t submit 60 PDUs during the suspension period, your credential will be canceled, and you will no longer be a PMP credential holder. You must retake and pass the PMP exam to attain this certificate.

Note that during the suspension period, you cannot use your credential.

#3. How Often Do I Need to Renew The PMP Certification?

You need to renew the PMP credential every three years, as the PMP certification is valid for three years.

#4. Can I carry Extra PDUs earned in my Cycle?

If you have earned more than 60 PDUs, the PDUs earned in the last 12 months (up to 20 PDUs) can be moved to the next CCR cycle

#5. Do I need 35 of 60 PDUs for PMP Renewal?

You need 35 contact hours to apply for the PMP exam. However, after passing the PMP exam, you will need 60 PDUs to renew your PMP credential. 

#6. What is the PMP Renewal Fee?

The PMP Renewal Fee for PMI members is 60 USD and 150 USD for others.

Summary

The PMP certification is valid for three years. You have to go through a PMP Certification renewal process, which includes earning 60 PDUs, reporting to the PMI, and making the payment to keep your certification valid for another three years.