PMI^® RECERTIFICATION

In order to be able to permanently guarantee your PMP^® status, you must be recertified as a PMP every three years. This requires verification of continuous involvement in PM – e.g. in the form of self-selected training units which pertain to PM subjects. PMP^® credential holders must collect a minimum of 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs) during a period of three years in order to obtain their recertification.

A PDU is a measured unit for the evaluation of development and professional activity in the field of project management. One typically gains one (1) PDU for every hour of planned and structured development work or a similar activity.

Since 2016, PMI has distinguished two types of activities for which PDUs can be purchased. These are then further subdivided:

• The easiest way to get PDUs: You will attend a project management seminar at a PMI^® Authorized Training Partner such as PS Consulting, and develop further as a project manager.
• You can also attend project management seminars at other organizations or attend in-house project management seminars offered by your employer. Here you need a detailed certificate of participation as proof, in which the seminar contents are described.
• Attending lectures by your local PMI Chapter also brings you 2-3 PDUs. You can also participate directly in a conference on project management.
• The possibility of “Self-Directed Learning” is interesting for avid readers. Here you can get up to 30 PDUs for reading books or articles on PM or discussing with colleagues in working groups.
• Do you have a special question and receive coaching on project management? Here you also receive 1 PDU per hour.
• For your work as an active project manager you will receive up to 8 PDUs in 3 years.
• And for the PM professionals among you: You also receive PDUs if you give lectures on project management, write an article or if you work as a volunteer in the PMI^® chapters or other functions.

As a PMP^® credential holder you are personally responsible for registering you activities with the PMI^®. A simple online reporting option is available on the PMI^® website for this. You should create a Development Program file, in which you collect verification of your registered project management activities.

PMI conducts random sample checks of the PMP^® every year to ensure that the documents provided are complete and correct. All documents must thus be stored for a minimum of 12 months.

The PMP certification is always valid until the day exactly 3 years after having passed the exam(e.g. the recertification is due on October 1, 2018 if you passed the exam on October 2, 2015).
As a member of PMI you will be personally informed about this. However, it is worth starting collecting PDUs early.
Re-certify yourself in time: You can do this up to one year after the deadline, but you may not call yourself PMP during this time and your re-certification period will not be extended either.

As with PMP^® application, your recertification data may be subject to auditing. Please keep all your receipts for at least 18 months after your recertification cycle.