Project Management Institute

PMI has an exciting update for you regarding improvements to the PDU structure within the Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) Program.

The updates are important to note for you as a credential holder. PMI used feedback from both credential holders who report their PDUs and trainers who register their courses for PDUs as the impetus for investigating a revision of the PDU categories.

Background and Market Research on CCR Program and PDU Structure

PMI commissioned a major study of the CCR Program in 2007 which identified key areas for enhancement. The first enhancement was the development of PMI’s in-house reporting system (CCRS) which launched in August 2009 and the in-sourcing of the operations and management for CCR. This initial enhancement has received positive feedback from PMI stakeholders.

The second proposed enhancement was to improve and simplify the Professional Development Unit (PDU) category structure for ease of reporting. In preparation for making the PDU category structure enhancement to the system, PMI did a formal study targeting PMI credential holders, PMI Registered Education Providers (REPs) and Community Leaders presenting the new categories and asking for their feedback.

PDU Updated Category Structure Implementation Begins on 1 March 2011

We are reaching out starting in December 2010 to provide direction for credential holders for reporting their PDUs before and after the launch date.

What You Need to Know

Between now and 1 March 2011, PMI is requesting that credential holders register their existing PDUs in the CCR system under the current PDU categories. After 1 March 2011, credential holders will need to report PDUs using the new categories.

Key changes to the program include:

• Simplification to the CCR category structure, reducing the number of categories from 18 to 6
• Ensuring that all categories use the rule that one hour of learning activity is equivalent to one PDU
• Expanding the categories to include Web 2.0 learning opportunities
• Adding limits on certain categories to require that all credential holders pursue project management continuing education as part of maintaining their credential

It is also important to note what is not changing in the program: 

• The three-year renewal cycle and number of PDUs required to maintain the credential will remain the same
• The re-certification fee structure will remain the same 

Since research has shown that people did not fully understand the PDU categories and how to appropriately report their PDUs using that structure, we are pleased to respond to this customer feedback to make the structure more user-friendly and better serve our certification holders and the stakeholders who support them.

Please take a moment to read through the FAQs and the New PDU Category Structure and Policies document on PMI.org for more detailed information about this update. If you have questions, please contact the PMI-Michigan Thumb Chapter