Giving-back PDU

A giving-back PDU (more formally known as giving-back-to-the-profession PDU) is an optional professional development unit (PDU) earned in sharing and applying your knowledge and skills as a means to contribute to and help build the profession. PDUs are credits toward re-certification for professional credentials such as Project Management Professional® (PMP®) at the Project Management Institute® (PMI®).

The other category of PDUs are education PDUs; depending on a type of PMI certification, that category includes some number of mandatory PDUs. For instance, PMP certification holders need 60 PDUs in the renewal cycle, but no more than 25 of them can be giving-back PDUs.

Giving-back PDUs explained

PMI recognizes that sharing your knowledge and actively applying your skills is a valuable means to contribute to the profession.

Learning experience

Additionally, many find that giving back is an enriching learning experience that enhances your professional development in different ways. That is why giving back activities are PDU eligible and incorporated into the CCR program.

Optional nature

It is important to note that giving back is an optional manner in which to earn PDUs. The giving back requirements listed above are the maximum number of PDUs allowed for each certification in this category. If giving back PDUs are earned, the total cannot exceed the limits listed above.

Ways to earn giving-back PDUs

There are many opportunities and ways to earn giving-back-to-the-profession PDUs. The CCR program organizes PDUs based upon the type of development activity conducted. Detailed below you will find a description of each activity, examples, and any associated policies.

Work as a practitioner

Each day, your work in a domain area related to your certification allows you to apply your knowledge and skills in a practical setting. Using these competencies actively contributes to sustaining and growing the profession.

Documentation required for audit is a proof of employment (job description). PDU rules are:

• This activity has a maximum number of PDUs that can be claimed per cycle. PMP certification holders, for instance, can claim no more than 8 PDUs, which is the maximum allowable PDU value, if they had been actively working within the profession for the entire 3 years of their certification cycle. If they had been actively working within the profession for half of their certification cycle, for another instance, half of the maximum allowable PDU value can be claimed (4 for PMP, PgMP, PfMP, and PMI-PBA; 2 for PMI-ACP, PMI-RMP, PMI-SP)

• You can claim Working as Professional PDUs once per certification cycle.
• The PDUs claimed in this category count against the maximum PDUs allowed in the “Giving Back to the Profession” category
• These PDUs only apply to your current cycle and cannot be transferred.

The number of PDUs claimed once per cycle should be generally equivalent to the amount of time you were actively working within the profession. For example:

Create content

Authoring books or articles, creating webinars. Activities that enable you to share and apply your knowledge and skills as a means to contribute to and help build the profession. Some examples include:

• Writing books, articles, white papers, or blogs
• Creating webinars or presentations

Create Content

Creating new knowledge resources for use by practitioners and the public at large

By developing knowledge resources, you can share your knowledge and insight with others and contribute to their ongoing learning. There are many ways to create new content, such as authoring books, blogs or articles, or creating webinars or presentations.

• Become a content creator on ProjectManagement.com
• Author an article for the Knowledge Shelf

PDU Rules: 1 hour spent creating content equals 1 PDU

Documentation required for audit: Copies of publications, sample educational materials or course agendas

Give a presentation

Preparing for and speaking or presenting. Activities include presentations you delivered at a PMI chapter event, other professional conference, or internally at your organization, which relate to your certification.

Give a Presentation

Presenting on topics relevant to the profession

There are many occasions when you could give a formal presentation to others, and share knowledge that relates to your certification. For example, you could speak at a PMI chapter event, professional conference, or within your organization. These are just a few examples. Consider the opportunities available to you.

PDU Rules:1 hour spent presenting equals 1 PDU

Documentation required for audit: Copies of presentation.

Share knowledge

Serving as a moderator, SME, or mentor. Activities in which you shared project management knowledge with others through serving as a mentor, teacher, coach, or simply applied your subject matter expertise.

Volunteer

Volunteering without compensation. Activity that relates to your certification and contributes to advancing knowledge or practice within the profession.