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 the giving-back-to-the-profession category. 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 to the Profession PDUs

PMI recognizes that sharing your knowledge and actively applying your skills is a valuable means to contribute to the profession. Additionally, many find that giving back is an enriching learningexperience that enhances your professional development in different ways. That is why giving back activities are PDUeligible and incorporated into the CCR program. It is important to note that giving back is an optionalmanner in which to earn PDUs. The givingback requirements listed above are the maximumnumber of PDUs allowed for each certification in this category. If giving back PDUs are earned, thetotal cannot exceed the limits listed above.Please refer to the How toMaintain Multiple PMI Certificationssection of this document to learn about the policies for earning PDUs to maintain more than one PMI certification.Refer to the infographics on the following pages for more information on how you can maintain PDUs for your certification(s).

Ways to earn giving-back PDUs

There are many opportunities and ways to earn education 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

Working in a profession related to your certification. 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:

• If you were actively working within the profession for the entire 3 years of your certification cycle, the maximum allowable PDU value can be claimed (8 for PMP, PgMP, PfMP, and PMI-PBA; 4 for PMI-ACP, PMI-RMP, PMI-SP)
• If you were actively working within the profession for half of your certification cycle, 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)

Work as a Practitioner

Working in your certified role

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

PDU Rules:

• This activity has a maximum number of PDUs that can be claimed per cycle:
  • PMP, PgMP, PfMP, PMI-PBA –no more than 8 PDUs claimed per cycle
  • PMI-ACP, PMI-RMP, PMI-SP –no more than 4 PDUs claimed per cycle
• 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.

Documentation required for audit: Proof of employment (job description)

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.