PMI PDU (Professional Development Unit) requirements are part of PMI's Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program, which ensures that certified professionals stay current with evolving practices in project management. Here's an explanation of PMI PDU requirements:

​

1. Purpose: PDUs are units used to measure and quantify professional development activities undertaken by PMI credential holders. These activities are aimed at maintaining and enhancing the certified professional's skills and knowledge in project management.

2. Categories of PDUs: PMI organizes PDUs into various categories to encourage a diverse range of professional development activities. The categories include:

   • Education: Activities related to structured learning, such as courses, seminars, webinars, conferences, and self-paced online learning.

   • Giving back: Activities that involve sharing knowledge, such as presenting at conferences, mentoring, volunteering, and writing articles or books.

   • Working as a professional: Activities related to professional experience, such as working as a project manager, contributing to project management processes, and performing project management-related tasks.

3. PDUs Required for Certification Maintenance: PMI requires certified professionals to earn a specific number of PDUs within a defined certification cycle to maintain their credentials. For example, holders of the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification must earn 60 PDUs every three years to renew their certification.

4. Distribution of PDUs: PMI sets guidelines for the distribution of PDUs across the different categories. For instance, there may be minimum requirements for PDUs earned in the Education category versus the Giving Back or Working as a Professional categories.

5. Documentation and Reporting: Certified professionals are responsible for documenting and reporting their PDUs through PMI's online Continuing Certification Requirements System (CCRS). They must accurately record the details of each professional development activity, including the category, date, duration, and provider.

6. Audit Process: PMI conducts random audits to verify the accuracy of PDUs claimed by certified professionals. Audited individuals must provide supporting documentation, such as certificates of completion or attendance, to validate their PDUs.

By fulfilling PMI PDU requirements, certified professionals demonstrate their commitment to continuous learning and professional development, ensuring that they remain knowledgeable and skilled in the field of project management throughout their careers.