As (not so) new categories of PMI PDU

For those who studied hard and managed to pass the certification exam PMP, PgMP, PMI-SP, PMI-RMP or PMI-ACP, Now starts the cycle of obtaining PDUs needed to maintain each.

Each certification has a three-year validity, the renewal conditions for obtaining certain amount of PDUs. The PMP certification, eg, requires the Project Manager accumulate at least 60 PDUs for each cycle.

What is PDU?

I imagine that everyone who studied for these certifications PMI PDU know a little about, but it is good to summarize here the concept behind this acronym.

PDU = Professional Development Unit
or
= Unit PDU Professional Development

PDU is a unit of measure conceptual, created by PMI, to measure how much each professional project management evolved in their knowledge in the area of ​​their certification;

The main idea behind the PDU is forcing all certified professionals to keep up to date, recycling knowledge in the area of ​​project management, and also promote the maturation of this topic.

This idea is very interesting, it creates a rule that requires all certified professionals to continue studying, developing knowledge, evolving the subject project management, and increasingly touting the importance of this discipline when wanting to deliver quality projects more, Correct within, the estimated cost and satisfies the customer.

The rule behind the PDU has undergone changes over time and, currently, six new categories of PDUs are defined so that we can report the activities approved learning and professional service.

PDU Categories

As I stated in the post title, those “new” categories are no longer so new. To 2011 they were evolving and relied on 15 distinct categories to cover all possible areas of professional development.

I recognize that some of these 15 categories mistook professionals, it had a very thin border between them and generated doubts about what would be more correct to use. This was a feeling shared by everyone in the community and, after a thorough study to review the categories, in 2011 are defined only 6 covering all possible areas of professional development.

Surely that review was very well received by the whole community, because it greatly simplified the reporting process of PDUs.

Listo then the six new categories currently in effect:

Category A: Courses offered by R.E.P.s, chapters and communities of PMI

All courses, seminar, lecture or workshop with the theme related to project management, taught by an institution recognized by PMI, can be reported by certified professional as PDU, respecting the rule of 1 current time equals 1 PDU.

Fractions of PDUs also allowed, in other words, if you attended a lecture:

• 15 my, then you may report 0,25 PDU;
• 30 my, then 0,50 PDU, or;
• 45 min equals 0,75 PDU.

Many of these courses are paid, but there are also many free. The biggest advantage of this Category A is no limit for reporting PDU, in other words, you can complete your whole cycle 60 PDUs reporting only courses, seminars, palestras e workshops.

Categoria B: Continuing Education

In this category you can report the time they participated in classes related to project management in their undergraduate course in university.

If you participate in seminars, lectures, webinars and other events relevant to the subject GP, offered by companies that do not participate in the program PMI REP, in other words, are not officially recognized, You may also report these activities PDUs that category B.

If you participate in an event in their own company on Lessons Learned, Risk Management, Maturity in Project Planning, or any other matter related to the theme, You may also report these hours.

In that Category B there is also no limit PDUs to be reported, because the PMI understands that many institutions promote outreach events theme project management that contribute to the maturation of professionals, even if they are not participating in the program R.E.P.

Category C: Self-Study

The name says it all. In this category you should report hours used for self-development. If you read any article, paper, book, watched a video, DVD or listened to a podcast related to the topic of project management, you are developing your knowledge in the area.

Calculate the time you spent on each of these activities for self-study and convert them into PDUs.

The main restriction of this category is that you can only report, no max, 30 PDUs for each cycle 3 years.

Category D: Knowledge creation in Project Management

If you produce knowledge in GP, in other words, writes books, Articles, texts, newspapers, presents a webinar or podcast, teaches a course or give a lecture, then you are contributing to the dissemination of knowledge in Project Management and, therefore, may report PDUs in this category.

More important than the Category C, Category D means that you have developed your knowledge and is passing on to others what you have learned. Here you are contributing to the community to promote and develop knowledge in project management.

You can only report a maximum 45 PDUs per cycle 3 years, but this limit includes the sum of PDUs in categories D, And F. I explain this in more detail below.

Category E: Voluntary Service

Yes, Volunteer work is work without getting money for it, but you can get other benefits that may be much more important than money.

You can volunteer in the PMI chapter in your city, help translate journals or even the PMBOK, organize lectures, assist in preparing a congress, provide project management services in community groups etc..

Being a volunteer is working to evolve the topic and is becoming more widespread in society. For me, the main benefits gained from volunteering are:

• Professional and personal development;
• Recognition within the community;
• Aumento do networking;
• New work proposals.

These benefits can help in their growth and also to increase your salary, it will help you prepare for a future opportunity.

Category F: Working as a Project Manager

Last, but not least, considers that a Category F, if you are working as a Project Manager, then you are developing your knowledge and applying the best practices of project management. That alone is enough for the PMI recognizes the importance of their work.

Here you can report a maximum 15 PDUs during the 3 years. The version of PMP Handbook in Portuguese the translation is not very clear and understanding of the rule may confuse readers. Here I will explain this rule more clearly to avoid confusion:

If you have worked a minimum of 6 months as a project manager, over a period of one year, then you have the right to report 5 PDUs.

As the cycle of re-certification is 3 years, then you can declare at most 15 PDUs at the end of the cycle.

OBS: Limit of 45 PDUs of categories D, And F

All PDUs reported in categories D, And F, together, Can I just add up the maximum 45 units each cycle renewal of certification (cycle 3 years), in other words, produce knowledge in GP, volunteer and work as a project manager you will always yield a maximum of 45 PDUs per cycle.

This rule serves to limit somewhat the way we obtain the PDUs, because, if it does not exist, Anyone could spend 60 hours producing a course on project management, reporting these 60 hours as 60 PDUs and would no longer be required to study and disseminate knowledge GP.

With this limit the strength PMI certificates to obtain at least 15 PDUs in categories A, B and C. A great way to encourage us to spend money on professional development courses. The world is capitalist and money needs to continue circulating!

Conclusion

Get a PMI certification is not easy. You can see how I prepared for the PMP certification (post 1, post 2), but this one showed that each certificate has steady work to evolve their professional maturity and also the subject of project management.

To take many other questions regarding the categories of PDU, I suggest you read the whole chapter Program Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR), which starts on page 38 do PMP Handbook in Portuguese. There you will have much more details about what is allowed in each category and what should be kept as a record for future proofs of PDUs reported. Follow the link for those who prefer English version of the PMP Handbook.

I hope this post helps those who need to report your PDUs. No further work on PMI, but if you have any questions related to the topic, 'll be happy to try to answer it. You can use the comment area below the post.