Maintaining Your PMP® Certification

Earning your PMP® certification is an important achievement, but certification does not end when you pass the exam. To keep your PMP® credential active, you must meet PMI’s Continuing Certification Requirements, also known as CCR. Maintaining your PMP® certification shows that you are continuing to grow as a project management professional and demonstrates that credential holders remain current and effective in a changing project environment.

Earn 60 PDUs Every Three Years

To maintain your PMP® certification, you must earn 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs), during each three-year certification cycle.PMI divides PDUs into two main categories: Education and Giving Back to the Profession

You will report your PDUs through PMI’s online Continuing Certification Renewal System, or CCRS. It is recommended to enter your PDUs as you earn them rather than waiting until the end of your cycle.

Education PDUs (35 PDUs)

Education PDUs help you continue building your professional knowledge and skills.
PMP® certification holders must earn at least 35 Education PDUs per cycle.

Education PDUs must include at least 8 PDUs in each area of the PMI Talent Triangle®:

The remaining Education PDUs can be earned in any of the three areas.

Examples of Education PDU activities include:

• Courses and educational training

• PMI chapter events or organization meetings with an educational component

• Online or digital media, such as webinars, videos, or podcasts

• Reading books, articles, reports, or standards

• Informal learning, such as structured professional discussions or lunch-and-learns

Giving Back PDUs (25 PDUs)

Giving Back PDUs allow you to earn credit for contributing to the project management profession.
PMP® certification holders may claim up to 25 Giving Back PDUs per cycle.

Examples include:

• Work as a practitioner

• Create content

• Give a presentation

• Share knowledge

• Volunteering

PMI’s Talent Triangle

Ways of Working
Understanding and applying the right approach—predictive, agile, or hybrid—based on the needs of the project.

Power Skills
Leading, communicating, and influencing effectively to drive alignment and results through people.

Business Acumen
Making decisions with an understanding of how your project connects to organizational strategy and broader business goals.

Renewing Your Certification

Once you have earned and reported the required 60 PDUs, you can renew your PMP® certification by paying the renewal fee. If you renew before your cycle ends, your next cycle does not begin early. Your current cycle still ends on its original expiration date