Professional Development Units are Critical to PMP Certification

By Paul Mai

 

Whether your PDUs are scanned and submitted via PMI Portland or on your own, be sure to keep track of your learning and giving back to save worry at recertification time!

PMPs know the feeling. Certification renewal is approaching. Professional Development Units (PDUs) suddenly take on a new urgency as we ensure we’ve earned enough to avoid retaking the grueling exam again!

PMPs, PgMPs, PfMPs and PMI-PBAs must complete 60 PDUs within a 3-year cycle to maintain their certification; Agile Certified Professionals (ACPs) must earn 30, and CAPMs must retake their exam every five years, regardless of the number of PDUs earned. Each one-hour block counts as a PDU.

PMI looks at PDUs as a way to continue honing your PM skills and they can be earned by learning, teaching others, and volunteering. They should be aligned to the PMI talent triangle with a minimum of eight units each under Technical, Leadership and Strategy/Business Management. See Certification Maintenance and Certification FAQs for more info.

There are many ways to meet educational requirements. Those include attending chapter meetings (educational sessions and keynotes each equal one unit), workshops taught by PMI registered education providers, the Annual Conference, and by working on your own.

PMI Portland volunteers scan registration badges at chapter events to be reported automatically. Once the chapter submits them to PMI, you will receive an email verifying receipt of your claim followed by an email when the PDU claim is approved. It may take 2-3 weeks to process, submit, and get approval.

Keep Track of Your PDUs

You are responsible to ensure your professional development credits are recorded at the PMI level and you should check your account regularly to be sure all you PDUs have been recorded. If you forget to have your badge scanned at the door or the chapter experiences technical difficulties submitting the scans, you can self-report them. There are two ways to self-report PDUs for chapter meetings and annual conferences, entering them as “Organization Meetings,” or “Course/Training.”

Ideally, you want to report the PDUs as Organization Meetings. On some occasions, the PMI Continuing Certification Requirements System (CCRS) may decline PDUs under Organization Meetings but can accept it under Courses and Training.

Use this link for full instructions to submit PDUs for Organization Meetings; and this one for Courses & Training.

Keep reading for a step-by-step example of a recent PDU claim for September’s Chapter Meeting.

Step 1: Go to https://ccrs.pmi.org and login into PMI CCRS.

 

Step 2: Select ‘Report PDUs’ under Dashboard.

 

Step 3: Select ‘Organization Meetings’ under Education.

 

Step 4: Fill out the Meeting or Conference Information and submit your PDUs claim.

Organization/Host: In the text field, type out ‘PMI Portland’ and a drop-down menu will appear. Select “(C031) PMI Portland Chapter.”

 

Title: In the text field, type out a description. For example, ‘CHAPTER EDUCATIONAL & DINNER MEETING - SEP 25, 2018’.

IMPORTANT! A drop-down menu may appear. If the information matches the description of the educational course, you may select it. However, in some cases your choice from the drop-down may fail as some PMI events were retired, but remain listed. You are better off typing in your own description.

 

Meeting Number and Description: Optional, you can leave empty or fill in details.

 

Date Started and Date Completed: Select the started and completed dates. In this example, 09/25/2018. URL: Optional, leave empty unless you have a specific URL to use.

 

PDUs Claimed: Enter the PDU as a whole or incremental number. Be sure to check your education event for allowable PDUs. PMI allows up to two total PDUs for a Chapter Meeting or each education training session.

 

Submit: Check the box “I agree this claim is accurate” and click the Submit button.

Be sure to keep a record of your education training (i.e. chapter meeting or conference receipt, or confirmation) in case of an audit.

 

Step 5: Once approved, you will receive two emails from the Project Management Institute. One confirms your PDU claim submission; the second confirms your claim has been approved. Double-check your “Claim History” to be sure your PDUs are accurately documented.

PMI Portland Outreach

By Regina Koli, Director of Academic Outreach

News from PMI Portland

We have a surprise for you! The Project Management Institute has donated a PMI Chapter Milestone Professional Development Scholarship in honor of the PMI Portland Chapter for reaching its 35-year milestone! The scholarship, valued up to US$3,000, may be awarded in whole or in part to one or more individuals. To apply for this scholarship, please complete the Professional Development and Training Scholarship Application. When you complete the application, you will be considered for all professional development scholarships for which you meet the criteria, so separate applications are not required. Find out more about the scholarship guidelines here and apply! Final deadline for the PMI Portland 35-year Milestone Scholarship is July 1, 2018.

In the Know with PMIEF News

Wondering how a scholarship might help you? Meet Jitendra Shinde, recipient of a PMIEF professional development scholarship, to learn more about how it changed her life. See PMIEF News.

News from PMI Academic Network

By Faculty For Faculty…download your copy here. The PMI Curriculum and Resources offer 30 knowledge modules that can be combined in different ways to guide the design of up to eight courses in project management. Designed “by faculty for faculty,” the guidelines and teaching resources can be used to introduce a basic course or integrate project management topics and concepts into existing courses. The flexible guidelines and teaching materials can be customized to reflect your disciplinary focus, teaching approach, student profile, and course structure.


About the Author

koli regina

Regina Koli, Director of Academic Outreach

Regina is an industry professional in Finance, Insurance and Mortgage. She held professional licenses in the finance industry, series 6 and 63, and also health and Life. Her mortgage and banking industry background stems from a Teller to Senior Banker to Home Equity and 1st mortgage underwriter. Regina earned her CAPM during her studies  at The Oregon Institute of Technology then graduated and holds a BS in Operations Management. Additional certifications include Business Analysis, and Agile methodologies. She looks forward to bringing the knowledge of project management and PMI into our local colleges and universities.

PMI Portland Outreach

By Regina Koli, Director of Academic Outreach

News from PMI Portland

It’s that time again! PMI Portland is sponsoring an Academic Scholarship up to US $2,500 for 2-year, 4-year and graduate students attending an accredited academic institution pursuing degrees in project management or a related project management programs. To apply for this scholarship, complete the Academic Application for Undergraduates and Graduates. When you complete this application, you will be considered for all academic scholarships for which you meet the criteria, so separate applications are not required for individual scholarships. The application opens on January 1, 2018, and closes on May 1, 2018. All notification of application status will be made to the email address you provide in your scholarship application. Find out more about the scholarship guidelines here and apply! Deadline is May 1, 2018.

And we have a surprise for you! The Project Management Institute has donated a PMI Chapter Milestone Professional Development Scholarship in honor of the PMI Portland Chapter for reaching its 35-year milestone! The scholarship, valued up to US $3,000, may be awarded in whole or in part to one or more individuals. To apply for this scholarship, please complete the Professional Development and Training Scholarship Application. When you complete the application, you will be considered for all professional development scholarships for which you meet the criteria, so separate applications are not required. Find out more about the scholarship guidelines here and apply! Deadlines are April 1, 2018, and July 1, 2018. You heard it here, don’t wait apply to both today!

News from PMI Academic Network

By Faculty For Faculty…download your copy here. The PMI Curriculum and Resources offer 30 knowledge modules that can be combined in different ways to guide the design of up to eight courses in project management. Designed “by faculty for faculty,” the guidelines and teaching resources can be used to introduce a basic course or integrate project management topics and concepts into existing courses. The flexible guidelines and teaching materials can be customized to reflect your disciplinary focus, teaching approach, student profile, and course structure.

In the Know with PMIEF News

Lean more here How a PMIEF Scholarship Boosted My Confidence, Opened New Doors and Took My Career to Another Level and meet Jitendra Shinde, the recipient of a PMIEF professional development scholarship. It’s not too late to apply!


About the Author

koli regina

Regina Koli, Director of Academic Outreach

Regina is an industry professional in Finance, Insurance and Mortgage. She held professional licenses in the finance industry, series 6 and 63, and also health and Life. Her mortgage and banking industry background stems from a Teller to Senior Banker to Home Equity and 1st mortgage underwriter. Regina earned her CAPM during her studies  at The Oregon Institute of Technology then graduated and holds a BS in Operations Management. Additional certifications include Business Analysis, and Agile methodologies. She looks forward to bringing the knowledge of project management and PMI into our local colleges and universities

PMI Portland Outreach

By Regina Koli, Director of Academic Outreach

PMI Portland Academic Scholarship for Undergraduates and Graduates

It’s that time again! PMI Portland is sponsoring an Academic Scholarship up to US $2,500 for 2-year, 4-year and graduate students attending an accredited academic institution pursuing degrees in project management or a related project management programs. To apply for this scholarship, complete the Academic Application for Undergraduates and Graduates. When you complete this application, you will be considered for all academic scholarships for which you meet the criteria, so separate applications are not required for individual scholarships. The application opens on January 1, 2018 and closes on May 1, 2018. All notification of application status will be made to the email address you provide in your scholarship application. Find out more about the scholarship guidelines here and apply! Deadline is May 1, 2018.

News from PMI Academic Network

Learn more here on Pulse of the Profession, PMI’s annual global survey of project, program and portfolio managers charting the major trends in project management. PMI’s latest Pulse of the Profession ® research reinforces that employing proven project management practices leads to greater organizational success. High-performing companies waste 21 times less money than their underperforming counterparts. An analysis of the research shows that investing in actively engaged executive sponsors, avoiding scope creep and maturing program delivery capabilities are the three leading ways organizations can save money.

In the Know with PMIEF News

Learn more here about how Veteran-turned-project-manager Tersia Eaves shares a project plan for pro bono PM success. Having worked with NPower on the Speed Mentoring program since 2012, she recently developed and implemented a project plan that can be rolled out across the country; serving any number of communities. Tersia has organized this article into the major steps that it takes to build this type of program and she hopes we are able to find some use in our communities as well.

Research Request Letter

Dear PMI Members, My name is Krasimir Karamfilov, a Ph.D. in Management student at Walden

University. Over the last six months, I have been working with PMI Portland’s Academic Outreach team to secure project teams for my doctoral study. I attended the Chapter Meetings in May and November this year and spoke to many of your members. The response the study has received has been very positive and a few PMI Portland members expressed interest in participating in the study with their project teams. I need to recruit 66 project teams for the study, which will examine the effect of leaders’ endorsement of workplace fun and organizational playfulness climate on the creativity of project teams. I’m contacting you today to ask for your help on the study to the volunteers of PMI Portland and Members to ultimately procure project teams to participate in the study. Thank you for our support and assistance.

Sincerely,

Krasimir Karamfilov

Ph.D. in Management

Walden University

karamfil@hotmail.com  


About the Author

koli regina

Regina Koli, Director of Academic Outreach

Regina is an industry professional in Finance, Insurance and Mortgage. She held professional licenses in the finance industry, series 6 and 63, and also health and Life. Her mortgage and banking industry background stems from a Teller to Senior Banker to Home Equity and 1st mortgage underwriter. Regina earned her CAPM during her studies  at The Oregon Institute of Technology then graduated and holds a BS in Operations Management. Additional certifications  include Business Analysis, and Agile methodologies. She looks forward to bringing the knowledge of project management and PMI into our local colleges and universities.

Concordia University’s Jodi LaPla talks about the benefits of being a Concordia student and PMI Portland Sponsor!

PMI Portland’s sponsors are important community partners. Each sponsor has a unique role to play in Portland’s growing project management ecosystem. PMI Portland is pleased to highlight our sponsors’ contributions to our organization.

By Kerry K. Sharp

Question: Tell us about your organization.

Jodi LaPla: We are liberal arts non-profit university, and we are located in northeast Portland. Our mission is to transform society so, our students and faculty are very involved in a lot of volunteer and service projects, and they are always asking what they can do for others.

Question: What makes your organization unique?

JL: We have small class sizes and our faculty are there to teach their students first. So, the faculty know their students by name, and because of the small class sizes, they do service projects together. The faculty really look out for their students.

Question: Are the service projects for local business and organizations within the community?

JL: Yes, partner with the Oregon Food Bank, Night Strike, and The Black United Fund. We have mission trips called ABL, or Alternative Break Leadership opportunities, where we go to Seattle, WA, San Francisco, CA, Atlanta, GA, and Haiti, and potentially, this year, we will have the opportunity to go to Houston, TX.

Question: You have been a sponsor for a while. Thank you! I’ve seen you at the Chapter meetings. How long have you been a sponsor?

JL: This is our first year. Dr. Kathy Milhauser and Shawn Daley, Executive Vice President for Business Development and Innovation, were able to present this year so, we are really excited for the opportunity.

Question: What made Concordia University take that step to become a sponsor?

JL: We have a School of Management at Concordia University with our MBA, and we are really excited to take Concordia into the tech world and bring students to campus who are interested in the business side of things. PM is one of our concentrations in our MBA so, that is a focus area for our students, and a passion of Kathy’s (Milhauser) as well. We are really looking for opportunities to connect with the community.

Question: How do you support your PM students after they have graduated?

JL: We have a Career Connect department that works with students on resumes, we have a lot of networking opportunities, and over 100 alumni from our program and current students have volunteered to be part of our career database. So, if a current student or alum wants to connect with someone from our program or in PM, we have a database where we click a button and all of our PM career students pop up and also, or if there is a specific organization they want to connect with, like Nike or Intel, then they can use the database to see who from Concordia works there and in what departments. These students and alumn have volunteered to be mentors, to meet for coffee, and just support current students from Concordia.

Question: So, Concordia is a new sponsor, thank you! How do you feel being a PMI sponsor will benefit your organization?

JL: We are smaller university in northeast Portland so, some people don’t know we exist. I think this is a really good opportunity to highlight what you can gain from Concordia University as a student, and just make those connections. Even if they choose not to be a student, there may be other ways we can partner together.

Question: Why do you think other organizations like yours should sponsor PMI Portland?

JL: I think that the people who come to this conference are really excited about learning and growing and supporting their own organization. It has been really great to talk the other vendors and sponsors that are here. We have already exchanged emails and contact information with them. Just the energy at the conference has been really nice!

Question: The conference has given the sponsors an opportunity to network, and maybe partner or find other ways they can work together?

JL: Yes! I talked with a gentleman at the table next to me and he has internship opportunities. I am going to connect him with our internship coordinator at Concordia University. Hopefully, some of our students can learning what he is doing at his business and he, in turn, gets wonderful and motivated students!


About the Author

sharp kerry

Kerry K. Sharp, CAPM

Kerry has a background in IT and software testing. She is an experienced software testing manager, document manager, and technical editor/writer. Kerry holds a B.A. in Digital Technical and Culture from Washington State University Vancouver and a B.A. in Humanities from Marylhurst University. She achieved a CAPM in August 2016. Her passions include baking, cooking, technical writing, process development/improvement, and spending time with her teenage nieces.