When to Renew PMP / PMI-ACP Certification?

This seems a dump question at first glance. The answer is obviously

One should renew the PMP / PMI-ACP® certification when one has accumulated the required number of PDU (60 for PMP; 30 for PMI-ACP®) and before the 3-year re-certification period is over.

The above is what’s written in the PMP Handbook / PMI-ACP® Handbook. However, what if one has accumulated enough PDU for the re-certification cycle in the second (even first) year of getting certified? The certification handbooks offer little elaboration in this regards. This article is especially written for those who would like to know when is the best time to renew their PMI certifications.

When to renew PMP / PMI-ACP® Certification?

The answer is: once you have accumulated your required PDU (Professional Development Units). The new expiry date of your certification is 3 years from the original expiry date of your Certification (NOT the date of finishing your certification renewal process). It is possible that you have accumulated all the required PDU in the first year and finish the re-certification process early on so that you do not have to bother with the re-certification for several years!

Re-Certification in Details

Though it is feasible to report PDU by email or fax, it is highly advisable to log in your PMI account and report the PDU online. Once you have reported enough number of PDU for your certification, you will receive an email from PMI asking you to renew your certification regardless of where you are at the re-certification cycle with the following email.

You are eligible to renew your PMP Credential

Dear [name],

Congratulations on accumulating the necessary professional development units (PDUs) to renew your Project Management Professional (PMP) Credential.

To complete the renewal process and submit payment, please log in to https://certification.pmi.org/. Once you are logged in, click on the link below the PMP Credential to begin the process.

Please contact the Customer Care Centre in your region if you have questions or concerns.

Thank you,
PMI Customer Care

You can immediately log on to your PMI account and click “renew” to begin your re-certification process. The process is in fact quite a simple one in which you are asked to check your information, agree to the terms and conditions and pay the required re-certification fee of US$60. Then you will have your certification extended for 3 years from the original expiry date of your certification. You will receive the following email almost immediately:

Congratulations! You have renewed your PMP Credential

Dear [name],

Congratulations on renewing the Project Management Professional (PMP)® Credential.

You will receive your certificate package with your certificate within eight weeks. At your earliest convenience, please log in to your myPMI account and click on “Edit My Profile” to verify or update your preferred mailing address in our system. You may now access an online digital version of your renewal certificate.

Your certification status will remain active for the three-year cycle during which time you are required to adhere to the Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program. Under the CCR program, you need to earn and report professional development units (PDUs) to maintain your credential.

There are many ways to earn PDUs which may include:

• Practicing project management
• Reading books, being mentored, speaking or presenting
• Volunteering for PMI or a non-profit organization
• Writing an article for PMI’s Knowledge Shelf or other project management publications
• Taking PMI Publication Quizzes
• Engaging in PMI’s e-learning on demand offerings
• Attending PMI’s SeminarsWorld® or eSeminarsWorld® courses
• Attending PMI’s global congresses, chapter events
• Participating in PMI’s communities of practice activities
• Taking a class offered by PMI Authorized Training Partners (R.E.P.s) or other institutions

To obtain a receipt of your payment, log in to the online certification system at https://certification.pmi.org/ and click on “My Information” on the left navigation bar, then click on “View My Orders” and print your receipt.

Please contact the Customer Care Centre in your region if you have questions or concerns.

Thank you,
PMI Customer Care

The new certificate for your Certification will arrive in around 4-8 weeks. Meanwhile, you can also log in your PMI account to download an electronic copy of your Certificate. The eligibility period of your certification printed on the new certificate will be from the date on which you passed the exam to the new extended end date after your re-certification (i.e. 6 years from the date you passed the exam if you have finished the requirements of the first re-certification cycle). This certificate means to supersede your original certificate.

Renewed PMP Certificate

Additional Information on PMI Re-certification

PMI is so kind as to send out reminder emails asking you to earn enough PDU for your re-certification. The following is the email I received one year after getting PMP certified:

You have two years left in your PMI certification cycle

Dear [name],

Please review the Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program to ensure you are on track to earn the professional development units (PDUs) you need to maintain your PMP credential.

Your online transcript indicates that you currently have 35.25 PDUs approved. Use the online CCR system to report and track your PDUs. Report your PDUs as you earn them to keep your records up to date.

Please note, if you already have acquired the necessary number of PDUs to renew your credential, you are still receiving this email because you have not yet completed the renewal process. If you have acquired the necessary number of PDUs, please log in to the online certification system at https://certification.pmi.org/. Once logged in, click the ‘Begin the renewal process’ link under the credential you are renewing.

TIPS FOR EARNING PDUs

• Watch a video to help you get started
• Need PDUs? Review the many activities that qualify for PDUs
• Report your PDUs or check your PDU status online
• Review PDU categories and guidelines in your respective handbook

Your PMI membership can help you save up to 20% on PMI professional development courses, events and e-learning. Renew your PMI membership annually or join now to maintain access to discounts on these and other PDU-earning opportunities.

Please contact the Customer Care Centre in your region if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you,

PMI Customer Care

Also, even if you cannot get all the required PDU within the 3-year re-certification cycle, PMI will allow up to 1 year of grace period (termed as “suspended status”) so that you can make up for the remaining PDU. Once you have accumulated your required PDU and completed the re-certification process, your certification status will return to “active” and the extended period will be calculated from the original expiry date of your previous PMP certification cycle – that is you have less time in this re-certification cycle to collect PDU.