Q: How soon after passing my PMP exam can I begin accumulating PDUs?
A: Immediately after you've passed the exam you can begin accumulating PDUs. For example: If you pass your exam at 2:00pm on 5/1/01 and attend a risk workshop at 2:30pm on the same day, you can immediately record PDUs at the rate of 1 PDU per 1 hour of workshop.

Q: What is PMI's PDU reporting period?
A: PMI's 3-year reporting period for PDUs begins January 1 of the first year following the year you passed your PMP exam and ends December 31 three years later. For example: If you pass your PMP exam on 5/1/01 your PDU reporting period begins on January 1, 2002 and ends December 31, 2004.

Q: Does this mean I actually have more than 3 years in which to earn my PDUs?
A: Yes, but only in your first PDU cycle. Once you've entered your 3-year cycle period beginning in January of the year following your PMP exam, you'll have exactly three years in each successive cycle. For example: If you pass your PMP exam on 1/2/01, you will have almost a full year before your 3-year cycle starts on 1/1/02 in which to report your first 60 PDUs. In each successive cycle, you will have exactly three years. If you pass your exam on 12/30/01 your PDU cycle will begin on 1/1/02.

Q: Why is this?
A: With everyone's PDU cycle beginning on the first of a given year, it is much more manageable for PMI to administer the program. Therefore, they have provided a buffer time (or bonus time) between the time a person passes their exam and the time their 3-year cycle begins.

Q: Where can I find out more about PDUs?
A: http://www.pmi.org/info/PDC_CCRFAQs.asp

Q: Who is responsible for submitting my PDUs?
A: Each PMP is personally responsible for submitting their own PDUs and for maintaining backup to support those PDUs -- see Web site listed above.

Q: If I've earned more than 60 PDUs can I carry some of them over into the next PDU cycle?
A: Up to 20 PDUs can be carried over to your next PDU cycle only if those PDUs were earned in the third cycle year. For example: If your first cycle year begins 1/1/01, and you earn 60 PDUs during that calendar year, they would fulfill your 60-PDU requirement for the 3-year cycle ending 12/31/03. However, any PDUs you earn in year 2 of your first cycle (1/1/02-12/31/02) would not carry forward to the next cycle. Up to 20 PDUs earned in year 3 (01/01/03-12/31/03) of your first cycle -- over the 60 already earned -- would carry forward to the next cycle.

Any other questions, ask our PDU Experts