Members of the global professional association the Project Management Institute (PMI) will already be familiar with the PMI’s certification program, which includes PMP (Project Management Professional) and other project-related PMI credentials such as PgMP for program management, PMI-SP for scheduling, and PMI-RMP for risk management. To maintain certification you are required to earn a specified number of Professional Development Units, or PDUs, to keep that credential.
PMI has developed six categories of PDUs in which one can obtain credits. Category C is Self-Directed Learning, which is one of the three Educational categories.
PDU Category C covers “self-directed personalized educational experiences involving individual research or study”. Or in simpler words: self-directed learning. Activities in this PDU category can include reading credential related articles, books, or instructional materials; utilising interactive CDs; watching credential related videos or listening to podcasts (such as The PM Podcast); participating in formal credential related discussions with others such as coworkers, consultants, or clients; or being mentored by a colleague, coworker, or consultant in a credential related topic.
Each hour of activity and each PDU claimed must be related to the area of project management, program management, project scheduling, or project risk; meet a specific purpose; and use well-informed resources. One hour of self-directed learning is equal to an hour of professional development.
The number of PDUs that can be reported for Category C is limited to a maximum of 30 PDUs (out of a total 60 you need to attain) toward the PMP or PgMP credentials, or 15 (out of 30) toward the PMI-SP or PMI-RPM credentials over the three-year cycle.
To claim a PDU in Category C you needs to provide evidence of the accomplished activities for self-directed learning. This may include copies of research or study results, or dates and notes corresponding to discussions, readings, and mentorships.