The PMI Talent Triangle® Sets PDU Requirements

Project Management Institute (PMI) oversees multiple project management certification programs, such as the Project Management Professional (PMP)®. Every PMI certification has specific Professional Development Unit (PDU) requirements for credential maintenance. All PDU work is tracked against the three branches of the PMI Talent Triangle®: Ways of Working, Power Skills, and Business Acumen.

On this page:

• Professional Development Units Explained
• PMI Talent Triangle PDU Requirements
• PMI Talent Triangle PDU Requirements by PMI Certification
• What Happens if You Don’t Meet the Minimum PMI Talent Triangle Requirements
• How to Meet the Minimum PMI Talent Triangle Requirements
• Takeaways

Professional Development Units Explained

PMI’s Professional Development Unit (PDU) is the measurement of skills and experience connected to continuing education in project management and its related specialty disciplines, such as Agile, Risk, and Scheduling. It is used for all PMI certifications.

PMI PDU Definition

PMI defines a PDU as: “…one-hour block of time that you spend learning, teaching others, or volunteering.” The PMI Certification Requirements Handbook provides the most current PMI Talent Triangle PDU requirements.

How to Calculate PDU

For all PMI certificates, professional development time is converted into PDU increments with the formula: 1 Hour (60 minutes) = 1 PDU.

Access the PMI Certification Requirements Handbook for the PMI certification renewal cycle and PDU requirements.

PMI Talent Triangle PDU Requirements

The PMI Talent Triangle® PDU requirements are a framework to guide continuous professional development for project managers. The PMI Talent Triangle® branches of project management development are Ways of Working, Power Skills, and Business Acumen.

PMI Talent Triangle Evolution

Many PMI Talent Triangle references include the categories of Technical, Leadership, and Strategic and Business Management domains. However, PMI updated the PMI Talent Triangle in 2022 to be inclusive of Agile and Hybrid Practices in addition to today’s most in-demand skills.  

Use the PMI Continuing Certification Renewal System (CCRS) to report your PDU activities based upon the PMI Talent Triangle categories. Learn more about “How to Claim PDUs for your PMI Certification” from the Project Management Academy Resource Center.

PMI Talent Triangle Requirement | Ways of Working

The PMI Talent Triangle branch formerly called “Technical Project Management” is now “Ways of Working.” There are many ways to work in project management including but not limited to waterfall, design thinking, and agile. PMI encourages project professionals “…to master as many ways of working as they can – so they can apply the right technique at the right time, delivering winning results.”

PMI Talent Triangle Requirement | Power Skills

A second PMI Talent Triangle branch is “Power Skills,” formerly called “Leadership.” In all ways of working, project managers must be able to collaborate and communicate with a diverse set of stakeholders.

PMI Talent Triangle Requirement | Business Acumen

The PMI Talent Triangle is completed by the “Business Acumen” branch, previously “Strategic and Business Management.” PMI describes this branch as a project managers’ ability to “…cultivate effective decision-making and understand how their projects align with the big picture of broader organizational strategy and global trends.”

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PMI Talent Triangle PDU Requirements by PMI Certification

Always reference the PMI Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) Handbook for the most recent requirement updates. Note different PMI certifications have different PDU requirements, but that all use the PMI Talent Triangle framework.

Go to the PMI Continuing Certification Renewal System (CCRS) to report PDUs for all PMI certifications.

What Happens if You Don’t Meet the Minimum PMI Talent Triangle Requirements

Upon failure to earn enough PDU credits within a renewal cycle, your PMI certification will be suspended for up to twelve months which provides you the opportunity to earn the remaining hours needed to meet the requirements. At the end of the suspension, if you still do not meet the overall hour requirement or the PMI Talent Triangle Requirements, your PMI certification expires.

How to Meet the Minimum PMI Talent Triangle Requirements

For your PMP or other PMI credentials, check out the PMAccelerate program for webinars and other resources eligible for PDU credit. Additionally, Project Management Academy’s “PMI Talent Triangle Bundle” is a 3-day virtual course for students aimed at growing your project management core competencies while meeting the PMI Talent Triangle PDU requirements.

Takeaways

Each PMI certification requires a specific number of PDU credits per renewal cycle yet, how to calculate PDU credits is the same for all (1 hour = 1 PDU). PMI credentials have PDU requirements organized by the PMI Talent Triangle skill areas of Ways of Working (“Technical”), Power Skills (“Leadership”), and Business Acumen (“Strategic and Business Management”).

For your PMP or other PMI project management certifications, check out offerings from Project Management Academy, like the PMAccelerate program and PMI Talent Triangle Bundle to grow your skills while earning needed PDU credits. Failure to submit valid PDU claims or to meet PDU requirements within a renewal period can lead to a suspension or loss of your PMI certification status. So, be sure to use the PMI Continuing Certification Renewal System (CCRS) to report PDUs and keep all of your PMI certifications active.

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