PDU Tip: Earning PDUs By Creating New Knowledge
In our current series of PDU Tips we are exploring the many ways you can earn PDUs. Today we look at how you can gain PDUs by creating new project management knowledge.
“New knowledge”? That sounds complicated, doesn’t it? Actually, there is a lot you can do to earn PDUs in this area, and it is not as hard as it sounds. Best of all, creating new knowledge is a way to earn free PDUs.
Qualifying activities in this category include authoring or co-authoring articles and books, but you don’t have to be Shakespeare or J. K. Rowling to be able to claim credit towards your PDU total.
Writing articles for Project Management Institute's (PMI)® Knowledge Shelf, based on your area of expertise, also counts. You could contribute an article to a professional or company blog, or to an electronic newsletter. Writing for your Chapter newsletter is a great way to get started. Think about the types of things you enjoy and are good at, and write about that. For example, if you are particularly interested in risk management, put together an article about your five top tips for managing risk.
If you are really stuck for ideas, how about writing a case study about the project you are working on or how your company manages projects?
If writing isn’t your strong point, you can also create knowledge by serving as a speaker at events. You could present a webinar or podcast, or create and present a project management course. Even developing the content for your presentation counts towards your PDU total. If the thought of standing up in front of a group worries you, how about starting by moderating a panel discussion for your Chapter or professional project management group?
The rule is that every hour spent preparing and delivering these activities is equal to one PDU. The PDUs you get by working on items like this count towards Category D, which is part of the ‘Giving Back to the Profession’ categories. As a Project Management Professional (PMP)® credential holder, you will need 60 PDUs every three years for your recertification cycle. The PDUs claimed in Category D for creating new knowledge count toward the 45 PDU maximum for categories D, E and F.
In next week’s tip we’ll be looking at how you can earn PDUs through self-study.