After earning the PMP, you still need to maintain the certification. PMP is not a lifetime credential. Each certification cycle lasts 3 years, and certification holders need to earn 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs), report them, and complete the renewal process to keep the PMP active.

If your PMP renewal date is approaching, start by logging in to myPMI to check the PDUs you have already earned, your cycle end date and your current certification status. The PMP renewal process mainly involves earning the required PDUs, reporting them to PMI and completing the renewal payment.

1. PMP renewal steps

Under PMI’s current Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) process, PMP renewal can be broken into three practical steps: earn the required PDUs, report your PDUs, and complete the certification renewal payment.

1.1 Earn 60 PDUs within the 3-year cycle

A PMP certification holder needs 60 PDUs in each 3-year certification cycle. At least 35 PDUs must come from Education, including a minimum of 8 PDUs in each of the three PMI Talent Triangle areas.

Category	PMP Renewal Requirement
Total PDUs	60
Education	Minimum 35 PDUs
Ways of Working	Minimum 8 PDUs
Power Skills	Minimum 8 PDUs
Business Acumen	Minimum 8 PDUs
Giving Back	Maximum 25 PDUs
Working as a Professional	Maximum 8 PDUs (counts toward Giving Back)

 

Giving Back is optional. If all 60 PDUs come from eligible Education activities and the Talent Triangle minimums are met, you can still satisfy the PMP renewal requirements.

1.2 Report your PDUs to PMI

After completing an eligible learning or professional activity, you can report the PDUs through the Continuing Certification Renewal System (CCRS) from your PMI dashboard. Depending on the activity, you may need to enter details such as the activity title, provider, dates, number of PDUs and the relevant Talent Triangle allocation.

Reporting PDUs as you earn them is usually easier than reconstructing three years of records just before renewal. PMI may audit PDU claims, so keep certificates of completion, attendance records, notes or other supporting documents where relevant.

1.3 Complete the PMP renewal

Once you have met the PDU requirements, follow the instructions in your PMI account to complete the certification renewal and payment. The PMP certification renewal fee and the PMI membership renewal fee are separate charges. Renewing your PMI membership does not automatically renew your PMP certification.

2. What is a PMP PDU?

PDU stands for Professional Development Unit. PMI uses PDUs to measure eligible continuing learning and professional service activities. One hour of an eligible activity equals 1 PDU, and the smallest reportable increment is 0.25 PDU, equivalent to 15 minutes.

PDUs are different from the 35 hours of project management education or training required to apply for the PMP exam. The 35-hour requirement is part of PMP eligibility; PDUs are earned after certification to maintain and renew the credential.

3. How can you earn PDUs for PMP renewal?

You do not have to earn all PMP PDUs through paid courses. PMI accepts a range of Education and Giving Back activities, so you can build a renewal plan around your work and learning schedule.

3.1 Courses and professional training

Eligible courses and training related to project management, Agile, risk management, leadership, business strategy and other relevant topics can count toward Education PDUs. Learning may include in-person courses, virtual training, online courses, internal corporate training and other educational events.

3.2 Webinars and online learning

Eligible webinars, recorded sessions, podcasts, online courses and other digital learning can count as Education activities. PMI also offers online courses, webinars and other learning resources that can help certification holders earn PDUs.

3.3 Reading

Reading books, articles, white papers, research or professional blogs related to project management can also qualify for Education PDUs. Keep basic records of what you read and the time spent, in case supporting evidence is required.

3.4 Informal Learning

Mentoring sessions, panel discussions, lunch-and-learn sessions and other structured professional discussions may qualify as learning activities when they meet PMI’s requirements.

3.5 Giving Back to the Profession

Activities such as speaking, creating professional content, mentoring, volunteering and Working as a Professional can contribute Giving Back PDUs. For PMP, Giving Back is capped at 25 PDUs per cycle, and Working as a Professional can contribute up to 8 PDUs within that limit.

4. How should PMP renewal PDUs be allocated?

Beyond the total of 60 PDUs, the Education portion must also meet PMI Talent Triangle requirements. The three areas are Ways of Working, Power Skills and Business Acumen.

Talent Triangle	Typical Learning Topics
Ways of Working	Predictive, Agile and Hybrid approaches; planning, risk management, scheduling and other project delivery practices.
Power Skills	Leadership, communication, negotiation, conflict management, stakeholder management and team collaboration.
Business Acumen	Business strategy, financial awareness, organisational change, benefits management and business decision-making.

 

You need at least 8 PDUs in each Talent Triangle area, while total Education PDUs must be at least 35. When planning your PMP renewal PDUs, check both the overall total and the minimum requirement for each skill area.

5. How much is the PMP renewal fee?

The PMP renewal fee is not a single fixed price worldwide. PMI’s April 2026 CCR Handbook states that certification renewal fees are subject to membership status and regional pricing. Once you meet the PDU requirements, log in to myPMI and select Renew Certification to see the amount that applies to your account.

For that reason, it is better not to rely only on older articles that still quote fixed US$60 / US$150 renewal fees. Use the amount shown in myPMI at the time you renew.

5.1 PMI membership fee

PMI’s official global membership page currently lists Professional Membership at US$139 per year, although pricing can vary by region and checkout page. Membership includes benefits such as discounts on certification renewal, selected eLearning and events, as well as opportunities to earn PDUs.

If you also join the PMI Hong Kong Chapter, the official page currently lists an annual fee of US$20, with a note that prices may vary. Chapter membership is a separate option and can only be purchased by an existing PMI member.

PMI membership fees and PMP certification renewal fees are separate charges and do not replace one another.

6. What if your PMP reaches its renewal date without being renewed?

First check whether your certification status is Suspended or already Expired. The next steps are different for the two statuses.

6.1 Suspended Status: 12 months to complete renewal

If you do not satisfy the CCR requirements by the end of your 3-year cycle, your PMP certification moves into Suspended Status for 1 year (12 months). During this period, you can still earn the missing PDUs and complete the renewal process, but you may not represent yourself as a PMP certification holder or use the PMP designation.

6.2 Expired Status: reapplication and exam required

If you still do not complete the renewal process during the 12-month suspension period, the certification moves into Expired Status. At that stage, you can no longer restore it simply by adding missing PDUs. To become an active PMP certification holder again, you need to submit a new application, pay the applicable fees and retake the PMP examination.

7. Can extra PDUs be carried over to the next cycle?

Yes, but there is a limit. For PMP, only additional PDUs earned during the final 12 months of the current certification cycle can be transferred to the next cycle, up to a maximum of 20 PDUs.

If you complete the required 60 PDUs early, you can continue learning. However, if you want extra PDUs to count toward the next cycle, check that they were earned within the period allowed under PMI’s rollover policy.

8. PMP renewal FAQs

8.1 Is PMP a lifetime certification?

No. The PMP certification cycle is 3 years. To maintain Active Status, certification holders need to earn 60 PDUs and complete the renewal requirements within each cycle.

8.2 Do I need to retake the PMP exam every time I renew?

No. Normal PMP renewal does not require you to retake the exam. A new application and examination are required only if the certification remains unrenewed through the 12-month Suspended Status period and moves into Expired Status.

8.3 Do I need to take a 60-PDU course to renew PMP?

No. PMI accepts a range of eligible Education and Giving Back activities, including courses, webinars, digital learning, reading, mentoring, volunteering and certain professional activities.

8.4 Is the PMP renewal fee fixed?

No. PMI’s current policy states that renewal fees are subject to membership status and regional pricing. Check myPMI for the amount that applies when you renew.

8.5 Does renewing PMI membership also renew my PMP?

No. PMI membership renewal and PMP certification renewal are separate processes with separate fees.

9. Plan your PMP renewal early to avoid a break in certification status

You do not need to wait until the end of the certification cycle to start PMP renewal planning. Report eligible learning and professional activities as you complete them, and check your progress across the Talent Triangle from time to time. Once the requirements are met, follow the renewal instructions in your PMI account.

KORNERSTONE is a PMI Authorized Training Partner and currently offers a 5-day PMP: Project Management Professional course in Hong Kong.

If you would like to learn more about PMP training, PDU-related professional learning, eligibility, class schedules or fees, you can contact the KORNERSTONE training team through Course Enquiry.