How I Helped a Colleague Earn 60 PDUs in 30 Days – And You Can Too

A few weeks ago, a colleague called me in a panic. His PMP certification renewal was coming up, and he still needed all 60 PDUs. Naturally, as someone who lives and breathes project management, I couldn’t resist helping him. With some strategic thinking and a solid plan, we finished it in just 30 days. Here’s how we made it work—and how you can, too.

It All Starts with Awareness

The first thing I asked him to do was log into his PMI account. Before tackling the challenge, please know where you stand. How many PDUs do you already have? How much time do you have left? And most importantly, where are the gaps? Once we knew this, we could focus our energy where needed.

Understand the Rules

I’ve seen far too many people waste time chasing PDUs in ways that don’t align with PMI’s guidelines. So, we took a quick dive into the CCR Handbook. It’s not the most exciting read, but knowing what counts (and what doesn’t) is crucial. It’s a good reminder of the PMI Talent Triangle: Ways of Working, Power Skills, and Business Acumen. You’ll need at least 8 PDUs in each of these categories.

Set a Goal and a Plan

With only 30 days to go, we couldn’t afford to wing it. We created a simple schedule to break the work into manageable chunks. We focused on leveraging activities that are already part of his daily routine because time is the scarcest resource for any project manager.

Finding PDUs in Everyday Activities

This was the fun part. You’d be surprised how many PDUs you can earn by reflecting on your day-to-day work. For example, if you’re managing projects, mentoring colleagues, or volunteering for a nonprofit, you already do activities that count. All you need to do is document them and submit them to PMI.

Leverage Digital Tools

One of my favorite PDU hacks is using podcasts and webinars. We found a few high-quality resources that helped him meet his requirements and were genuinely interesting. Premium podcasts, like those from PDUCast, were a lifesaver. He could listen during his commute or while walking the dog, turning downtime into productive learning time.

Don’t Underestimate Local PMI Events

I encouraged him to check out his local PMI chapter. Many chapters host events that count for PDUs and offer great networking opportunities. He ended up attending a few virtual sessions, which were surprisingly insightful.

Document, Submit, Repeat

If there’s one thing project managers excel at, it’s documentation. Keeping track of completed activities and logging them in PMI’s system is the most straightforward part of the process—but it’s also where people tend to procrastinate. We made it a weekly ritual, so nothing was left to the last minute.

A Continuous Process

After he successfully renewed his certification (with a couple of days to spare!), we talked about how to avoid the same crunch next time. The key takeaway? Don’t stop earning PDUs just because your renewal is complete. Build them into your routine, and you will thank them in the future.

Final Thoughts

If you’re staring down the 60-PDU challenge and feeling overwhelmed, don’t stress. It's entirely doable with a clear plan, a bit of creativity, and some well-chosen resources. I’ve seen it firsthand. Helping my colleague navigate this process reminded me why I’m so passionate about project management in the first place: it’s all about solving problems and delivering results.

So, what’s stopping you? Log in, take stock, and start earning. You’ve got this. And if you ever need guidance, you know where to find me!

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