Sponge-Worthy: Tips for obtaining Free PDUs for Continuing PMP Certification

Lo and Behold... People... I'm PMI re-certified (or almost there at least).

I completed my PMI certification in April 2004 and was expected to collect 60 PDUs in next 3 years to remain a PMI certified. Happy to share with you that I managed to acquire, report and obtain approval for 64 PDUs for the period of 2004 - 2007 and I get to carry over 4 PDUs for the next cycle. Only just I should say... razor thin gap and in time for my annual appraisal.

Next part is most important and free loader like me really enjoy - all the PDUs were obtained without spending any money other than time and fuel to travel. Honestly I did learn quite a few things on the way, which I would not have, if getting the PDUs were not a goal. So, thank you PMI for motivating me. (and of course, my employer - Software Paradigms International)

Also, getting PDUs is not very hard. It's matter of tracking it properly and then remembering to report it correctly.

In the next few paras, I'll talk about how I went about doing it and then in the next section, I will offer more avenues, I plan to explore for next cycle (and you can too!)

Being what you are: 15 PDUs

Good news... if you are project manager or play a role in managing projects. One-quarter of your work is already done.

Being a PMP certified Project Management Practitioner, I earned 5 PDUs every year. So from year 2004 - 2007, I earned 15 PDUs.

Report that under category - 2H (Practitioner of Professional Project Management Services)


Sharing your knowledge: 30 PDUs

Become a trainer, a mentor and/or a speaker on Project Management and PMP certification. You get high marks for this. Sharing and spreading the skills and knowledge of Project Management is important part of being a PMP.

I earned that as :

(a) A guest speaker on Project Management Professional training class
I spoke on how I prepared for PMP exam and took up the topic of Project Scheduling and Critical Path Calculation with the participants. (Special Credits to my colleague - Jitendra Ram here inviting me to be a guest speaker) - 10 Points

(b) Trainer for Microsoft Project 2003
I extensively use Microsoft Project for planning and tracking project resources and schedules, in addition to my employer's own Enterprise Project Management tool - spiProject. But I was surprised to learn not many project managers use MS Project effectively or if at all.

So, using some real life examples that I use on my project and armed with some advanced techniques in Microsoft Project, I trained my peers in use of MS Project. - 10 points

(c) A presenter on Project Management topic at the company strategy meeting.
My employer is in strategic partnership with several channel partners and it place special level of responsibility on end customer facing resources. My topic was the common pitfalls, I faced during my assignment and how I overcame that and specifically highlight how being a PMP and specific project management techniques helped. - 10 points


Reading and sharing - Self Learning: 15 PDUs
It helps if you are a avid reader and a good notes taker.

Over the past of couple of years, I read on project management and business. Notable of there being
- World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century by Thomas L. Friedman
- Reimagine!: Business Excellence in a Disruptive Age by Tom Peters.

Both are excellent reads and deservingly best sellers. It is possible to relate these books to several key areas in project management especially communication, resource management and risk.


Free Seminars and Local PMI Chapter Dinner Meetings: 4 PDUs

Both these events are excellent sources of earning PDUs.

I must admit about PMI Atlanta dinner, I did get lucky. My employer was the gold sponsor for the PMI monthly dinner and I got the benefit of that to attend one of most interesting seminars (How to be a better consultant/Carl Pritchard ) and show off my sales acumen. - 1 PDU.

The second seminar I attended was sponsored by Dekker Ltd. It was a half day course on Earned Value Management and how to apply MS Project and software tools from Dekker to it. It was long drive to south side of Atlanta for me, but it was worth it. Check out their website for more half day seminars.

The ones, I missed

Now, these are events, I missed reporting because I did not keep good notes on them.

• Seminar on Microsoft Project 2003 server - Atlanta Microsoft Project User Group monthly meeting in early 2005. (Worth: 1-2 PDUs)
  
  
• Free Executive Seminars by Matrix Resources. I attended and actively participated in couple of them in 2006 and 2007. (Worth: 1-2 PDUs each)

I guess that is lessons learned for next time.

Other Avenues to try
I plan to explore these avenues this cycle as well the tried and tested ones too.

• Free Webinars: Nothing better than to learn sitting at your desk. There are several vendors offering these free webinars in order to entice new customers for their products or services.
  
• Example - International Institute of Learning (IIL) has several such webinars. Check out their website - http://www.iil.com/webinars/
  
  

• Volunteering Opportunities: Find some at your local PMI chapters.

Of course, as always... .START EARLY.... !!!

That always helps to cut down on the last minute rush. Of course, you would know the benefit of planning, after all you are PMP...:)

Hope you find this blog entry shared something useful for you and should get you started on the PDU hunt...

GOOD LUCK!