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PMP Certification · Updated 2026

PMP Renewal Guide 2026 — PDUs, CCR Cycle & Deadlines

Everything you need to renew your PMP certification — how many PDUs you need, how the CCR cycle works, where to earn PDUs for free, and exactly what happens if you miss your renewal deadline.

📅 Updated: January 2026 🏆 Covers: PMP CCR programme ⏰ Read time: 12 minutes
⚡ Quick Answer

To renew your PMP, earn 60 PDUs within your 3-year CCR cycle — at least 8 in each of the three PMI Talent Triangle areas. Log them in the CCRS, then pay the renewal fee: $60 for PMI members, $150 for non-members. Miss the deadline and your certification is suspended for up to 12 months. Miss the suspension period too and your PMP expires permanently — you would need to retake the full exam.

60
PDUs required per 3-year cycle
3 yrs
CCR cycle length
$60
Renewal fee (PMI members)
8 min
PDUs per Talent Triangle area
The Basics

What Is the CCR Cycle and How Does It Work?

The Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) programme is PMI's system for ensuring PMP holders stay current with the profession. Every PMP is placed into a rolling 3-year CCR cycle the moment they pass the exam.

Your CCR cycle starts on the date you passed your PMP exam and ends exactly 3 years later — that is your renewal deadline. You need to earn and log your 60 PDUs and pay the renewal fee before that date.

Your 3-year CCR cycle at a glance
1
Year 1
Start earning PDUs — aim for 20 this year. No rush, but don't leave it all to year 3.
2
Year 2
You should have 40 PDUs logged. Keep up steady activity — webinars, reading, courses.
3
Year 3
Complete your final 20 PDUs and submit renewal with fee before your expiry date.
✓
Renewed
New 3-year cycle begins from your expiry date — not the date you renewed.
Important: Your new CCR cycle always starts from your original expiry date — not the date you submitted renewal. So renewing early does not extend your total certification window — it just ensures you stay active.

PDUs cannot be carried forward from one cycle to the next — all 60 must be earned fresh within each 3-year window. The one exception is that up to 20 excess PDUs earned in the final year of a cycle can roll over into the next cycle.

PDU Requirements

How Many PDUs Do You Need — and in What Categories?

The 60 PDUs are split across two types: Education PDUs and Giving Back PDUs. Within Education PDUs, you must meet minimum requirements across the three areas of the PMI Talent Triangle.

⚙

Ways of Working

Technical project management — predictive, agile, hybrid methods, tools and techniques.

8 PDUs
minimum required
👥

Power Skills

Leadership, communication, negotiation, stakeholder engagement, conflict resolution.

8 PDUs
minimum required
🌟

Business Acumen

Strategic alignment, benefits realisation, organisational change, finance and governance.

8 PDUs
minimum required

Education PDUs

Minimum 35 of your 60 PDUs must be Education
  • Courses from PMI Authorised Training Partners
  • Online courses (Udemy, Coursera, LinkedIn Learning) Free options
  • PMI webinars and virtual events Free
  • PMI chapter meetings and conferences Free
  • Self-directed learning — books, articles, podcasts
  • University or college courses
  • Formal training from your employer
  • Online self-paced learning programmes

Giving Back PDUs

Up to 25 of your 60 PDUs can be Giving Back
  • Working as a practitioner (up to 8 PDUs/cycle) Free
  • Volunteering for PMI or a non-profit Free
  • Creating PM content — blogs, articles, videos Free
  • Mentoring other project managers Free
  • Teaching or presenting on PM topics Free
  • Speaking at industry events or conferences Free
  • Contributing to PM research or publications

The easiest way to earn 25 free PDUs every cycle: Simply doing your job as a project manager earns up to 8 PDUs per cycle. Add volunteering (4–5 PDUs), reading/podcasts (4–6 PDUs), and PMI free webinars (6–8 PDUs) and you can hit 25 Giving Back PDUs entirely for free — meaning you only need to source 35 Education PDUs to complete your renewal.

Free PDU Sources

Where to Earn PDUs for Free in 2026

You do not need to spend hundreds of pounds on courses to renew your PMP. The majority of your 60 PDUs can be earned for free through PMI's own resources and widely available platforms.

SourcePDUs availableCostTalent Triangle area
PMI.org webinars & virtual eventsUnlimitedFree (member)All three areas
PMI chapter events4–8 / yearFreeAll three areas
Working as a PM practitionerUp to 8 / cycleFreeWays of Working
Volunteering (PMI or non-profit)UnlimitedFreePower Skills / Business Acumen
Mentoring other PMsUnlimitedFreePower Skills
Writing PM content / articlesUnlimitedFreeAll three areas
PM podcasts (self-directed learning)1 PDU per hourFreeVaries by topic
Reading PM books / articles1 PDU per hourFreeVaries by topic
YouTube PM courses and lectures1 PDU per hourFreeVaries by topic
Coursera (audit mode)VariesFree (audit)Varies by course
LinkedIn Learning (via library)VariesFree (UK libraries)All three areas
PMI Authorized Training Partner coursesVariesAll three areas
Udemy PM coursesVariesVaries by course

Pro tip — join PMI: PMI membership costs $139/year and gives you free access to PMBOK 7, the Agile Practice Guide, hundreds of webinars pre-approved for PDUs, and chapter events. If you are active in earning PDUs, membership pays for itself easily — and also saves you $90 on your renewal fee ($60 vs $150).

Step-by-Step

How to Log PDUs and Renew Your PMP — Step by Step

1
Log in to your myPMI accountGo to pmi.org and sign in. Navigate to the CCRS (Continuing Certification Requirements System) — this is your PDU dashboard. You can see your current cycle dates, PDUs logged so far and your Talent Triangle breakdown.
2
Report your PDUs as you earn themDo not wait until the end of your cycle. Log PDUs as you complete activities — courses, webinars, reading, volunteering. For each activity you will need the date, activity type, number of hours and which Talent Triangle area it covers. Keep certificates or evidence in case of audit.
3
Monitor your Talent Triangle balanceThe CCRS dashboard shows your PDU balance across all three Talent Triangle areas. Aim to keep these balanced throughout your cycle — do not let one area lag behind too far. You need a minimum of 8 in each area.
4
Apply for renewal once you hit 60 PDUsWhen your CCRS dashboard shows 60 PDUs logged with the minimums met in each area, you will see an option to apply for renewal. Click through and complete the application form.
5
Pay the renewal feePMI members pay $60 — non-members pay $150. Payment is made online through your myPMI account. Once payment is confirmed, your certification is renewed immediately and a new 3-year cycle begins from your original expiry date.
6
Download your new certificatePMI will email you a confirmation and your updated certificate will be available to download from your myPMI account. Your new expiry date will be 3 years from the previous one — not from the date of renewal.
Missing the Deadline

What Happens If You Miss Your Renewal Deadline?

This is the most important section to understand before your renewal is due. PMI has a clear three-status system and the consequences escalate quickly.

✓ Active

You have met all CCR requirements. You can use the PMP designation and appear in the PMI certification registry.

⚠ Suspended

You missed your renewal deadline. You have a 12-month grace period to complete renewal. You cannot use the PMP designation during suspension.

✗ Expired

You missed the suspension period too. Your PMP is permanently expired. You must reapply, meet all eligibility requirements and retake the full exam.

The expiry cost is enormous. Letting your PMP expire means reapplying from scratch — new application, new documentation, new $555 exam fee and months of study. The renewal fee of $60–$150 is one of the best-value investments in your career. Never let it slip.

If your PMP is currently suspended

You have 12 months from your original expiry date to complete renewal. During this time you need to earn the required PDUs for the current cycle, log them in CCRS and pay the renewal fee. Your next cycle date will not change — it still starts from the original expiry date, not from the date you got reinstated.

Audits

PMI PDU Audits — What You Need to Know

A small percentage of PMP renewal applications are selected for audit. Being audited does not mean you have done something wrong — it is random. If selected, PMI will ask you to provide documentation for the PDUs you claimed.

What to keep for each PDU activity:

  • Course certificates or completion records
  • Webinar registration confirmations and attendance records
  • Employer letters confirming volunteer or practitioner activities
  • Published articles, blog posts or presentation materials you created
  • Event registration confirmations for conferences or chapter meetings

Keep all documentation for at least 12–36 months after your renewal. For PMI Authorised Training Partner courses, PDUs are often reported automatically — reducing audit risk significantly.

FAQ

PMP Renewal — Common Questions

How many PDUs do I need to renew my PMP?
You need 60 PDUs within your 3-year CCR cycle. At least 35 must be Education PDUs and up to 25 can be Giving Back PDUs. Within Education PDUs, you must earn a minimum of 8 in each of the three PMI Talent Triangle areas: Ways of Working, Power Skills and Business Acumen.
How much does PMP renewal cost in 2026?
The PMP renewal fee in 2026 is $60 for PMI members and $150 for non-members. PMI membership costs $139/year — since it saves you $90 on the renewal fee and gives you free access to PMBOK 7, hundreds of free PDU-eligible webinars and chapter resources, membership is well worth it if you are actively maintaining your PMP.
Can I earn PDUs for free?
Yes — many of the best PDU sources are completely free. PMI members get access to hundreds of free webinars and chapter events. Working as a PM practitioner earns up to 8 PDUs per cycle. Volunteering, mentoring, writing articles and reading PM books or listening to PM podcasts all count as Giving Back PDUs at no cost. You can realistically earn 25–30 of your 60 PDUs entirely for free each cycle.
What happens if I don't renew my PMP on time?
If you miss your renewal deadline, your PMP moves to Suspended status. You have 12 months (the suspension period) to complete renewal. During suspension, you cannot use the PMP designation. If you miss the suspension period too, your PMP expires permanently — and you would need to reapply, meet all eligibility requirements again and retake the full 180-question exam. Never let this happen.
Can I carry over unused PDUs to the next cycle?
Yes — but only up to 20 excess PDUs earned in the final year of your cycle can roll over to the next cycle. PDUs earned earlier in the cycle cannot carry forward. This is a small benefit and should not influence your strategy — focus on earning a consistent 20 PDUs per year throughout the cycle rather than leaving everything to year 3.
Where do I log my PDUs?
All PDUs are logged in the CCRS — the Continuing Certification Requirements System — through your myPMI account at pmi.org. You can log PDUs at any time throughout your cycle. For each activity you record the date, activity type, number of hours and which Talent Triangle area it covers. PMI also has a mobile app that lets you track and report PDUs on the go.
Do online courses count for PDUs?
Yes — online courses are fully accepted by PMI for Education PDUs. This includes courses from PMI Authorised Training Partners, Udemy, Coursera, LinkedIn Learning and self-directed online learning. One hour of qualifying learning activity equals one PDU. For self-directed activities like reading or podcasts, you self-report the hours — PMI may ask for documentation if audited.
When does my CCR cycle start?
Your CCR cycle starts on the date you passed your PMP exam. It ends exactly 3 years later — that is your renewal deadline. After renewal, the new cycle starts from your original expiry date, not from the date you renewed. You can find your exact cycle dates by logging into your myPMI account and checking the CCRS dashboard.

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