Congratulations! You passed your PMP exam! You have now joined the ranks of professional project managers who have earned the esteemed and highly prized international project management designation. Earning your PMP is a big deal because earning it took a lot of effort!
So what now? Well, for one thing, many project managers realize that earning this highly coveted accreditation means that they are on the way to becoming “a project hero”, as PMI puts it. Yes, those three block letters following your name tells the world that you are serious about this project management thing and you are taking your project game to the next level.
But, have you given any thought to how you will maintain your PMP certification? The PMI Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) countdown begins the moment you earn your accreditation. If you don’t maintain it, you will lose it and may have to redo the PMP exam to be reinstated – and you wouldn’t want that!
To maintain your PMP, you must earn 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs) every three years. The CCR guidelines are on the PMI website http://www.pmi.org/certification/maintain.aspx. Most, if not all, PMPs are already aware that the guidelines were recently updated to give emphasis to the education category and the specific skills sought-after by employers; a combination of technical, leadership and business/strategic management skills. In a nutshell, 60% of your PDUs must now be focused on your PM educational pursuits.
The fact is that learning and training is an important component of your project management arsenal. It allows you to develop new skills, acquire new techniques, learn to use new technologies and remain relevant in an ever-evolving industry. Fulfilling the PMI CCR obligations can be costly. You could spend thousands of dollars per CCR cycle on education alone. While there’s nothing wrong with that, not everyone is able to afford the out-of-pocket costs or have the opportunity to offset the charges through their company’s training budget. Although there are other affordable alternatives available, nothing beats free!
There are a host of free PDU learning and training activities available via PMI for paying members. There are also free educational PDUs available from other sources via sponsored webinars/ podcasts. However, they are usually thinly veiled marketing tools aimed at attracting potential customers for products and services (which are not free). While there is nothing wrong with this approach, be prepared that you have now been added to their list of prospects for marketing purposes.
If you are seeking another source to acquire some training at absolutely no cost to you, this article is for you. Recently I stumbled on an excellent source for PMPs to obtain hundreds of free education PDUs: the library! Many people are probably already aware of it but, I have to admit, I was caught off-guard when I found a treasure trove of project related training courses, free of cost. My local library in a Toronto suburb offers “six-week courses that are taught by college instructors and experts in the field, ensuring a high-quality, high-impact educational experience”. The courses are free, interactive, instructor-led and online. Each course offers 2 lessons per week, for six weeks. The lessons are structured around specific topics and are supported by videos and/or other resources. You are able to interact with other students and the instructor through discussion forums. To top it off all PM courses have been reviewed and pre-approved for PDUs through PMI to ensure that they meet the expectations for PM professional development. Each course offers credentialed attendees 24 PDUs. Even if you are not yet a PMP, you can attend the online course to enhance your project management skills and knowledge. Oh, and did I already mention that it was free?!!!
The courses cover a range of topics that align with the PMI Talent Triangle. Here is a small sample of the offerings:
- Project Management Fundamentals – help to master the essentials of project management
- Project Management Applications – learn the powerful tools and techniques that experienced project managers rely on
- Introduction to MS Project 2013 – tool training for the uninitiated
- High Speed Project Management – Learn to manage the challenges of truncated timelines, short-staffed project teams, skimpy budgets and crippling risks
- Introduction to Business Analysis – learn powerful quantitative methods to make better, more informed and more effective business decisions
- Fundamentals of Supervision and Management – learn how to influence and direct other people’s performance
- Six Sigma: Total Quality Applications – learn how to apply the DMAIC model
- Purchasing Fundamentals – Learn the basics of supplier partnerships, capital budgeting and green buying
- Total Quality Fundamentals – Learn how to effectively apply the fundamentals of total quality
And there’s more … much more!
If you want to brush up on a knowledge area that is under-utilized in your current PM role or perhaps you want to strengthen your usage of a PM tool or if there’s a new PM skillset that you are trying to acquire, you should consider the project management courses available through your local library as part of your CCR strategy. All you need is your library card, access to a computer, a few hours per week and a commitment to learn. It can’t get much better than that!
As you consider your strategy for maintaining your PMP credentials, be sure to include free alternatives that are readily available to you with no strings attached!
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