Education PDUs: Your Complete Guide to PMP Renewal
Earn Education PDUs through books, courses, webinars, and more. Learn the requirements for renewing your PMI certification and find resources that help you earn PDUs in Ways of Working, Power Skills, and Business Acumen.
What are Education PDUs?
No matter what type of PMI certification you may hold—PMP, PMI-ACP, PMI-PBA—you need to earn a minimum number of Education PDUs in specific categories in order to renew your certification.
Education PDUs are earned through structured learning activities that enhance your project management knowledge and skills. These activities include reading books, taking courses, attending webinars, listening to podcasts, and consuming other educational content related to project management.
The categories have been updated based on new guidelines from PMI:
- Ways of Working (formerly Technical Project Management) — Focuses on technical skills, methodologies, and tools
- Power Skills (formerly Leadership) — Emphasizes leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
- Business Acumen (formerly Strategic and Business Management) — Covers strategic thinking, business knowledge, and organizational understanding
Important
In addition to these Education PDUs, you will also need to earn "Giving Back to the Profession" PDUs to reach your total of 60 PDUs required for certification renewal. Learn more about Giving Back PDUs.
Featured PMP Renewal Books
Business Acumen
Value Stream Mapping: How to Visualize Work and Align Leadership for Organizational Transformation
by Karen Martin, Mike Osterling
Amazon US
Amazon
Business Acumen
The Principles of Product Development Flow: Second Generation Lean Product Development
by Donald Reinertsen
Education PDU Requirements by Certification
Select your certification type below to see the specific Education PDU requirements. You must earn minimum PDUs in each category, plus additional PDUs in any category to reach your total.
| Certification Type | Ways of Working PDUs | Power Skills PDUs | Business Acumen PDUs | Remaining PDUs | Total Education PDUs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PMP, PgMP, PfMP, PMI-PBA | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 35 |
| PMI-ACP, PMI-RMP, PMI-SP | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 18 |
Your PMP Requirements: You need a minimum of 8 Ways of Working PDUs, 8 Power Skills PDUs, and 8 Business Acumen PDUs. You can earn the remaining 11 PDUs in any of these three categories, for a total of 35 Education PDUs.
Important Note
How Do I Earn Education PDUs?
Easily earn PDU education hours in the Ways of Working, Power Skills, and Business Acumen categories using online courses, books, blogs, webinars, and even podcasts or YouTube.
Books: Learn at Your Own Pace
If you like to read, there are unlimited options for earning PDUs. Books let you learn at your own pace, choose topics that interest you, and earn PDUs while building your project management knowledge. You can read whenever it fits your schedule and reference the material later.
Many PMP renewal books cover multiple PDU categories, allowing you to earn Ways of Working, Power Skills, and Business Acumen PDUs from a single resource. Plus, books provide lasting value—you can reference them throughout your career.
Browse Books →Online Courses
There are countless courses (both free and paid) that will allow you to earn PDUs. From comprehensive PMP renewal courses to focused skill-building programs, online courses offer structured learning with clear PDU allocations.
Find Courses →Webinars
Online webinars are another way to earn PDUs for your certification renewal. Many PMI chapters and training providers offer free and paid webinars covering a wide range of project management topics.
Browse Webinars →Blogs & Articles
In addition to books, there are blogs on agile and project management-related topics that can help you earn PDUs. Many platforms like Medium, Substack, and industry blogs offer valuable content that qualifies for Education PDUs.
Explore Blogs & Articles →Podcasts & Videos
If you enjoy podcasts or are a regular watcher of YouTube, this is another low-effort method of accumulating PDUs. Many project management podcasts and YouTube channels offer educational content that qualifies for Education PDUs.
Find Podcasts & Videos →❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Education PDUs
How many Education PDUs do I need for PMP renewal?
For PMP certification, you need a total of 35 Education PDUs: minimum 8 in Ways of Working, 8 in Power Skills, 8 in Business Acumen, and 11 additional PDUs in any of these three categories. You'll also need 25 Giving Back PDUs to reach your total of 60 PDUs.
What are Ways of Working PDUs?
Ways of Working PDUs (formerly Technical Project Management) focus on technical skills, methodologies, and tools used in project management. This includes topics like Agile, Scrum, risk management, scheduling, and technical project management practices. You can earn these PDUs through books, courses, webinars, blogs, podcasts, and other educational resources.
What are Business Acumen PDUs?
Business Acumen PDUs focus on understanding macro and micro influences in your organization and industry, along with function-specific or domain-specific knowledge for making good decisions. These PDUs help you understand how your projects align with broader organizational strategy and global trends. You can earn Business Acumen PDUs through books, courses, webinars, blogs, podcasts, and other educational resources.
What are Power Skills PDUs?
Power Skills PDUs focus on interpersonal skills that help you work effectively with others and influence stakeholders. These include collaborative leadership, communication, an innovative mindset, for-purpose orientation, and empathy. These skills are critical for making change and leading teams successfully. You can earn Power Skills PDUs through books, courses, webinars, blogs, podcasts, and other educational resources.
What's the difference between Education PDUs and Giving Back PDUs?
Education PDUs are earned through structured learning activities like reading books, taking courses, or attending webinars. Giving Back PDUs are earned through practical application of your skills, such as working as a practitioner, creating content, mentoring, or volunteering. Learn more about Giving Back PDUs.
How do I track my Education PDUs?
You can track your Education PDUs through the PMI Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) system. Log into your PMI account and record each activity with the date, duration, and PDU category. Keep documentation of your learning activities, such as book receipts or course certificates, in case PMI audits your claims.
Explore All Education PDU Resources
Courses
Structured online courses covering all PDU categories. Find free and paid options to earn Education PDUs.
Webinars
Live and recorded webinars from PMI chapters and training providers. Earn PDUs while learning from experts.
Blogs & Articles
Read articles and blog posts from industry experts. Earn PDUs through online content on Medium, Substack, and more.
Podcasts & Videos
Listen to podcasts or watch YouTube channels focused on project management. Low-effort way to earn Education PDUs.
Start Earning Education PDUs Today
Ready to start earning your Education PDUs? Find the most cost-effective and flexible way to begin. Browse our curated collection and find the perfect resources for your PMI Certification renewal.