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Asia Pacific Europe, Middle East and Africa Latin America North America Extra Credit Earning the required Professional Development Units to maintain your Project Management Professional credential can be a natural educational fit instead of a chore. Upward Trend What's behind the trend toward Project Management Professional certification, and why do companies like Procter & Gamble and Atrion put so much stock in its holders? PMI offers its appreciation to the International Institute for Learning Inc. for its sponsorship of PMP® Passport through the end of 2006.

PMP® Credential Consistently Rated as a Top Certification Among IT Professionals

The Project Management Professional (PMP®) credential will continue to gain prominence with IT professionals in 2006, according to three recently published reports.

Among a long list of non-Microsoft certifications, the PMP credential is associated with the third-highest average base salary, according to Redmondmag.com, known as "the independent voice of the Microsoft IT community." Ahead of PMP holders in average base salary are those who hold the IBM WebSphere and Hewlett Packard Master ASE certifications. Rankings are based on 2004 average base salaries. Redmondmag.com's 2005 annual salary survey also reports that nearly half the 2005 survey respondents believe that a certification improved or enhanced their opportunity to find or keep a job.

The PMP credential also ranked fourth in CertCities.com's 10 Hottest Certifications for 2006. The PMP debuted on the CertCities.com list last year and has since moved from 10th to fourth place. CertCities.com ranks certifications it thinks will be the most influential in the upcoming year, will grow the fastest and will show the true future of IT certification. View the entire story at CertCities.com.

In addition, more than half of a pool of 500 IT executives listed project management as the leading skill set they require most from the IT professionals they hire, as reported in CIO magazine's "State of the CIO 2006." The survey covers opinions on everything from what a CIO's position entails in their organization to how they operate their IT departments.

In the top 10 management priorities in the same report, respondents listed improvement of project management discipline as the seventh-highest priority for their department. The top three priorities were:

1. Align IT and business goals
2. Business continuity/risk management
3. Control IT costs.

The CIO research also indicates that more than half of the surveyed chief information officers plan to increase their IT staff in the coming year.

Professionals who seek to increase their value in the IT industry in 2006 should continue to look in Certification Corner for ways to earn Professional Development Units (PDUs) to maintain their PMP credential.

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Build Project Teams Through CAPM® Certification

Successful project management requires more than just project managers, it requires professional project teams. As a result, a growing number of business leaders have expressed interest in the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®) credential.

The CAPM certification program is tailored for project team members and entry-level project practitioners. It requires candidates to demonstrate mastery of basic project management knowledge and terminology as set forth in A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)—Third Edition.

The CAPM certification program provides a fundamental introduction to project management. Certificants acquire the knowledge required to align the application of their work with globally recognized project management practices. The understanding and application of these practices will foster cohesion and efficiency on your project teams and increase the likelihood of project success.

Position your project teams for success. Visit the Certification Program section of PMI's Web site for information on the CAPM credential, eligibility requirements and exam preparation.

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Question & Answer Forum

If you have a question that you would like answered in a future edition of PMP® Passport, e-mail it to pmp-passport@pmi.org. Due to space limitations, only selected questions and answers will appear. Questions specific to your individual certification can be directed to customercare@pmi.org.

To see the answer for each of these FAQs, simply click on an individual question.

Q: My three-year active Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification/CCR cycle ended 31 December 2005. Can I still report Professional Development Units (PDUs) earned in 2005? How do I report them?

A: Yes, you can still report PDUs earned in 2005. Since your active certification cycle ended on 31 December 2005, you now are in the certification suspension period, a full calendar year during which credential holders can report PDUs necessary to renew their PMP certification. Suspended certification status dictates that the individual may not use the PMP credential or certification mark, nor identify or represent him or herself as the holder of a PMP credential or as certified by PMI until the overdue requirements are earned. Requirements must be fulfilled within a maximum of one year beyond the expiration of his or her active certification.

The process for reporting PDUs while in the suspension period is the same as the regular PDU reporting process. Go to the CCR Program section of PMI's Web site and access the link to "Claim/View PDUs." Alternatively, you may download an Activity Reporting Form and follow the submission instructions provided on the form.

Please refer to the Continuing Certifications Program section of PMI's Web site for important information on PMP status and PDU submission deadlines, categories and conversion guidelines.

Q: How do I remit payment of the certification renewal fee?

A: Payment of the certification renewal fee is accepted only after the CCR Records Office confirms that a credential holder's PDU requirement has been satisfied. At that time, PMI's Certification Program department will e-mail credential holders to notify them that they are eligible to apply for certification renewal.

The preferred method for completing the application for certification renewal and remitting payment of the renewal fee is via the Certification System accessible from the Certification Program section of PMI's Web site. Credential holders also have the option of mailing the completed application for certification renewal and the renewal fee payment to:

PMI Global Operations Center
Attn: Certification Program Department
4 Campus Boulevard
Newtown Square, PA 19073 USA

You will be able to download the application for certification renewal from the Certification System after PMI notifies you of your eligibility.

The PMP credential renewal fee is $60 (U.S.) for PMI members and $150 (U.S.) for non-members. In addition to checks, bank transfers and money orders, PMI accepts credit card payments via American Express, Diners Club, Discover Card, MasterCard, and Visa. Checks and money orders should be made payable to "PMI."

Once the renewal process is complete, your PMP certification status is renewed for the next three years.

Q: I attend events and conferences sponsored by other project management organizations. Do these activities qualify for PDUs?

A: Yes, as long as the material covered is relevant to the project management knowledge or process areas as defined by A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)—Third Edition, a credential holder may claim PDUs for participating in activities sponsored by project management organizations. As these organizations will more than likely not be registered with PMI, the credential holder should claim these activities under Category 4. The determination of relevance is made by the credential holder.

Before reporting PDUs, credential holders should familiarize themselves with the CCR program requirements as outlined in the CCR handbook, specifically, the PDU conversion rate, category descriptions and examples of documentation required for PDU activities.

Q: Can I claim PDUs for educational seminars developed or sponsored by my employer?

A: Yes, as long as the material covered is relevant to project management knowledge or process areas as outlined in the PMBOK® Guide—Third Edition, a credential holder may claim PDUs for participating in activities developed or sponsored by their employers. As employers will more than likely not be registered with PMI, the credential holders should report these activities under Category 4. The determination of relevance is made by the credential holders.

Before reporting PDUs, credential holders should familiarize themselves with the CCR program requirements as outlined in the CCR handbook, specifically, the PDU conversion rate, category descriptions and examples of documentation required for PDU activities.

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