Project management CE · United States · for providers
PMI PDU certificate requirements for project management training providers
PMI does not publish a list of certificate elements. It tells the certification holder what to keep for an audit, and it tells Authorized Training Partners what to put in CCRS. Put both on the certificate and it passes. Checked against the CCR Handbook (April 2026) and the ATP Program Handbook.
Short answer · checked 30 October 2026
A PMI PDU certificate must work as audit proof: the provider’s name, the learner’s name, the course title, the completion date, the PDUs awarded, and the PDUs split across the three sides of the PMI Talent Triangle (Ways of Working, Power Skills, Business Acumen). An Authorized Training Partner can add its ATP number (only an active ATP may use it) and the CCRS claim code PMI assigned to the course. One PDU is one hour, counted in quarter hours. The learner reports the PDUs in CCRS and keeps the certificate for 18 months after the 3-year cycle ends.
- Required elements
- 9
- Issue deadline
- On completion (PMI sets none)
- Keep records
- Learner: 18 months after the cycle
- Central reporting system
- CCRS (learner reports; ATPs may batch)
New to CE?
How continuing education works, in one line
New to CE?
How continuing education works, in one line
Accreditor
Sets the rules and approves providers.
Provideryou
Runs the course and issues the certificate.
Learner
Completes the course and keeps the certificate.
Board
Renews the licence and may audit the certificate.
- PDU
- Professional development unit. The unit of PMI continuing education. One PDU is one hour of learning.
- CCR
- Continuing Certification Requirements. PMI’s rules for keeping a certification, such as the PMP, active.
- CCRS
- Continuing Certification Requirements System. The PMI website where the learner reports PDUs and where ATPs list courses.
- ATP
- Authorized Training Partner. A training company PMI has approved. Only an ATP may use the ATP seal and ATP number.
- PMI Talent Triangle
- PMI’s three skill areas: Ways of Working, Power Skills and Business Acumen. Every education PDU is tagged with one of them.
- Claim code
- A code PMI assigns to an ATP course in CCRS. The learner types it in and the course details fill in.
Who this applies to
Providers under PMI, and the learners they serve
Providers
- PMI Authorized Training Partners (ATPs) in the Professional and Premier tiers, which may list courses in CCRS with pre-approved PDUs
- ATPs in the Access and Foundational tiers, which issue student certificates but cannot list pre-approved PDUs
- Any other training company, university or employer whose course a certification holder claims as “Courses or Training”
Learners
Holders of PMP, PgMP, PfMP, PMI-PBA, PMI-ACP, PMI-RMP, PMI-SP, PMI-CP, PMI-PMOCP, PMI-CPMAI and CAPM, who must earn and report PDUs every 3 years.
The 9 elements
What the certificate must show
Each number on the sample matches one element PMI requires. The list says where the rule is written and which Hyperstack field fills it.
- 1
Provider name
The organization that ran the course. The CCR Handbook names provider name, title and dates as the details of a PDU claim, and a certificate of completion as the audit proof for a course. For an ATP this is the name registered with PMI.
Example: Keystone Project Academy
In Hyperstack: set once in the templateCCR Handbook 2026, p. 10–11
- 2
ATP number and seal
The ATP Program Handbook says the PMI ATP seal and ATP number are strictly for the organization identified as the active ATP, and that a non-ATP cannot put the ATP number on its student certificates of completion. It does not require an ATP to print the number. Our recommendation: an active ATP prints it so the learner can see the course is from an authorized partner. Leave both off if you are not an ATP.
Example: PMI ATP #5120
In Hyperstack:
[custom_atp_number]ATP Program Handbook 2024, p. 20 - 3
Learner name
The certification holder who completed the course. The CCR Handbook accepts a certificate of completion as audit proof for a course but does not list what it must show. Our recommendation: name the learner, so the proof ties to the person who claims the PDUs.
Example: Daniel R. Okafor, PMP
In Hyperstack:
[recipient_name]CCR Handbook 2026, p. 10 - 4
Course title
The title as listed in CCRS, word for word, so the claim matches the certificate. The CCR Handbook names the title as a detail of a PDU claim.
Example: Risk Response Planning for Hybrid Projects
In Hyperstack:
[group_title]CCR Handbook 2026, p. 10–11 - 5
Completion date
The date the learner finished. The CCR Handbook names the date started and completed as details of a PDU claim; for a one-day class both are the same.
Example: 16 October 2026
In Hyperstack:
[issue_date]CCR Handbook 2026, p. 10–11 - 6
PDUs awarded
One PDU per hour of instruction, in quarter hours. Show what this course awards, not a range.
Example: 6.5 PDUs
In Hyperstack:
[custom_pdus]CCR Handbook 2026, p. 9 - 7
PMI Talent Triangle split
How the PDUs divide across Ways of Working, Power Skills and Business Acumen. The learner must enter this split in CCRS, and the provider decides it.
Example: Ways of Working 4.5 · Power Skills 1.0 · Business Acumen 1.0
In Hyperstack:
[custom_talent_triangle]CCR Handbook 2026, p. 11; ATP Program Handbook 2024, p. 18 - 8
Activity ID and claim code
For an ATP course listed in CCRS: your own activity ID and the PDU claim code PMI assigned. Non-ATP courses have neither; leave the line off.
Example: Activity KPA-2026-RR · Claim code 5120ABCDEF
In Hyperstack:
[custom_claim_code]Education Provider Portal User Guide 2021, p. 6, 13 - 9
PDU statement
A plain line that says what the course awards and who awards it. PMI has no fixed wording.
Example: This course is listed in PMI’s CCRS and awards 6.5 PDUs: 4.5 Ways of Working, 1.0 Power Skills, 1.0 Business Acumen. Report it in CCRS with the claim code above.
In Hyperstack: set once in the templateCCR Handbook 2026, p. 9–11
Exact wording
The statements, word for word
PMI has 2 wordings. Use the one that fits your approval and your activity. Copy it, do not retype it.
Authorized Training Partner course listed in CCRS
[Provider name] is a PMI Authorized Training Partner (ATP #[number]). This course is listed in CCRS as activity [activity ID] and awards [X.XX] PDUs: [a] Ways of Working, [b] Power Skills, [c] Business Acumen. Report it in CCRS with claim code [claim code].
PMI publishes no required wording. This line carries every element the learner must enter in CCRS. Only an active ATP may name the ATP number.
CCR Handbook 2026, p. 11; ATP Program Handbook 2024, p. 20Course from a provider that is not an ATP
This course awards [X.XX] PDUs for PMI certification holders: [a] Ways of Working, [b] Power Skills, [c] Business Acumen. Report it in CCRS under Education, Courses or Training, with [Provider name] as the provider.
Do not use the ATP seal, the words “Authorized Training Partner” or an ATP number. Do not write “pre-approved”: only CCRS-listed ATP courses are pre-approved.
ATP Program Handbook 2024, p. 20; CCR Handbook 2026, p. 10How credit is counted
Minutes in, PDUs out
The unit
1 PDU = 60 minutes
One PDU equals 1 hour of training. Time under an hour is counted in quarter hours: 45 minutes is 0.75, 30 minutes is 0.50, 15 minutes is 0.25.
CCR Handbook 2026, p. 9Rounding
Count in steps of 0.25. Minutes short of a full quarter hour do not make a step, so round down. Count instruction time only.
Worked example
100 minutes = 6 full quarter hours (90 minutes) → 6 × 0.25 = 1.5. The spare 10 minutes do not count.
100 minutes → 1.5 PDUs
100 ÷ 60, rounded down to the nearest 0.25. PMI’s table gives 15, 30 and 45 minutes as the steps below one hour.
Timeline
From the last slide to the audit file
Activity
Day 0
The learner completes the course. The provider decides the PDUs and the Talent Triangle split.
Certificate
On completion
PMI sets no deadline. The ATP Program Handbook says the ATP that runs a referred course must award the PDUs and issue the PMI certificate of completion to the student.
Report
Before the learner’s cycle ends
The learner reports the PDUs in CCRS as they are earned, and before the 3-year cycle end date. The renewal fee is due no later than 90 days after that date.
Records
18 months after the cycle
The learner keeps the certificate for at least 18 months after the cycle ends for a random audit. PMI sets no retention period for providers.
Reporting
Who reports what to CCRS
System
CCRS (Continuing Certification Requirements System)
- Who reports
- The learner reports each course. An ATP lists the course first and may also submit a batch claim for its attendees.
- Deadline
- Before the learner’s 3-year cycle end date; the renewal fee within 90 days after it.
A course listed in CCRS can be claimed once per certification holder. Claims against a retired course are allowed if the learner finished it before the retirement date, for up to four years after that date.
CCR Handbook 2026, p. 9, 16; ATP Program Handbook 2024, p. 17–18; Education Provider Portal User Guide 2021, p. 13, 17, 20–22ATP provider representative
Lists the course in the Education Provider Portal of CCRS with an activity ID, title, description and the PDU allocation across the Talent Triangle. PMI assigns a PDU claim code.
Provider
Issues the certificate with the course title, date, PDUs, Talent Triangle split and, for an ATP course, the claim code.
Learner
Opens the myPMI dashboard or the PMI mobile app, chooses “Report PDUs”, picks Education → Courses or Training, enters the claim code or the provider name, the dates and the PDUs per Talent Triangle side, and submits.
ATP provider representative (optional)
Submits a batch PDU claim for the attendees instead: finds the course by claim code or course ID, enters the start and end dates, uploads the attendee template with each person’s PMI ID, first name and last name, and submits. CCRS checks the names against PMI’s database.
PMI
Confirms when the PDU requirement is met and invites the learner to pay the renewal fee. A share of learners is picked at random for an audit and asked for the certificate.
Right and wrong
The same certificate, two ways
The lines on the left are the mistakes auditors find most. The lines on the right are the fix.
Fails an audit
Keystone Project Academy
Daniel R. Okafor, PMP
- This course awards 35 PDUs (PMP exam prep)
- PDUs: 2 (course ran 100 minutes)
- PMI Talent Triangle: Ways of Working
- PMI ATP #5120 (printed by a company that is not an ATP)
- Certificate of attendance
- Course title: Risk Workshop (CCRS listing says “Risk Response Planning for Hybrid Projects”)
Passes an audit
Keystone Project Academy
Daniel R. Okafor, PMP
- This course provides 35 contact hours of project management training
- PDUs: 1.5
- Ways of Working 4.5 · Power Skills 1.0 · Business Acumen 1.0
- Keystone Project Academy
- Certificate of completion · 6.5 PDUs · completed 16 October 2026
- Course title: Risk Response Planning for Hybrid Projects
- 1. PDUs are for people who already hold a certification. Activities completed before the certification was earned cannot be claimed as PDUs. Exam prep hours are “contact hours” on the application.
- 2. PDUs count in quarter hours. 100 minutes is six full quarter hours, so 1.5.
- 3. The learner must enter a PDU amount for each side of the triangle. A label with no numbers leaves them guessing.
- 4. The ATP seal and ATP number are strictly for the organization that is the active ATP. A non-ATP may not put an ATP number on its student certificates.
- 5. A letter of attendance is accepted as audit proof, but it still needs the hours and the date, or the learner cannot report the claim.
- 6. The claim code fills in the CCRS title. If the certificate says something else, the auditor sees two different courses.
Digital
Electronic certificates and badges
Electronic certificates
PMI says nothing about electronic versus paper PDU certificates in the CCR Handbook. Audits are run online: the learner uploads supporting material to an audit package on the myPMI dashboard, so a digital certificate is the easier form to keep and send.
Digital badges
PMI says nothing about badges for learners. The ATP badge PMI sends through Credly is for the training partner itself, not for students, and it is not a PDU record.
An ATP’s student certificates are listed as “co-branded” in the ATP benefits table; no format is specified. CCR Handbook 2026, p. 16; ATP Program Handbook 2024, p. 6; ATP Application Checklist 2026, p. 1
Records and other rules
What else PMI checks
The learner keeps the proof for 18 months after the cycle
A random share of certification holders is audited and must show supporting material for every PDU claimed. PMI tells them to keep documentation for at least 18 months after the CCR cycle ends. A certificate link that never expires saves you from re-issue requests years later. Hyperstack keeps every certificate and its verification page for the life of your account and after cancellation.
CCR Handbook 2026, p. 16Audit proof for a course
For “Courses or Training” the accepted proof is a registration form, a certificate of completion, or a letter of attendance. For self-paced digital learning it is evidence of the learning with notes and dates. Put the date, the hours and the provider on the certificate so it stands alone.
CCR Handbook 2026, p. 10–11ATP seal and number are for active ATPs only
The PMI ATP seal and ATP number are strictly for the organization identified as the active ATP. A non-ATP that buys course materials from an ATP may not put the ATP number on its student certificates of completion. An inactive ATP must remove all ATP references at once.
ATP Program Handbook 2024, p. 11, 20Pre-approved PDUs need the right ATP tier
Only Professional and Premier ATPs can list courses with pre-approved PDUs in CCRS. Access and Foundational ATPs issue student certificates but cannot. For PDU-only training an ATP does not need PMI course content or Train the Trainer.
ATP Step-by-Step Guide 2026, p. 4–6One listing is one learning event
A CCRS activity is one learning event with one delivery method, not a bundle. A yearly conference needs a new activity number each year. An activity cannot be claimed more than once by the same certification holder. Retire a course when it is no longer offered or its content has changed 25% or more.
ATP Program Handbook 2024, p. 18You decide the Talent Triangle split
PMI does not prescribe which skills belong to which side. Each ATP decides the split for each activity from the course content. Enter it as PDU amounts per side. Avoid identical values across all technical areas.
ATP Program Handbook 2024, p. 18; Education Provider Portal User Guide 2021, p. 16Exam prep hours are not PDUs
Activities completed before the learner earned a PMI certification are not eligible as PDUs. A PMP prep course gives “contact hours” for the application; one hour of classroom instruction is one training hour. From 1 December 2026 live PMP training counts only when an ATP or an eligible accredited academic program delivers it; self-paced training from any organization still counts if it matches the exam content outline.
CCR Handbook 2026, p. 15; PMP Examination Content Outline July 2026, p. 14; PMI blog, 25 September 2026Referred courses: the course owner issues the certificate
When one ATP refers students to another ATP’s course, the referred ATP must have the activity registered in CCRS, award the PDUs and issue the PMI certificate of completion to the student. PMI sets no signature rule for certificates.
ATP Program Handbook 2024, p. 20Before you send
The audit checklist, to tick or print
PMI certificate checklist0/12
How to do it in Hyperstack
Three steps to a compliant certificate
- 1
Open the PMI template
The template has a place for every element on this page. Add your logo and your 2 fixed elements once.
- Provider name
- PDU statement
- 2
Map your columns
Upload a spreadsheet or connect your LMS. Each column fills one element for every learner.
- [custom_atp_number]
- [recipient_name]
- [group_title]
- [issue_date]
- [custom_pdus]
- [custom_talent_triangle]
- [custom_claim_code]
- 3
Issue and keep the record
Every learner gets an email, a verification page and a QR code. The record stays for as long as the rules need it.
- Verification page
- QR code
- Audit log
- Kept 18 months (learner) and beyond
Free template
An PMI-ready certificate, with all 9 elements in place
Set your provider details once. Names, dates and PDUs fill in for every learner. Each certificate gets a verification page and QR code.
FAQ
PMI certificates, answered
No. The CCR Handbook tells the learner what proof to keep for an audit: a registration form, a certificate of completion, or a letter of attendance. It also tells the learner what to enter in CCRS: provider name, title, dates and the PDU amount per Talent Triangle side. A certificate that shows all of that is a complete audit record.
Yes. A certification holder can claim any instructor-led course as “Courses or Training” and type in the provider name. What you cannot do is use the ATP seal, the ATP number or the words “pre-approved PDUs”. Those belong to Authorized Training Partners with a course listed in CCRS.
One PDU per hour of instruction. Below an hour, PMI counts in quarter hours: 15 minutes is 0.25, 30 is 0.50, 45 is 0.75. A 100-minute class is 1.5 PDUs. Breaks do not count.
Every education PDU is tagged Ways of Working, Power Skills or Business Acumen. A PMP holder needs at least 8 PDUs on each side per 3-year cycle. The provider decides the split for each course from its content and prints it as PDU amounts, for example 4.5 / 1.0 / 1.0.
Usually the learner does, in CCRS, with the claim code from your certificate. An ATP can also submit a batch claim: find the course by claim code, enter the dates, and upload the attendees with their PMI ID, first name and last name. Learners must report before their cycle end date.
PMI sets no retention period for providers. A learner may be audited up to 18 months after a 3-year cycle, and PDUs can be claimed against a retired course for up to four years after it was retired. Keep the records at least that long. Hyperstack keeps every issued certificate for the life of your account.
No. Activities done before the learner earned the certification are not eligible as PDUs. Exam prep gives 35 contact hours of training for the PMP application. Write “35 contact hours” and keep the hours and the course content visible, because the application can be audited too.
From that date, live instructor-led PMP training counts toward the 35-hour application requirement only when a PMI Authorized Training Partner or an eligible accredited academic program delivers it. Self-paced training from any organization still counts. Courses finished before that date keep the old rules. The PDU rules for certification holders do not change.
Sources
Read from Project Management Institute documents on 30 October 2026. This page is a guide, not legal advice. Your accreditation manual and your licensing board have the final word. Something out of date? Tell us.
Changes to this page
- 2026-10-30Page written from the CCR Handbook (April 2026) and the ATP Program Handbook.
- 2026-10-30Fact check against the cited PDFs: dropped the 2021 partner count (PMI publishes no current total); the ATP number and learner name now read as recommendations, since neither handbook requires them on a certificate; provider name, title and date cites point to CCR Handbook p. 10–11.
- 1PMI Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) Handbook, last updated April 2026PDU totals and Education/Giving Back split (p. 4), Talent Triangle minimums (p. 6), cycle start (p. 8), PDU definition and quarter-hour table and CCRS reporting (p. 9), audit documentation per activity type (p. 10–12), other PDU policies (p. 15), renewal fee deadline and the audit process with the 18-month rule (p. 16).
- 2PMI Authorized Training Partner Program Handbook, 2024Benefits table with co-branded student certificates (p. 6), inactive ATPs (p. 11), provider representative and batch claims (p. 17), criteria for a CCRS activity and Talent Triangle alignment (p. 18), ATP seal and number restrictions and referrals (p. 20).
- 3PMI Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming an Authorized Training Partner, 2026PDU-only training rules (p. 4), pre-approved PDUs for Professional and Premier tiers (p. 5), tier table with student certificates (p. 6).
- 4PMI Education Provider Portal User Guide, January 2021Course identifier and PDU claim code (p. 6), creating a PDU course (p. 13), PDU allocation across the Talent Triangle (p. 16), course retirement and the four-year claim window (p. 17), batch PDU claims (p. 19–22).
- 5PMI Certification Handbook, revised June 2026Application audit documentation: copies of certificates or letters from the training institute (p. 6).
- 6PMI Authorized Training Partner Program Application Checklist and Guidance, July 2026Tier eligibility and the ATP badge sent through Credly (p. 1).
- 7PMP Examination Content Outline, July 2026Commercial training requirement, one hour of instruction equals one training hour, training subject to audit (p. 14).
- 8PMI blog: How to Meet the PMP 35-Hour Training Requirement, 25 September 2026The 1 December 2026 live-training change and the records to keep for an application audit.
- 9PMI: Ways to Earn PDUsEducation and Giving Back categories; ATP instructor-led courses as a PDU source.
- 10PMI: Find your trusted training partnerCurrent online directory.
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