Congratulations! You are a PMP® as soon as you pass the exam. There is no waiting period. As soon as you see "Passed" on the screen you hold the PMP® certification. Go home and send an email to all your friends and colleagues and tell them that you are now a PMP®. Celebrate!
However, you are not a PMP® for life without a little extra effort. Every three years you will need to collect and claim Professional Development Units (PDUs) to keep the certification active. You will need 60 PDUs every three years to keep your certification active. The PMI writes on their website about this:
"In order to satisfy the CCR Program and maintain an active credential status individuals who have attained the PMP and/or Program Management Professional credential(s) must accrue and report a minimum of 60 professional development units (PDUs) during each CCR cycle, which is typically 3 years, complete an Application for Certification Renewal and payment of the renewal fee, and reaffirm PMI’s Code of Professional Conduct."
Here are a few links and tips that you will need from now on:
Read the PMI's information about the Continuing Certification Program: http://www.pmi.org/CareerDevelopment/Pages/MaintainYourCredential.aspx
Check your PMP status in the online registry: https://certification.pmi.org/registry.aspx
Claim PDUs online at http://tel.occe.ou.edu/pmi/PMI_Member/PDUlogin.php3
You are allowed to use the PMP logo on your business cards - but not anywhere else.
You can gain PDUs by attending your local PMI chapter dinner meeting, by volunteering for the PMI, or by attending seminars offered by PMI's Registered Education Providers. The good news is that starting November 2006 the PMI has given the OK for you to listen to podcasts and claim a maximum of 15 PDUs. That is 25% of what you need.
Here is a list of current podcasts. Listen in and gain PDUs:
Controlling Chaos Podcast - http://www.controllingchaos.com/
PM Lessons Learned Podcast - http://www.pmlessonslearned.com/
The PMO Podcast - http://www.thepmopodcast.com/
The Project Management Podcast™ - http://www.project-management-podcast.com/
Before you begin claiming PDUs for listening to podcasts, read our explanation about how to do this right...
Regards,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
Principal Instructor
The Project Management PrepCast™