Certification Frequently Asked Questions

We’re here to help provide clarity on the certification process including eligibility, exam details, auditing requirements and more so you can navigate the process effectively.

PMI Certification Handbook

Questions about certification? From application to renewal and everything in between, find the answers you need in the PMI Certification Handbook.

Download the PMI Certification Handbook to further understand requirements, application processes, and timelines.

Obtaining Certifications

Eligibility, prerequisites and application

How do I earn a PMI certification?

What are the eligibility requirements?

Do I have to be a CAPM, PMP, or a PMI member to apply for other PMI certifications?

How do I complete the application?

What supporting documentation should I send with my application?

Exam Guidance

How do I schedule a certification exam appointment?

Where will the examination be given?

Once I pass the exam or evaluations, what next?

Are the exams available in languages other than English?

If I fail the exam, can I take it again?

What happens if my eligibility expires and I have not taken the exam?

How does PMI ensure the integrity of exams? What qualifies as misconduct?

Paying with a 529 Plan

What is a 529 Savings Plan?

What PMI certifications are covered under the 529 Savings Plan?

Can I use 529 savings for prep courses as well as exam fees?

Maintaining Certifications

Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR)

What requirements do I need to fulfill to maintain an active certification status?

Why has the PMI Talent Triangle been incorporated into the CCR program?

How are the three areas of focus for the PMI Talent Triangle defined?

What are some examples of topics that align to each skill area within the PMI Talent Triangle?

Are the skill areas of the PMI Talent Triangle aligned with activities that Give Back to the Profession?

How can I maintain several certifications at once?

Can I get an extension beyond the suspension expiration date?

I have retired from the project management profession. How do I end my certification?

Professional Development Units (PDUs)

What are PDUs?

Can I still earn Education PDUs the same way I used to?

Can I claim PDUs for a single Education activity in more than one skill area of the PMI Talent Triangle?

When is the earliest I can start earning PDUs after I earn a certification?

What is the online Continuing Certification Requirements System (CCRS)?

Do I need a special username or password to use CCRS?

Where do I find detailed instructions for using the CCRS?

When reporting PDU activities, is any supporting documentation required?

Can I transfer PDUs to my next cycle?

Can I complete PDUs during my suspension period and apply them to my recent CCR cycle?

Audits

General

Why does PMI conduct application audits?

How many days do I have to complete the audit package?

How do I submit my audit package to PMI?

Is the audit candidate alerted when a reference has responded?

If a previous reference has not responded, can I send to a new reference?

Can candidates continue to access audit packages after submitted?

How long does the audit process take?

What steps need to be taken when an audit candidate decides not to proceed with the audit?

What happens in the case of a failed audit?

Audit Materials

What if I notice I uploaded the wrong document for my academic or professional education for my audit package after I submit my audit package?

Are audit materials confidential?

If the projects and/or programs listed were completed in a highly classified environment, or a company is very sensitive about proprietary information being seen by other employers or individuals outside the company, how should this be handled?

How should an audit candidate verify programs and/or projects that they were the manager or supervisor for?

Will PMI contact a verifying manager or supervisor?

My reference did not get my email from DocuSign. What do I do?

If a course was completed at a PMI Authorized Training Partner can PMI contact them for my certificate?

Will PMI accept an e-mail signature?

If an in-house course did not issue a certificate, what type of verification will PMI accept?

Will PMI accept a receipt or course roster as educational verification?

Will PMI accept a school transcript to meet the degree requirement?

Are photocopies of education certificates of completion sufficient or does PMI require the originals?

Do certificates in a foreign language need to be translated?