# 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?