In our current series of PDU Tips we are exploring the many ways you can earn Professional Development Units. Today we look at how time spent volunteering can contribute to your PDU total.

Volunteer work can be incredibly rewarding, and many of you probably volunteer, or know volunteers who work with charities and other groups. Did you know that you can also volunteer for your local project management association? This sort of volunteering can count toward your PDU total.

Work done for your local PMI Chapter or a Community of Practice is recognized as part of this, but you don’t have to limit your volunteering to PMI groups. As long as you are volunteering for a legally recognized non-profit project management organization, that is not your employer, those hours count too. Just so we are clear, volunteering means you don’t get paid! But remember, those PDUs are free, as you don’t have to pay for them, either.

Qualifying activities include things like serving as an elected official or on a committee, but also activities like volunteering at a global congress, working on PMI standards and participating in research work. Even volunteering as a project manager on community projects counts, so if your local school or sports group is carrying out a project, get involved and claim those PDUs.

You will need to get a letter or certificate from the organization you are volunteering for which acknowledges your participation. Keep this in case your recertification is audited.
Do you mentor or coach someone? You can also claim hours of mentoring or coaching on your PDU record. You will need some evidence to show that you are mentoring or coaching a colleague, so ask them to sign an attendance sheet, or keep records of the times you meet.

Volunteer service PDUs fall into Category E. You earn 1 PDU for each hour of service. The PDUs earned from volunteer service count towards the combined maximum of 45 PDUs for categories D, E and F.

If you are interested in volunteering for PMI, you can find your local PMI chapter at http://www.pmi.org/GetInvolved/Pages/PMI-Chapters.aspx.
In next week’s tip we’ll be looking at how you can earn PDUs while you are on the move.