What is PMI Membership? A Comprehensive Guide

With more than 500,00 members and spread across 208 locations worldwide, Project Management Institute (PMI) is a globally recognised organisation that serves as a common ground for Project Management professionals to interact and grow. If you want to build a career in Project Management, a PMI Membership is the way to go.   

Project Management is implemented in most organisations today, gaining widespread popularity. According to The State of Project Management Report 2020, 50% of organisations across industries have more than one Project Management Office (PMO). Getting a PMI Membership helps Project Manager Professionals avail of community benefits and garner support. Read ahead to learn more about the different membership levels, its benefits, and more. 

Table of Contents 

1) Types of PMI Membership 

2) How to acquire a PMI Membership? 

3) PMI Membership: Benefits 

4) PMI Membership Renewal 

5) Conclusion

Types of PMI Membership
 

A PMI Membership opens multiple avenues of opportunity for both beginners and those aiming for career advancement in the Project Management industry. If you wish to become a PMI member, it is important to learn about the various membership levels and types. Here are the three different types of PMI Membership:  

1) Individual membership: Anyone can attain individual membership regardless of their qualifications. You can avail of individual membership with a starting price of £110.29, which can be renewed at £102.36.  

2) Student membership: As the name suggests, the student membership is open to students. It can be attained for £33.32 and renewed at a price of £25.39.  

3) Retiree membership: This membership is extended to those who have retired but were a part of PMI. Individuals who have been a member of PMI for a minimum of five years can continue their membership with a renewal fee of £51.57. 

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How to acquire a PMI Membership? 

A PMI Membership can be attained by fulfilling the criteria laid by the organisation. You must have valid proof showing you are a university student if you want to apply for student membership. The primary criterion for applying for the individual membership is to be a working professional. Let's look at the eligibility requirements to acquire a PMI Membership in detail:

If you wish to learn more about PMI and its membership procedure, you can always visit your Local PMI Chapter. It provides a great opportunity to network, and numerous chapters are located in various regions worldwide.   

For instance, the Asia Pacific zone harbours chapters in Australia, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, and more. Local PMI Chapters can also be found in the zones like: 

1) Europe, Middle East, Africa 

2) Latin America 

3) North America 

PMI Membership: Benefits 

A multitude of benefits come from being a PMI member. The following are some PMI Membership benefits: 

Save money on certification exams 

The PMI Membership helps you avail the wide range of certifications it offers at a cheaper rate when compared to non-PMI members. While non-PMI members pay a cost of £439.89, PMI members are required to pay only £321.
 

Access to events and webinars 

The PMI community strives for continuous growth and encourages a collaborative environment that benefits all participating. They organise events and webinars to keep members updated about the latest trends.    

A PMI Membership helps you attend prestigious events and webinars at discounted prices, allowing you to connect with other project managers and expand your network and knowledge. It also promises a free chance to attend two premium virtual events yearly. 

Availing PMI standards and publications for free
 

PMI members can access all the published PMI standards for free. The content available for download includes detailed articles, videos, graphics, and templates that can be useful for Project Management professionals. You can also download the Project Management Body Of Knowledge (PMBOK) free of cost. There are three standards published by PMI, which are as follows: 

a) Foundation standards 

b) Practice standards and frameworks 

c) PMI standard extension

Free Access to PMI Network and PMI Today 

Another benefit of having a PMI Membership is the free access to issues of its magazines - PMI Network and PMI Today. They contain all the recent updates and occurrences in Project Management.  

The information gained from these magazines can help you in your future interviews and at your workplace. The magazine content ranges from detailed articles to case studies and sample interview questions. 

Access to Project Management tools and templates 

A PMI Membership provides access to useful Project Management templates and tools that help simplify your work in the field. Peer-tested templates and project plans can significantly decrease the time spent on your projects and enhance them simultaneously. It will help you stand out among your peers

Improves credibility 

Being a member of a globally recognised organisation like PMI significantly increases your credibility as a Project Management Professional and paves the way for profitable professional opportunities and personal growth.   

PMI's career development framework helps you acquire the skills and knowledge to pursue high-paying jobs and build a secure career. Your chances of being selected over multiple other candidates also increase. 

PMI resources 

A PMI Membership gives you access to resources under Career Central and the Career headquarter of PMI, which helps in career advancement. The resources can be used to polish your skills and expand your knowledge, aiding in creating attractive resumes and staying updated with the latest trends. 

PMI chapter meetings 

When you become a PMI member, you also sign up with the local chapter. The membership allows you to attend every local chapter meeting at a discounted price, which can also be free sometimes. 

Opportunity to network 

Being a part of the PMI community is a huge advantage for professionals aspiring to grow in the Project Management sector. PMI Memberships provide a shared space for individuals to connect with experienced professionals through local chapter meetings, webinars, events, etc., and learn from them.  

Meeting people from the same profession is an excellent way to learn more about the field through their experiences. Networking also helps in creating meaningful connections, which can help you explore better employment opportunities. 

Project Management Journal 

One of the most awaited publications by PMI is the Project Management Journal, a research journal published five times a year, which adds to its appeal. A PMI Membership allows you access to the journal that carries program, project, and portfolio management data. 

Free PDUs 

Professional Development Units, or PDUs, are one-hour blocks of time spent learning, helping others learn, or volunteering. If you can collect enough PDUs within your certification cycle, it enables you to maintain your certification with PMI.  

Different certifications have different PDU requirements. Certifications like PMP, CAPM, and PMI-ACP are renewed on a three-year or one-year basis. The PDUs can be classified into education and giving back to the profession. 

The former is earned by attending webinars, seminars, and classes, while the latter results from volunteering, mentoring, etc. A PMI Membership helps you attain unlimited access to PDUs via free webinars. 

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PMI Membership and Certification Renewal 

The validity of your PMI Membership and certification is only present for a fixed amount of time. As their expiration dates come nearer, it is essential to take action to renew them. Let’s look at the renewal processes for both: 

Renewing PMI Membership 

A PMI Membership is valid for exactly one year from the activation date. It can be auto-renewed via PMI.org. Auto-renewal is possible when you accept the automatic renewal terms and conditions on the PMI.org page. It can be done manually through your phone, email, etc. 

Renewing PMI certifications
 

PMI certifications can be renewed every three years through the Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program. But, in order to satisfy the CCR, it is essential to earn PDUs by actively being a part of professional classes or by volunteering, mentoring, etc.  

PDUs can be earned by partaking in activities under the two types of PDU: education and giving back to the profession. Here are some of the development activities that you can participate in to earn two kinds of PDUs:
 

The CCR program comes with a ton of benefits, which are as follows:  

1) It encourages continuous growth and learning  

2) It helps certified practitioners stay relevant   

3) It promotes any learning opportunity   

4) Helps to retain the legacy of PMI by upholding the value of PMI credentials  

For instance, a PMP certification can be renewed with 60 PDUs. The renewal process for a PMP certification begins with earning 60 PDUs, filling out the renewal applications, confirming the PMI Code of Conduct, and paying the fee for renewal. The renewal process is completed upon receiving a confirmation message. 

Conclusion 

Obtaining a PMI Membership helps Project Management professionals enjoy multiple benefits that aid personal and professional growth. In this blog, we discussed the types of memberships offered by PMI, the numerous benefits that come with it, the steps to becoming a member, and the membership renewal pattern. 

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