I just got laid off and I am worried about the renewal cost. If I can't afford the renewal fee right now, what is the impact on my PMP? Is there a way to 'pause' my certification while I look for work?
The PMP certification cannot be paused; failure to renew results in a suspended status, after which the credential holder must pay a fee and complete outstanding requirements to regain active status.
2 answers
Losing your PMP over a few hundred bucks while job hunting is a tactical error you cannot afford. Back in 2009, I was staring down a six-month gap and scraped together the renewal fee by selling off old gear because I knew the credential was the only thing keeping my resume out of the trash pile.
Think of that fee as an investment in your marketability rather than a debt. Once your certification lapses, the re-application process is a bureaucratic nightmare that is far more expensive and time-consuming than the renewal cost itself.
Your PMP status will move to suspended if you fail to renew by the cycle end date, but there is no mechanism to pause the certification.
You must accumulate the required professional development units and pay the renewal fee within your designated three-year cycle to maintain your active status.
I appreciate the confirmation, Todd Matthews. The suspension risk is stressful, so I need to track my PDU count very precisely to ensure I don't accidentally let this certification lapse.
Thanks for the clarity, Todd Matthews. It’s frustrating there’s no pause option, but I’ll just have to grind through the PDUs to keep my status active regardless of the workload.