PMP 35 Training Hours Rule Changes December 1, 2026

PMI requires PMP applicants to satisfy 35 hours of project management training. Starting December 1, 2026, a live instructor-led class—whether taught in person or online—will count only when it is delivered by a PMI Authorized Training Partner, a China Registered Education Provider, or an eligible accredited higher education program, including PMI Global Accreditation Center programs.

The key word is live. This is a provider-eligibility change for instructor-led training, not a rule that every PMP candidate must buy a live Authorized Training Partner course. PMI continues to list online, on-demand study and an active CAPM certification as separate ways to meet the training requirement.

PMI says training completed before December 1, 2026 will remain eligible under the requirements in effect before the change. The wording is about completion, not merely purchasing or enrolling in a course. If you plan to rely on a live class from a provider outside the new approved pathways, confirm that you can finish it before the effective date.

Keep the completion certificate and course details. Record the provider, delivery format, dates, training hours, and the project-management topics covered. Training can be reviewed during an application audit, so a receipt or marketing page alone is weaker evidence than a clear completion record.

PMI's current certification page says self-paced courses from any organization can satisfy the 35-hour requirement. Its December notice specifically says candidates may continue to take self-paced courses from any organization. Do not apply the new live-class restriction to every online course: a scheduled virtual class with an instructor is live, while an on-demand course completed on your own schedule is self-paced.

Eligibility still is not automatic just because a course uses the words PMP or 35 hours. PMI's 2026 Exam Content Outline says self-paced on-demand training should include an end-of-course assessment, and the instruction must align with project-management learning objectives in the current Exam Content Outline. Books and practice exams alone do not count as the required training.

PMI lists an active Certified Associate in Project Management certification as another route. The current Exam Content Outline explains that an active CAPM gives the applicant credit for the 35 training hours, so the applicant does not need to document those hours separately after meeting the other education and experience requirements.

CAPM is not a shortcut around the rest of PMP eligibility. You still need to meet the applicable education and professional project-experience requirements. Check that the CAPM is active when you rely on it and use PMI's current application guidance as the final authority.

First, is the course genuinely live and instructor-led, or self-paced and on-demand? Second, if it is live and will finish on or after December 1, can you find the provider in PMI's Authorized Training Partner directory, the China REP pathway, or an eligible accredited higher education program? Ask the provider to identify the exact qualifying organization rather than relying on an instructor's personal PMP credential.

Third, does the course document at least 35 eligible training hours? Fourth, does its content align with the current PMP Exam Content Outline? Fifth, what completion evidence will you receive? Save a copy of the provider listing and course description when you enroll, then retain your certificate after completion.

A qualifying course satisfies an application requirement; it does not prove that you are ready to pass. The current PMP exam uses 180 questions over 240 minutes and emphasizes applied judgment across People, Process, and Business Environment. A completion certificate cannot replace scenario practice, review of missed decisions, or work on weak domains.

Evaluate a course twice: once for eligibility and once for learning value. For learning value, look for current 2026 coverage, scenario-based instruction, meaningful feedback, and a plan for review after the course. Avoid providers that guarantee a pass or imply access to live exam questions.

The 35 hours discussed here are part of qualifying to apply for PMP certification. Professional development units apply after certification: PMI currently requires PMP holders to earn 60 PDUs during each three-year renewal cycle. Completing an eligible application course and maintaining an earned certification are different stages with different records.

When comparing course claims, check which requirement the provider means. A course advertisement that mentions PDUs does not by itself establish that the course fulfills the PMP application's 35-hour training requirement, and an application-training certificate does not automatically describe how it will count toward a future renewal cycle.

If you already completed eligible training, preserve the evidence and continue with your application and study plan; PMI says pre-December training remains eligible under the current rules. If you are in a live course with a non-approved provider, confirm the completion date and documentation now. If you are shopping for a live course that ends on or after December 1, verify the provider through PMI's directory before paying.

If flexibility matters more than live instruction, compare current self-paced courses and confirm their hours, assessment, Exam Content Outline alignment, and completion documentation. Recheck PMI's certification page when you enroll and again when you apply, because the official application requirements—not a course seller's summary—control eligibility.