Just a reminder to those of you who have achieved NPDP Certification: it must
be renewed every three years. One of the criteria the committee will be using
to renew your certification is evidence that you have been actively pursuing
additional new product development knowledge. The Certification Committee measures
this knowledge by something we call Professional Development Hours, or PDHs. PDHs
measure professional growth activities under these guidelines:
One-day program = 8 professional development hours
Half-day program = 4 professional development hours
PDMA Chapter meeting = 2 professional development hours
Attendance at the Annual International Conference = 20 professional development hours
A total of 20 PDHs per year is required in each of the three years of the NPDP
Certification term.
How do you accumulate PDHs? Here are some examples of activities that count towards
your renewal requirement: PDMA workshops, conferences, chapter meetings, chapter
conferences, executive education programs, college courses, internal corporate training
programs, or any conference covering new product development topics.
When you renew your certification you will need to provide evidence that you attended
the activity. Certificates, college transcripts, receipts, or letters of attendance all
support your renewal.
The Certification Committee strongly encourages you to attend skill- and knowledge-building
activities to maintain your status as a New Product Development Professional.
