One of the hallmarks of a strong professional certification program is the implementation of a process to
help ensure the continuing competence of certificants in the discipline. INFORMS will use a Professional
Development Unit (PDU) system similar to those used in other professional certifications.
All certificants must participate in an ongoing formal renewal process to maintain their certification
status. Certificants must demonstrate compliance with renewal requirements during their three-year
certification cycles.
Professional Development Unit (PDU) Requirements
All CAP® certificants will be required to achieve a minimum of 30 PDUs in a three (3)-year renewal period.
The table below describes various options for achieving the required PDUs along with any required minimum
or maximum PDUs specified in each category.
PDU category
Description of policy
PDU points allowed
Participation as a student in formal
education/training programs
provided on analytics topics
This option includes courses,
One (1) PDU per each hour of
seminars, and workshops on analytics- instruction. Certificants must achieve at
related issues.
least 8 PDUs in this category during the
three-year renewal period.
Self-directed learning
This category includes reading
articles and books or watching
instructional videos on analytics
issues.
One (1) PDU per each hour of selfdirected learning.
Creating new analytics knowledge or
content including serving as faculty at
learning events
Examples in this category include
authoring articles, books, newsletters,
etc. PDUs are also awarded for
serving as faculty at various learning
events.
One (1) PDU is awarded for each hour
of activity spent in these activities.
Volunteer service
Examples in this category include
serving as a volunteer for INFORMS
or its regional chapters, working on
analytics meetings, or assisting the
certification process.
One (1) PDU is awarded for each hour
of volunteer service. Certificants may
earn a maximum of 10 hours in this
category in a three-year period.
Analytics professional work
experience
Full-time employment as an analytics
professional for a minimum of one (1)
year.
Five (5) PDUs are awarded for each full
year of employment as an analytics
professional.
Certificants may earn a maximum of 10
hours in this category in a three-year
period.
All claimed PDUs must be submitted/verified to INFORMS prior to the conclusion of a certificant’s three-year
renewal cycle. Certificants are reminded that they will not be able to claim more than the maximum PDUs
allowed in any specific category.
Recording PDUs and the Audit Process
Certificants are required to keep accurate records of all professional development activities including all
certificates/letters confirming attendance and/or participation in approved education/training programs.
Certificants must present all required PDU records to INFORMS before certification renewal will be granted.
Certificants can input their PDUs as they are earned on the INFORMS website at https://www.informs.org/
Certification-Continuing-Ed/Analytics-Certification/Maintain-Your-Certification.
INFORMS will periodically audit a sample of certificants to verify the PDUs claimed in their
renewal application.
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