PMP Live Training Requirements Are Changing December 1, 2026: What You Need to Know

If you are planning to earn your Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification, an important change is coming to the training requirements.

Beginning December 1, 2026, the Project Management Institute (PMI) will change which providers can deliver live instructor-led training that qualifies toward the 35 hours of project management education required for PMP certification.

The 35-hour requirement itself is not changing. What is changing is where candidates can earn those hours if they choose live training. This training update follows the 2026 PMP exam changes that took effect earlier this year.

Here is what prospective PMP candidates need to know.

What Is Changing for PMP Live Training?

PMP candidates are still required to complete 35 hours of qualifying project management training before applying for the certification.

Starting December 1, however, live instructor-led courses, whether delivered in person or virtually, will qualify only when they are provided through an approved pathway.

For most U.S. candidates, that means live PMP training must be delivered by either:

• A PMI Authorized Training Partner (ATP)
• An eligible accredited academic program, including programs accredited through the PMI Global Accreditation Center (GAC)

PMI also recognizes a separate Registered Education Provider pathway in China.

This is an important change for candidates comparing PMP training providers. After December 1, simply finding a course advertised as offering “35 PMP training hours” will not necessarily mean those hours qualify if the course is taught live.

PMI recommends verifying the training provider before enrolling.

What Is Not Changing?

There are a few things candidates should understand about the new policy.

First, the 35-hour training requirement remains in place. PMI is changing the eligibility requirements for live training providers, not increasing the number of training hours candidates need.

Second, the change applies specifically to live instructor-led training. That includes both traditional classroom training and virtual instructor-led courses.

Self-paced, on-demand training follows a different pathway. PMI states that candidates may continue taking qualifying self-paced courses from organizations other than Authorized Training Partners, provided the training meets PMI’s requirements.

So after December 1, the two paths will look roughly like this:

The important distinction is therefore live vs. self-paced, not online vs. classroom.

A live virtual class with an instructor is still considered live instructor-led training.

What If You Completed PMP Training Before December 1?

If you already completed qualifying PMP training, you do not automatically need to take another course because of the new rule.

PMI states that training completed before December 1, 2026 will remain eligible under the requirements that were in effect when the training was completed.

PMI also notes that qualifying project management training does not expire simply because time has passed. Candidates should keep documentation of previous training, including completion certificates, course descriptions, and records showing the number of training hours earned.

That means someone who earned qualifying training hours before the December 1 transition may still be able to use those hours in a later PMP application.

Why Is PMI Changing the Requirements?

PMI says the change is intended to help create a more consistent, high-quality preparation experience for PMP candidates worldwide.

Authorized Training Partners are organizations approved by PMI to provide official PMI training. PMI describes ATPs as going through vetting and ongoing monitoring, and they have access to PMI-developed instructor-led PMP course materials.

The change therefore gives candidates choosing live instruction another factor to consider beyond price, schedule, and course format:

Will the training actually meet PMI’s eligibility requirements?

Beginning December 1, that is a question candidates should answer before registering for a live PMP course.

What Is a PMI Authorized Training Partner?

A PMI Authorized Training Partner is a training organization authorized by PMI to deliver official instructor-led PMI training.

For PMP candidates, choosing an ATP means the organization is authorized to provide the live training pathway PMI recognizes for the 35-hour requirement.

This becomes particularly important after December 1.

Applied Technology Academy is a PMI Authorized Training Partner and provides live instructor-led PMP training using PMI-authorized curriculum. Our PMP courses are available in live learning formats designed to give candidates structured instruction and direct access to an experienced instructor.

Why Live PMP Training May Still Be Worth Considering

The new rule does not mean candidates must choose live training.

Self-paced learning can work well for people who prefer to study independently and have the discipline to manage their own schedule.

But live instructor-led training offers something different.

Candidates can ask questions in real time, work through difficult concepts with an instructor, learn alongside other project professionals, and follow a structured schedule instead of determining their own study plan.

That can be especially valuable for professionals trying to prepare for the PMP exam while balancing a full-time job and other responsibilities.

The goal should not simply be to collect 35 training hours. Those hours are also an opportunity to build the project management knowledge and decision-making skills the PMP exam is designed to assess.

How to Choose PMP Training After December 1

If you are considering live PMP training on or after December 1, 2026, check the provider before enrolling.

Look for clear confirmation that the organization is a PMI Authorized Training Partner or falls within another eligible live-training category recognized by PMI. PMI also provides an Authorized Training Partner directory candidates can use to verify providers.

You may also want to consider:

• Whether the course reflects the current PMP Exam Content Outline
• Whether instruction is delivered live or self-paced
• Instructor experience
• Opportunities to ask questions and interact during training
• Scheduling options that work with your availability
• What study and exam-preparation resources are included

Choosing the right course is about more than satisfying an application requirement. It should also help prepare you to apply project management principles effectively and approach the PMP exam with confidence.

Preparing for PMP Certification Under the New Requirements

PMI’s December 1 update makes the training-provider decision more important for candidates who prefer instructor-led preparation.

The biggest takeaway is simple:

The 35-hour PMP training requirement is staying. Beginning December 1, 2026, candidates who earn those hours through live instructor-led training will need to make sure their provider is authorized under PMI’s new eligibility requirements.

Applied Technology Academy is a PMI Authorized Training Partner offering live instructor-led PMP training for professionals preparing for PMP certification.

Explore our PMP training or contact our training team to find an upcoming course that fits your schedule.

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