Earn PDUs with online courses

Online courses are one of the best ways to earn Education PDUs on topics that can be of both personal and professional interest.

It’s important to use PMI approved courses however, which is why I recommend:

These websites offer courses on a range of topics such as project management, leadership, agile best practices and product development.

You can earn anywhere from 1 to 40 PDUs from the online courses listed below. A full list of online resources can be found on the Resources page.

Please note that the categories have been updated based on the new guidelines from PMI:
Ways of Working (formerly Technical Project Management)
Power Skills (formerly Leadership)
Business Acumen (formerly Strategic and Business Management)

Coursera

Coursera provides access to courses and certificates from universities around the world – all online. Some of them also allow you to earn PDUs – review the list below.

Coursera - Agile Meets Design Thinking

Agile Meets Design Thinking

Coursera

You’ll learn to understand agile methods, create a shared focus on user needs, and figure out what makes software useful by testing ideas with user stories and prototypes.

Ways of Working: 15 PDUs Power Skills: 5 PDUs Business Acumen: 5 PDUs Effort: Medium Time: High Cost: Low

Coursera - Digital Product Management: Modern Fundamentals

Digital Product Management: Modern Fundamentals

Coursera

You’ll learn to effectively manage products by creating a clear focus, using modern management methods, and developing and exploring new product ideas.

Ways of Working: 5 PDUs Power Skills: 10 PDUs Business Acumen: 5 PDUs Effort: High Time: High Cost: Low

Coursera - Managing an Agile Team

Managing an Agile Team

Coursera

You’ll learn to improve your team’s agile practices by testing new methods, creating a team charter that aligns with company goals, running retrospectives for ongoing improvement, and guiding the team’s agile transition.

Ways of Working:1 5 PDUs Power Skills: 2 PDUs Business Acumen: 3 PDUs Effort: Low Time: Med Cost: Low


LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning is a well-known resource for online courses and certificates in technology, business, creative and software development fields. They provide numerous courses that allow you to earn PDUs.

For more information on pricing and how to maximize LinkedIn Learning for earning PDUs, visit the Resources page.

Time Management Fundamentals

Time Management Fundamentals

LinkedIn Learning

In this course, productivity expert Dave Crenshaw provides strategies to help you save time by building organizational habits, staying focused, and managing your workload through a “time budget,” enabling you to accomplish more in less time and create extra hours each week for personal freedom.

Business Acumen: 2.75 PDUs Effort: Low Time: Low Cost: Low

Ya Xu: How to Turn AI from a Buzz Word to a Business Tool

Ya Xu: How to Turn AI from a Buzz Word to a Business Tool

LinkedIn Learning

In this course, LinkedIn’s head of data and AI, Ya Xu, offers insights into the current landscape of AI, discussing responsible and human-centric AI, product development best practices, team building, emergent tools, and strategies for navigating the rapidly evolving AI-driven world.

Business Acumen: 0.5 PDUs Effort: Low Time: Low Cost: Low

Public Speaking Foundations

Public Speaking Foundations

LinkedIn Learning

Laura Bergells’ course equips presenters with practical techniques to confidently prepare, structure, and deliver impactful speeches, incorporating storytelling, handling questions, and effectively opening and closing presentations.

Power Skills: 1 PDUs Effort: Low Time: Low Cost: Low

Measuring Team Performance

Measuring Team Performance

LinkedIn Learning

In this course, Mike Figliuolo provides guidance on identifying meaningful business metrics, explaining how to measure team performance across functions like sales and finance, and offering examples of key metrics to improve reporting and drive results throughout the value chain.

Power Skills: 1.25 PDUs Effort: Low Time: Low Cost: Low

Business Innovation Foundations

Business Innovation Foundations

LinkedIn Learning

In this course, Keith Hopper explores innovation practices, highlighting essential skills and mindsets for fostering creativity, identifying opportunities through user feedback, validating ideas, and building an innovative, agile work culture that engages both coworkers and managers.

Business Acumen: 3 PDUs Effort: Low Time: Low Cost: Low

Business Writing Principles

Business Writing Principles

LinkedIn Learning

This course, led by Judy Steiner-Williams, teaches you the principles of effective business writing by focusing on the “10 Cs” of strong communication, providing before-and-after examples, highlighting common grammar errors, and offering tips for specific formats like emails and reports.

Power Skills: 1.5 PDUs Effort: Low Time: Low Cost: Low

Design Thinking: Understanding the Process

Design Thinking: Understanding the Process

LinkedIn Learning

In this course, Chris Nodder introduces the principles of design thinking, explaining how each stage—from problem identification to prototyping—can help organizations develop creative, user-centered solutions while addressing challenges like organizational inertia and silos.

Business Acumen: 0.5 PDUs Effort: Low Time: Low Cost: Low

Problem-Solving Techniques

Problem-Solving Techniques

LinkedIn Learning

Chris Croft’s course teaches techniques for identifying the root cause of problems, generating creative solutions with tools like mind maps and decision trees, and using both logic and intuition to select the most effective solution.

Power Skills: 1.5 PDUs Effort: Low Time: Low Cost: Low

Business Development: Strategic Planning

Business Development: Strategic Planning

LinkedIn Learning

In this course, Meridith Powell explains how to develop a strategic plan for business growth by setting clear goals, building a planning team, managing and assessing progress, and avoiding common planning mistakes to ensure focused, effective business development.

Business Acumen: 1.0 PDUs Effort: Low Time: Low Cost: Low

Managing Employee Performance Problems

Managing Employee Performance Problems

LinkedIn Learning

Leadership coach JoAnn R. Corley-Schwarzkopf’s course equips managers with strategies to proactively address employee performance issues, including creating effective coaching plans, handling difficult conversations, making tough decisions, and integrating performance management as an ongoing organizational practice.

Power Skills: 1.75 PDUs Effort: Low Time: Low Cost: Low

Project Management: Choosing the Right Online Tool

Project Management: Choosing the Right Online Tool

LinkedIn Learning

In this course, Bonnie Biafore guides project managers in selecting the best software for their organization by reviewing popular tools like Jira, Smartsheet, and Wrike, highlighting the pros and cons of each, and showing which options suit small businesses versus larger enterprises.

Business Acumen: 1.5 PDUs Effort: Low Time: Low Cost: Low

Influence Skills for Leaders and Managers

Influence Skills for Leaders and Managers

LinkedIn Learning

Instructor Melody Wilding’s course teaches the art of influence, providing tools and strategies to inspire teams, gain buy-in from leaders, advocate for accomplishments, and make an impact, with a focus on applying these skills in both hybrid and remote work environments.

Power Skills: 0.75 PDUs Effort: Low Time: Low Cost: Low