Contact hours are the actual amount of time a candidate spends receiving instruction in project management or any of the 5 domains of project management (Initializing, Planning, Executing, Controlling, Closing). For example, if a candidate takes a 1-day class that last 8 hours and provides instruction in project management, the candidate earns 8 contact hours.
Contact hours are not equal to PDUs. Additionally, Test Candidates cannot obtain PDUs; they can earn contact hours only. Candidates can submit any class, seminar, on the job training, online training, and distance teaching classes whose learning objectives include Project Management or any of its domains. Independent study and PMI chapter meetings are not accepted for the contact hour requirement.