New PMI® Rule: PMP® Exam Prep Must Come From an Authorized Training Partner Starting December 1, 2026

What changes on December 1, 2026

PMI® is changing its training requirements for Project Managers applying to take the PMP® exam.

Starting 1 December 2026, live instructor-led PMP prep classes are eligible only if delivered by a PMI Authorized Training Partner (ATP) or offered through a university degree program accredited by PMI’s Global Accreditation Center (GAC).

Until now, the official class was optional. The new rule applies to every live class, online or in person, and it narrows the options for Bay Area project managers.

Why PMI is making the change

PMI is raising the bar to improve quality assurance for live instruction. ATP instructor requirements include completion of PMI’s Train the Trainer program and use of official PMI-licensed material.

How to check a provider’s ATP status

You can check any company’s ATP status using the PMI directory. Our listing is here.

As of this writing (Sep 20), Gantt Academy is the only Bay Area-owned PMI Authorized Training Partner offering public classes. We support the Bay Area’s PMI chapters, including as a sponsor of PMI Silicon Valley’s 2026 AI symposium.

About Gantt Academy

Gantt Academy offers project management training and PMP exam prep online, in person, and onsite for companies. Public in-person classes meet in San Francisco’s Financial District, a short walk from BART, and in Santa Clara, with other locations added from time to time. See our website for current dates and locations. All of our PMP prep classes count towards the exam’s 35-hour training requirement.

Visit PMI.org for more details.