The Professional Development (PD) Milestone Badge recognizes your ongoing commitment to maintaining and developing your professional knowledge, skills, and contributions. This article explains what the application requires and how the badge expiry date is determined.
What Does the Professional Development Application Ask For?
To complete the Professional Development Milestone Badge application, you must provide evidence in two areas:
1. Professional Development Activities
You must describe activities you have undertaken to maintain and grow your professional capability. These may include:
- Conferences attended
- Formal education or academic study
- Being mentored
- Training courses
- Relevant professional memberships
- Other structured development activities
Your examples should demonstrate how you have maintained or expanded your:
- Knowledge of technology trends and techniques
- Knowledge of vertical industry sectors (e.g., telecommunications, financial services, government, healthcare)
- Skills and knowledge in your profession and your Discipline / Specialty
You may provide multiple examples across different time periods to show both long‑term development and recent activity.
2. Contributions to Your Profession
You must also provide examples of how you have contributed to the wider profession. These may include:
- Presenting at conferences or events
- Publishing articles or white papers
- Participating in professional communities
- Contributing to standards or best‑practice development
- Mentoring others in their career progression
At Level 2 and Level 3, mentoring others is a required form of contribution.
How Is the Badge Expiry Date Determined?
The expiry date of your Professional Development badge is based on the dates of the evidence you submit.
Certification Rules
- All evidence for PD01 (Professional Development activities) must be no more than 8 years old at the time of application.
- For each of the other criteria, at least one activity must be less than 3 years old.
This ensures that your badge reflects both sustained development over time and recent, ongoing professional growth.
How to Maximize Your Badge Validity
To achieve the longest possible validity period:
- Include older examples to demonstrate the duration of your professional development journey.
- Include recent examples (within the last 3 years) to show that you continue to actively develop your skills and knowledge.
The more recent your evidence, the longer your badge will remain valid before renewal is required.
Need Support?
If you have questions about selecting appropriate evidence or preparing your application, please contact The Open Group Open Professions Helpdesk. We’re here to help you navigate the process confidently.