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New PDP Guidelines
Last night, a webinar was held to introduce the new Professional Development Program (PDP) for Optimist International. Below are the new program guidelines, as well as the list of the requirements for each level.
Please note that all levels of the new PDP must be completed on the Optimist Institute, and take special note of number 3 below if you have ever worked on levels of the former PDP.
New PDP Guidelines:
- The new PDP will be available online in the Optimist Institute on September 9, 2025.
- To participate in the PDP, each member is required to have an active account in the Optimist Institute.
- Because the new PDP is very different from the former PDP, any member wishing to participate in the PDP will begin at level 1.
- The levels of the PDP must be completed consecutively. Upon successful completion of a level, the next level will be unlocked, as some of the work builds up to other work.
- When completing components within each level, members must be sure to follow the verification deadlines as required for each submission, which will always be within 60 days. However, members can take as long as they want/need to complete an entire level.
- Any items that are uploaded and read that they are “pending approval” can take up to two weeks for completion.
- Certificates of completion for each PDP level can be generated through the Optimist Institute once a level is completed. Reward badges for each level will also be awarded through the Optimist Institute.
- Pins will be sent directly to the District PDP Chair or Governor for presentation to the member, unless the OI office is informed that it should be sent to the member directly.
If you have any questions on this new program, feel free to email institute@optimist.org.
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