PMP Exam Certification Fees - Complete Guide 2025

Being a PMP® certified professional helps you in expanding your skills and values while at the same time open doors to various potential job opportunities. The PMP certification will help you land into lucrative roles in the fields of IT, finance, manufacturing, healthcare, and various other industries.

With the increase in popularity of the project management field, the demand for officially qualified project managers has also increased. For aspirants who wish to prepare for a PMP examination, understanding the PMP exam fees is a very critical aspect. What is the cost of PMP® Certification? Are there any different aspects of the PMP certification fees? 

Read along to know about the PMP exam fees and the other aspects that might be associated with it.

 

The Project Management Institute (PMI®) offers two options for registering for the PMP® certification exam: one with PMI® membership and one without. To be eligible for the PMP® exam, you must complete at least 35 hours of project management education. The PMP exam price varies based on PMI membership status.  

Overview of the PMP Exam 

The Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam, offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI)®, is one of the most recognized credentials for project managers worldwide. The exam consists of 180 questions to be completed in 230 minutes. These questions are a mix of multiple-choice, multiple responses, matching, hotspot, and fill-in-the-blank formats. 

Out of the 180 questions, 175 are scored, and 5 are unscored pretest questions used to evaluate future exam content. The exam is based on three performance domains: People (42%), Process (50%), and Business Environment (8%). 

You also get two 10-minute breaks, but only in the computer-based exam. The breaks occur after completing each of the first two sections. 

To qualify, candidates must have either: 

• A four-year degree, 36 months of project leadership experience, and 35 hours of project management education/training 
  OR 
• A high school diploma or associate degree, 60 months of experience, and 35 hours of education. 

The PMP exam is available online (proctored) and at test centers. Once you pass, your certification is valid for three years. 

Here’s a breakdown of the costs and PMP exam fees you can expect: 

PMP® Certification Training:

• Classroom Training: $500 to $2,000
• Online Training: $200 to $500

PMI Membership Fees (also referred to as PMI membership cost):  

• New Member Fee: $129
• One-Time Application Fee: $10
• Annual Renewal Fee: $129

PMP® Exam Fees:

Online Computer-Based Testing:

• PMI® Members: $405
• Non-Members: $555

Paper-Based Testing:

• PMI® Members: $400
• Non-Members: $250

Note: Paper-based testing is available only for candidates who live at least 300 km from the nearest Prometric center or have difficulty crossing their country's borders. Becoming a PMI® member can save you $11 on the PMP exam fee.

To prepare for the PMP® exam, the PMBOK Guide is essential:

• Hard Copy: $47.98
• Soft Copy: Free for PMI® members

For flexible learning, consider enrolling in our online PMP bootcamps, which offer comprehensive preparation for the certification exam.

Type	Exam Fee	Annual Membership Fee	One-time Application Fee	Total
PMI® Members	$405	$129	$10	$544
Non-PMI® Members	$555	-	-	$555

The table shows you can save $11 on PMP exam fees by becoming a PMI® member before applying. If you choose to become a PMI® member first and then apply for the PMP®  certification examination.

You can refer to various resources in order to prepare yourself well for the PMP®  examination. PMBOK Guide (Project Management Body of Knowledge), issued by the Project  Management Institute, covers the majority of the topics on which the questions are based. Studying from the PMBOK Guide is an essential part of your preparation. The hard copy of a PMBOK guide is available at a cost of $47.98 USD, while it can be accessed for free as a soft copy by the PMI® members (becomes available on the PMI® website after becoming a member of the PMI®). If you're seeking to learn with flexibility and convenience, enroll in our PMP bootcamps online for comprehensive PMP exam preparation and certification.

PMP Certification vs. Other Project Management Certifications Cost Breakdown 

Certification	Exam Fee (USD)	Training Cost (Approx.)	Renewal Cost (USD)	Validity Period	Offered By
PMP (Project Management Professional)	$405 (PMI Member) / $555 (Non-Member)	$200 – $2,000	$60 (Member) / $150 (Non-Member)	3 Years	PMI (Project Management Institute)
CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management)	$225 (PMI Member) / $300 (Non-Member)	$150 – $1,000	$60 (Member) / $150 (Non-Member)	3 Years	PMI
PRINCE2 Foundation	~$300	$500 – $1,000	None (lifetime)	Lifetime	Axelos / PeopleCert
PRINCE2 Practitioner	~$400 – $500	$700 – $1,200	None (lifetime)	Lifetime*	Axelos / PeopleCert
PMI-ACP (Agile Certified Practitioner)	$435 (Member) / $495 (Non-Member)	$500 – $1,500	$60 (Member) / $150 (Non-Member)	3 Years	PMI
CSM (Certified ScrumMaster)	~$150 – $1,000 (incl. training)	Included in training	$100 every 2 years	2 Years	Scrum Alliance

How Long Does PMP Certification Take? 

The total time to get PMP certified typically ranges from 2 to 6 months, depending on your background, schedule, and study habits. The first step is completing 35 hours of formal project management education. Many professionals do this through online training, bootcamps, or weekend workshops. Some complete it in just a week or two, while others pace it out over a month. 

Once your training is done, the next big chunk of time goes into exam preparation. Most candidates take 2 to 3 months to study thoroughly. This includes reading the PMBOK Guide, practicing mock tests, and revising key concepts. If you’re balancing a full-time job, daily study sessions of 1–2 hours can help you stay on track without burnout. 

After preparing, you’ll need to apply for the exam through PMI. The application process takes about 5 to 10 business days for review. If you’re selected for an audit, it could add another week. Once approved, you can choose your test date. In total, a focused, consistent effort can help you achieve PMP certification in around 8 to 12 weeks. 

What Is the PMP Renewal Fees?

It will always be best for you the clear the examination in the first attempt and prepare accordingly. In case it happens that you fail to do so, then PMI® charges a fee, which is the re-examination fee only for retakes. The PMP exam retake fee for computer-based testing is stated as below:

• PMI® Members: $275
• Non-PMI® Members: $375

The various cost aspects related to PMP® certification can be summarized in the following chart:

Exam Type	Membership Status	Exam Cost
Computer-based exam	PMI® Member	$405
	Non-PMI® Member	$555
Paper-based exam	PMI® Member	$400
	Non-PMI® Member	$250
Retaking exam through	PMI® Member	$275
computer-based testing	Non-PMI® Member	$375

If you choose to take an online PMP® certification, it will cost you approximately $750 USD, which includes the exam fee PMP candidates must pay. 

The additional costs aligned with PMP® certification can be listed down as:

Sl. No.	PMP® Certification Fees (Different Cost Aspects)	Costs
1	PMI Membership fee along with joining fee	$139
2	PMI Membership renewal fee	$129 per year
3	PMBOK® handbook cost for members	Free
4	PMBOK® handbook cost for non-members	$50 on Amazon
5	Cost of study guides and resources	$40 to $100
6	Cost of practice tests	$60 to $100
7	PMP certification renewal cost for PMI members	$60
8	Renewal cost of PMP® certification for non-members	$150

Is there a refund policy? What is the process?

Yes, there is a refund policy that can be asked for. To avail a refund, a request has to be made to the Project Management Institute, PMI® at least 30 days prior to the date of exam eligibility expiration. An amount of $100 will be retained as a processing fee if the candidate has not taken the exam or not yet scheduled the exam. After this process, the application will be closed and the eligibility period will not be valid after the refund has been processed.

A candidate can ask for a refund if their application has been rejected or if they have not passed the audit.

Refund will not be provided by the PMI® in any of the following cases:

• The candidate’s eligibility period of one year has ended and he/she has not yet scheduled an examination. In that case, the whole fee amount will be charged. However, if the candidate wishes to obtain the certification, he/she will have to apply again and submit the fee once again.
• The candidate has scheduled the examination but has not taken it, nor has he/she provided PMI® with any necessary canceling or rescheduling notification. In such a case, the whole amount of fee will be forfeited.

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What is the application process for the PMP Exam?

After meeting all the eligibility requirements, fill the PMP application. PMI takes about 5 to 10 days to review your application once you have submitted your application. Once your application has been reviewed and processed, you will receive an e-mail from the PMI with a request for payment. You can choose your examination mode, computer-based or online-based, and complete the process of payment. Once PMI receives the payment that you have made, it sends your application for the process of audit.

What if my application goes for an audit?

For the process of audit, PMI randomly selects a few applications. You’ll be notified through an email if your application gets selected for the process of audit, asking you to submit the following documents for the process of audit:

• Copy of your 4-year degree certificates/secondary degree
• Copy of 35 contact hours certificate
• Signature copies from the manager or the supervisor for the project that you have recorded in the experience section of your application.

You get a total of 90 days to submit the above-mentioned documents. The audit process can take up to 7 days after PMI has received all the documents. After the audit process has successfully been completed, you’ll receive an email notification which will contain your PMI eligibility ID and examination scheduling instructions. You can schedule your examination within one year from this day.

What are the different aspects that can be included in the PMP certification cost?

Are there any different aspects other than training and exam fee for PMP®  certification cost? This question can come across any candidate who is preparing for the PMP®  certification examination. Read along to know about the various factors that are important other than the PMP certification fees and training, so that you can plan your financials accordingly.

Cost factor #1: 35 Hours of Project Management Training

As discussed, these 35 hours of training is required to meet the PMP®  Eligibility requirement list. One can opt for classroom-training or online-based training, as per their ease. The classroom-training prices vary between $500 USD to $2,000 USD while that of online training varies between $200 USD to $500 USD.

Cost factor #2: Time for Preparation 

The preparation time can be considered as PMP® certification cost. As busy professionals, you’ll have to spare time to take up this project management course. This is the major reason for online training being on high demand, as it is self-paced. The duration of the course and self-study depends on your dedication, background knowledge in project management and your professional experience.  

Cost factor #3: Guides and study materials

One needs to be well prepared for the complex exam pattern of the PMP®  certification exam. For this, you might have to take help from various reference books, which may be hardcopy or softcopy. It’ll help you gain knowledge and boost your courage for your PMP®  examination.

Cost factor #4: Practice and Mock Tests

Solving sample questions and sample exam plays an important role in preparation in any exam. It will help you test your readiness and knowledge on the topic, giving you a better grasp on the subject. Moreover, you will get to discover the topics where you need to improve. Moreover, you can get a better grip on time management, which is another very important factor to keep in mind while giving a PMP®  certification exam.

Cost factor #5: Renewal of Credentials 

The PMP®  certification that you will earn will be valid for three years. You’ll have to renew your credentials every three years before it becomes invalid, which will cost you $150 USD if you are not a PMI® member. But if you are a PMI® member, the renewal will cost you $60 USD.

Summary: PMP®  Certification Fees

The overall PMP exam fees and certification costs depend on the choices you make for your training preparation and different other factors mentioned above. If you choose on taking an online PMP®  certification, the PMP certification price comes to $750 USD, which includes the exam fee. If you wish to go for a classroom training for PMP® certification, it will cost you roughly around $1,700 USD, including the exam fee. Know more about professional Project Management course cost and their learning modes. 

Consider the PMP certification time and cost involved in preparation and training. Opting for online PMP® training offers flexibility, allowing you to study at your own pace while managing time effectively. Additionally, the lower cost of online training is a bonus. Plan ahead and choose wisely. Good luck!