PMP Certification Cost 2026: PMI Fee Breakdown

Quick Answer

PMP certification cost in 2026 rose on August 6 to $445 for PMI members and $675 for non-members, up from $405 and $555. Retake fees are $275 member / $375 non-member, PMI membership costs $139/yr plus a $10 application, and renewal runs $60 member / $150 non-member every three years (PMI, August 2026; StormWind fee tracker, August 2026).

Total first-year spend runs $594 for a PMI member on a self-paced course to $4,694 for a non-member in a top-tier bootcamp. The new PMP exam went live July 9, 2026 aligned to PMBOK 8 and the refreshed Examination Content Outline (PMI, July 2026).

Last verified: Sep 15, 2026.

At a glance

• Aug 6, 2026 fee raise: member $445, non-member $675 (PMI, August 2026)
• Retake $275 member / $375 non-member; three attempts per eligibility
• PMI membership $139/yr + $10 application; saves $185 on first attempt
• 35 contact hours + 36-month experience (24 months with degree)
• Total first-year $594 self-paced to $4,694 premium bootcamp

PMP exam fee structure after the August 2026 raise

PMI raised PMP exam fees on August 6, 2026, increasing the member rate by $40 and the non-member rate by $120. Pre-raise fees were $405 member / $555 non-member; the new fees are $445 member / $675 non-member (PMI fee schedule, August 2026).

The increase widened the member-to-non-member gap from $150 to $230, which now comfortably exceeds the cost of joining PMI. Candidates who paid before August 6, 2026 locked in the older fee (StormWind fee tracker, August 2026).

PMP retake fees are commonly reported at $275 for members and $375 for non-members. The PMI global fee schedule shows these prices but no longer breaks out paper-based testing for most regions (PMI, August 2026).

Source: PMI published fee schedule, August 2026; StormWind fee tracker, August 2026.

PMI membership fees and the math

Joining PMI before registering saves money immediately because the member-vs-non-member gap now exceeds $230. PMI membership costs $139/yr plus a one-time $10 application fee (PMI, August 2026).

First-time candidate math is straightforward: Member path $139 + $10 + $445 = $594 vs non-member path $675 — a $81 saving after one attempt. The saving grows to $381 if you fail twice and retake (PMI, August 2026).

Membership includes a free digital PMBOK Guide ($99 retail value), discounted webinars and PDU content, and lower renewal fees three years later ($60 vs $150) (PMI, August 2026).

Source: PMI fee schedule, August 2026.

PMP exam content and the July 2026 update

PMP exam switched to a new content outline aligned with PMBOK 8 on July 9, 2026. The new outline keeps three domains (People, Process, Business Environment) but redistributes weight to focus on delivery approaches and business value (PMI, July 2026).

The exam runs 230 minutes with 180 questions split across five domain areas. Five unscored pilot items are pre-released by PMI for psychometric testing; candidates cannot tell which items are scored (PMI, July 2026).

Candidates can choose predictive, agile, or hybrid delivery approaches during the exam. PMI does not penalise any specific approach as long as situational questions are answered consistently (PMI, July 2026).

Source: PMI PMP Examination Content Outline, July 2026.

PMP eligibility and 35 contact hours

PMP requires 36 months of project management experience plus 35 contact hours of project-management education. A four-year degree halves the experience to 24 months (PMI, August 2026).

CAPM holders waive the 35 contact hours but still need the experience. PMI Authorised Training Partner (ATP) courses satisfy the 35-hour requirement and provide a certificate for the application (PMI, August 2026).

The 35 contact hours must be completed before the application is submitted. The application is then audited by PMI, a process that takes five to ten days for most candidates (PMI, August 2026).

Self-study PMP path: $594 to $1,090 first year

The cheapest PMP path is a $200 self-paced video course plus the $445 member exam plus $145 first-year membership. First-year spend lands at $594 to $1,090 for PMI members who pass on the first attempt (PMI, August 2026).

Line items are $149 first-year membership ($139 + $10 application), $445 exam, $200 to $500 self-paced training on Udemy or LinkedIn Learning, and $50 to $100 for Rita Mulcahy's PMP Exam Prep book (PMI, August 2026).

Self-study candidates typically spend 200 to 300 hours across three to six months. Many pair the free PMI study Hall with paid practice tests (PMI, August 2026).

Live online PMP training: $600 to $1,800

PMI Authorised Training Partner (ATP) live online courses run 35 contact hours over six to ten weeks and satisfy the eligibility requirement. Tuition typically includes digital study materials, instructor access, and one retake voucher (PMI, August 2026).

Simplilearn, KnowledgeHut, and GreyCampus offer PMP ATP courses at $600 to $1,500, while PMI's own Live Online Prep sits at $1,200 to $1,800 inclusive of digital PMBOK Guide (PMI, August 2026).

The advantage over self-study is the structured walk-through of the three domains. The disadvantage is the rigid schedule and the higher price point (PMI, August 2026).

PMP bootcamp path: $2,500 to $4,694

Five-day immersive PMP bootcamps condense 35 to 40 contact hours into a single working week with the Pearson VUE exam scheduled at the end. All-inclusive pricing covers tuition, the $445 member exam voucher, and one retake (PMI, August 2026).

Top-tier US PMP bootcamps (PMTI, StormWind, KnowledgeHut) sit at $2,500 to $4,694. Add $300 to $600 for travel, lodging, and meals for out-of-state candidates (PMI, August 2026).

Many US employers reimburse PMP bootcamps under professional-development budgets because the credential unlocks senior project manager and PMO lead roles (PMI, August 2026).

PMP retake, renewal, and 60 PDU cycle

PMP retakes are allowed three times within a one-year eligibility window at $275 member / $375 non-member each. Failing three times forfeits the application and requires resubmission of experience and education (PMI, August 2026).

Renewal runs $60 member / $150 non-member every three years and requires 60 PDUs. PDUs split into education (minimum 35) and giving back (remaining 25) categories (PMI, August 2026).

Free PDUs are available through PMI chapter events, recorded webinars, and PMI publications. Paid options like bootcamp refreshers or university courses cost $200 to $2,000 per cycle (PMI, August 2026).

PMP vs CAPM and PMI-ACP cost comparison

PMP at $445 member / $675 non-member sits above CAPM at $225 / $300 and below PMI-ACP at $435 / $495. All three sit on PMI's membership-based fee schedule (PMI, August 2026).

CAPM is the entry-level credential requiring 23 contact hours and either a high-school diploma or 1,500 hours of PM experience. PMI-ACP targets agile practitioners and requires 21 contact hours of agile-specific training (PMI, August 2026).

Most US federal contractors and Fortune-500 firms require PMP for senior project manager roles. CAPM is the typical entry point for junior PMs, and PMI-ACP adds agile value (PMI, August 2026).

Source: PMI fee schedule, August 2026.

FAQs

Should I sit the PMP exam before or after August 6, 2026?

Candidates registered before the August 6, 2026 raise were charged the older fee. New candidates starting after that date pay $445 member or $675 non-member. If your application is approved before the raise and your exam is scheduled within the eligibility window, the older fee applies (PMI, August 2026).

Is the PMP exam harder than the CAPM exam?

PMP is harder by an order of magnitude. PMP covers three domains with 180 questions and 230 minutes, while CAPM covers 150 questions and 150 minutes with a single domain focus. PMP also requires 36 months of experience; CAPM requires 23 contact hours only (PMI, August 2026).

Do I need an MBA to earn PMP?

No. PMP requires 35 contact hours of PM-specific training plus 24 to 36 months of PM experience. An MBA is one path to the experience requirement, but PMI accepts work experience from any industry or sector (PMI, August 2026).

How does the new PMP exam differ from the prior version?

The July 9, 2026 PMP exam swapped the prior three-domain split (Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring, Closing) for a competency-based three-domain split (People, Process, Business Environment). PMBOK 8th edition content replaces PMBOK 7, with new agile and hybrid delivery sections (PMI, July 2026).

Can I take the PMP exam at home with online proctoring?

Yes. PMI offers Pearson VUE OnVUE remote proctoring at no extra fee. The same $445 member or $675 non-member exam fee applies. Candidates need a webcam, microphone, and a clean workspace (PMI, August 2026).

Is there a public PMP pass rate?

PMI does not publish a global first-attempt pass rate. Independent training providers estimate 50 to 65 percent for self-study candidates and 70 to 85 percent for bootcamp candidates on first attempts. PMP has historically been a difficult exam regardless of preparation path (PMI, August 2026).

Does PMP qualify for the UK National Vocational Qualification?

Yes. PMP maps to the UK NVQ Level 6 project management qualification through the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). The PMP-CMI fast-track requires a copy of the PMP certificate plus a short bridging module (CMI, September 2026).

What is the difference between PMP and PRINCE2?

PMP is a competency-based credential from PMI covering three domains and agile/hybrid/predictive approaches. PRINCE2 is a process-based methodology from AXELOS with separate Foundation and Practitioner exams. Many UK and EU employers prefer PRINCE2; US employers weight PMP (PMI, AXELOS, September 2026).

How long is PMP application processing?

PMI processes PMP applications within five to ten business days for most candidates. Audits extend the timeline to 10 to 20 days. Membership status and existing CAPM credentials shorten the process (PMI, August 2026).

PMP salary impact and global demand

PMP holders in the US earn 10 to 20 percent salary premiums over non-certified project managers, with average compensation around $95,000 to $135,000 in 2026. Senior PMO leads and programme directors in finance and tech regularly cross $185,000 with PMP plus experience (PMI 2024 compensation study).

US federal contractor demand for PMP holders jumped after DoD 8140 and major primes such as Lockheed Martin, Booz Allen, and SAIC adopted PMP as a hiring baseline. PMP is the most-requested project management certification on US job boards in 2026 (PMI Workforce Trends, 2024).

Source verification: PMI official PMP certification page (August 2026), PMI membership page (August 2026), StormWind Studios PMP fee tracker (August 2026), PMI PMP Examination Content Outline (July 2026), Simplilearn and KnowledgeHut PMP cost analyses (August 2026).