CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) Cost
At a glance
- Exam fee
- $300
- Issuing body
- PMI
- Domain
- Project, quality & HR
- Validity
- 3 years
Informational only — not financial or career advice. Exam fees and certification requirements change, and the figures here are accurate only as of the listed verification date. Confirm the current fee and rules directly with the certifying body before you register or budget. We report the official-body exam fee for a single attempt; it excludes prep courses, materials and retakes, and is not the total cost of certifying.
The CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) exam is administered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). The official base exam fee is $300 for non-members or $225 for PMI members, covering a single attempt only. This fee does not include third-party training courses, study materials, exam prep resources, or retake attempts; those costs are separate. Candidates should verify the current exam fee directly with PMI's official website before budgeting or registering, as certification fees are subject to change.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for Project Management Specialists is $100,750. This figure represents the midpoint wage for the occupation and does not reflect any guaranteed salary, raise, or earnings increase associated with holding the CAPM credential. All eligibility requirements, current pricing, renewal policies, and official exam details should be confirmed through PMI's official channels.
Related pay (occupation median). The U.S. BLS reports a median annual wage of $100,750 (typically $59,830–$165,790 from the 10th to the 90th percentile) for Project Management Specialists, the occupation this certification most often targets. That is the occupation’s pay, not a guaranteed lift from the certificate — actual pay depends on role, employer, location and experience. Source: BLS OEWS national file.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Certification | CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) |
| Issuing body | PMI |
| Base exam fee | $300 |
| Fee notes | non-member $300 / member $225 |
| Prerequisites | HS diploma + 23 hrs PM education |
| Validity / renewal | 3 years |
What this fee does and doesn’t include
The figure here is the official-body exam fee for a single attempt. It does not include third-party training, prep courses, study materials, or retake fees — those are separate and vary by provider. Membership-tiered bodies may offer a lower member rate (noted above). Confirm the live fee on the issuer’s registration page before budgeting.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) exam?
Does this include a prep course?
Exam fee compiled from issuer’s registration page →, verified June 2026. How we compile this. Confirm the current fee before you pay — bodies re-price periodically.
Prerequisites & how to register → · Prep guide → · Compare Project, quality & HR certs →