PMP (Project Management Professional) Cost
At a glance
- Exam fee
- $555
- Issuing body
- PMI
- Domain
- Project, quality & HR
- Validity
- 3 years (60 PDUs)
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 PMP (Project Management Professional) credential is administered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). As of June 2026, the official exam fee is $555 for non-members and $405 for PMI members, though membership itself carries a separate cost. This base fee covers a single examination attempt only and does not include third-party training courses, study materials, practice exams, or retake fees. Candidates should verify the current fee directly with PMI's official website before budgeting or registering, as certification fees are subject to change.
The PMP credential is commonly pursued by professionals in project management and related fields. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for Computer and Information Systems Managers—a primary occupation employing PMP holders—was $171,200 as of the most recent data. This figure represents the midpoint wage in that occupation and should not be interpreted as a guaranteed salary, raise, or income increase resulting from certification. All eligibility requirements, current fees, renewal policies, and exam procedures are determined solely by PMI and should be confirmed through their official channels.
Related pay (occupation median). The U.S. BLS reports a median annual wage of $171,200 (typically $104,450–— from the 10th to the 90th percentile) for Computer and Information Systems Managers / Project Mgmt, 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 | PMP (Project Management Professional) |
| Issuing body | PMI |
| Base exam fee | $555 |
| Fee notes | non-member $555 / member $405 (+$129 membership) |
| Prerequisites | 36 mo leading projects (degree) or 60 mo + 35 hrs education |
| Validity / renewal | 3 years (60 PDUs) |
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 PMP (Project Management Professional) 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 →