PMP (Project Management Professional): Requirements & Exam Details
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 Project Management Professional (PMP) credential is issued by the Project Management Institute (PMI). To be eligible for the certification, candidates must meet specific experience and education requirements. Those holding a bachelor's degree or higher must demonstrate 36 months of project leadership experience, while candidates without a degree must provide 60 months of such experience and complete 35 contact hours of project management education. These prerequisites are established by PMI and subject to change.
The PMP examination costs $555 per single attempt for non-members as of June 2026, though PMI membership—priced at $129 annually—reduces the exam fee to $405 for members. Fees are subject to change and should be verified on PMI's official website before registration. The PMP credential remains valid for three years, after which renewal requires the completion of 60 professional development units (PDUs). All eligibility requirements, fees, and renewal procedures are set and maintained by PMI; prospective candidates should confirm current details directly through the issuing organization's official channels prior to applying.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites | 36 mo leading projects (degree) or 60 mo + 35 hrs education |
| Base exam fee | $555 |
| Fee notes | non-member $555 / member $405 (+$129 membership) |
| Validity / renewal | 3 years (60 PDUs) |
Register with the issuer. Eligibility, fees and renewal rules are set by PMI and can change — confirm on the official page.
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