PMI Certifications and Exams: Cost Breakdown

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If you have started or are planning to start a career in project management, certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI) can solidify your project management skills and make you more marketable as a project management professional.

The job outlook for project managers is excellent, with a projected growth of 33% (translating to around 22 million new jobs) from 2017 to 2027. Earning a PMI certification can make you a standout candidate for the many career opportunities available in this field.

PMI certifications are credentials that validate your knowledge and skills in project management. The Project Management Institute administers these certifications. Earning a PMI certification shows that you have demonstrated the knowledge and skills needed to be a successful project manager.

Certifications are available for project management professionals in all stages of their careers. These certifications help professionals bolster their skills and move to the next level of their careers. The Project Management Institute offers the following PMI certifications.

The PMP certification focuses on skills related to managing people, leading project teams, managing technical elements of projects and connecting projects to an organization’s strategies and goals.

The CAPM certification centers around managing large projects with a variety of approaches. It covers the fundamentals of project management and the principles of business analysis.

The PgMP certification builds the skills you need to coordinate and manage multiple projects within an organization.

The PfMP certification teaches individuals how to implement strategic initiatives in an organization’s portfolio management. This credential signifies that you have the ability to manage one or more portfolios according to an organization’s objectives.

The PMI-PBA certification focuses on using business analysis to establish accurate functional requirements and reach the intended business outcomes.

The PMI-RMP certification demonstrates that a project management professional can identify problems, assess risks, mitigate threats and achieve successful results while conserving resources.

The PMI-SP certification hones in on the fundamental role of scheduling in managing resources and activities and reaching successful outcomes in project management.

The PMI-ACP certification focuses on agile approaches and collaboration in project management.

The PMI Project Management Ready certification teaches high school and postsecondary students the basics of project management. This certification process aims to help young learners determine whether project management is a good career option for them.

Each certification has different requirements, and there are many ways to prepare for your certification exam. How long it takes to earn a PMI certification varies depending on the credential you pursue and your individual learning style.

Depending on the certification, you must meet a combination of education and experience requirements, which can take several years. Early-career certifications are more accessible; for example, CAPM applicants need only a high school diploma.

If you already have a college degree and years of relevant work experience under your belt, you can complete your certification requirements more quickly than someone starting right out of high school. If you’ve already met your secondary education requirements, you may be able to earn your certification in as little as eight to 12 weeks.

You should also plan time to study for the certification exam. While these exams only take a few hours, test-takers often study for two to three months in preparation.

Many universities offer project management certification test preparation programs. These programs often last five days and resemble a bootcamp. They use coursework that aligns with the PMI certification exam content. PMI certification preparation programs can provide you with education hours that count toward PMI’s application requirements as well.

You can find classes to help you prepare for your certification exam through the Project Management Institute, universities and other project management training organizations. There are many options for certification classes, and costs vary drastically.

PMI’s Authorized On-Demand PMP Exam Prep course costs $699 for members and $799 for nonmembers. You could also choose bootcamp programs, such as a live online bootcamp, for around $1,500. Project Management Academy offers three bootcamp course training packages that range in price from around $2,000 to $3,000. Clemson offers an online program for $2,700, and a similar program at Penn State costs around $1,200.

Some universities offer comprehensive project management training programs rather than just certification preparation coursework. For example, UCLA offers a $6,000 program that you can complete online or in a classroom setting. This program takes six months to two years to complete. UCLA’s course differs from other programs because it both prepares you for your certification exam and confers a separate certificate from UCLA.

There are also low-cost options available. For example, Udemy provides a $150 seminar that includes about 30 hours of lectures and online content.

The cost for PMI certification exams depends on the certification type. Each exam covers the material that’s relevant to its corresponding certification. Since every exam is different, costs vary as well.

You can take an exam up to three times during your one-year eligibility period. In other words, if you fail your exam the first time, you may retake it up to two more times. If you fail your exam three times, however, you must wait one year before taking it again.

To retake an exam, you must pay a reexamination fee. This costs $275 for PMI members or $375 for nonmembers.

Below is a breakdown of the costs for PMI certification exams.

There are many benefits of PMI membership, including lower certification exam and renewal fees. The fee to renew your certification is $60 for PMI members and $150 for nonmembers.

The PMI membership fee is $149 per year for most people. Students pay a reduced rate of $32 per year, and PMI members who have been members in good standing for five years or who have retired from employment can continue their membership for $65 per year.

To maintain your PMI certification, you should meet continuing certification requirements, which entail earning professional development units (PDUs). Depending on the type of PMI certification you hold, you must earn between 15 and 60 PDUs to maintain the credential.

You can earn PDUs by continuing your education or giving back to the project management community. Options include taking classes, attending seminars, mentoring those new to the profession, giving presentations and creating relevant content.

As you decide which route to take for your PMI certification training, you should consider program quality, material covered and cost. It’s difficult to estimate how much it costs to earn a PMI certification since there are so many factors to consider.

At the end of the day, you can expect to pay anything from $150 to $6,000 for PMI certification courses and exam preparation. It then costs between $225 and $1,000 to take your PMI certification exam, depending on your chosen certification and whether or not you are a PMI member. PMI membership costs between $32 and $149, depending on your specific situation.

All up, you could spend between $182 and $7,130 earning a PMI certification.

Final Exam Schedule

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