PMP Exam Cost · Updated March 2026
PMP Exam Cost 2026
All Fees & How to Save Money
Every fee you will pay to become PMP certified — application, exam, training and renewal — broken down clearly. Plus 7 proven strategies to reduce your total investment significantly, some of which save over $200 instantly.
Quick Answer
The PMP exam fee is $555 (non-member) or $405 (PMI member). Total certification cost including a 35-hour course runs $560–$900 for most candidates. Join PMI for $139/year — it saves $150 on the exam, gives you free access to PMBOK 8 and the Agile Practice Guide, and pays for itself immediately. Use the calculator below for your personalised total.
PMP Cost at a Glance — 2026
All prices in USD — PMI official rates
$405
Exam fee (member)
$555
Exam fee (non-member)
$139
PMI membership/year
$150
Saving by joining PMI
$275
Retake fee (non-member)
$60
Renewal fee (member)
$544min
Minimum realistic total (member + cheap course)
33%
Average salary uplift after PMP certification
3yr
Certification validity before renewal needed
$150
Saved instantly by joining PMI before applying
01 — Complete Breakdown
Every PMP Cost Explained
The PMP certification involves five distinct cost categories. Here is every fee you need to budget for — nothing hidden, nothing missed.
| Cost Item | PMI Member | Non-Member | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PMI Membership | $139/yr | $0 | Optional but recommended — saves more than it costs immediately |
| PMP Application Fee | $0 | $0 | No fee to submit your application — free for all candidates |
| PMP Exam Fee | $405 | $555 | Paid after application approval via Pearson VUE |
| 35-Hour PM Training | $20 – $2,000+ | Required for all candidates. Udemy courses from $19.99; classroom from $1,500+ | |
| Study Materials | $0 (with membership) | $0 – $150 | PMBOK 8 + Agile Practice Guide free with PMI membership |
| Practice Exam Simulator | $0 – $149 | Optional but strongly recommended. PM PrepCast from $149; free questions at Sikhana Seekho | |
| Exam Retake (if needed) | $375 | $275 | Up to 3 attempts within 1-year window. No reapplication needed. |
| PMP Renewal (every 3 yrs) | $60 | $150 | 60 PDUs required. Many PDU sources are free. |
| Minimum realistic total | ~$563 | ~$575 | Member: $139+$405+$19 course. Non-member: $555+$20 course |
The PMI membership maths: Membership costs $139/year. It saves $150 on the exam fee alone ($555 → $405). You are already $11 ahead before counting the free PMBOK 8 ($99 value), free Agile Practice Guide ($29 value) and cheaper renewal ($60 vs $150). Joining PMI before applying is the single best financial decision in the certification process.
02 — Your Cost
Calculate Your Personalised PMP Cost
Select your options below for an instant personalised cost estimate.
PMP Cost Calculator 2026
Personalised estimate based on your choices
PMI Membership$139
PMP Exam Fee$405
35-Hour Training$20
Practice Simulator$0
Study Materials$0
Estimated Total$564
Joining PMI saves you $11 net vs going non-member on exam fees alone. Add free PMBOK 8 ($99) + Agile Practice Guide ($29) and the real saving is ~$139.
03 — By Country
PMP Exam Cost by Country (2026)
PMI charges the same USD fee globally. Your actual cost depends on your local currency exchange rate and any applicable taxes. The figures below show approximate local currency equivalents at current rates — verify the latest exchange rate on your payment date.
🇺🇸
United States
$405
Member rate. USD base currency — no conversion.
🇬🇧
United Kingdom
~£320
Member rate at ~0.79 GBP/USD. VAT may apply.
🇦🇺
Australia
~A$630
Member rate at ~1.55 AUD/USD. GST may apply.
🇨🇦
Canada
~C$560
Member rate at ~1.38 CAD/USD. HST may apply.
🇮🇳
India
~₹33,700
Member rate at ~83 INR/USD. GST may apply.
🇦🇪
UAE
~AED 1,490
Member rate. AED pegged to USD at 3.67.
🇩🇪
Germany
~€375
Member rate at ~0.93 EUR/USD. VAT may apply.
🇸🇬
Singapore
~S$545
Member rate at ~1.35 SGD/USD. GST may apply.
🇵🇰
Pakistan
~₨113,000
Member rate at ~279 PKR/USD. Check current rate.
Tax note: PMI charges in USD and your bank or credit card will apply the conversion rate on the payment date. Some countries apply VAT, GST or local transaction taxes — check your local tax authority's rules on professional certification fees. In many countries, PMP certification costs are tax-deductible as a professional development expense.
04 — Save Money
7 Proven Ways to Reduce Your PMP Cost
The difference between the most expensive and most affordable paths to PMP certification is over $2,000. Here are the seven highest-impact savings strategies — in order of impact.
1
Join PMI before applying
Pay $139 for PMI membership and your exam fee drops from $555 to $405 — a $150 saving. Membership also unlocks free downloads of PMBOK 8 ($99) and the Agile Practice Guide ($29), making the net benefit approximately $190. This is the single best financial move in the certification process.
Saves up to $190 net2
Get employer reimbursement
Many organisations have a professional development or training budget. PMP certification is a universally recognised investment in project delivery capability — most employers who understand its value will contribute. Request reimbursement before you spend anything. Frame it as ROI: a PMP-certified PM commands 33% higher salary — the organisation benefits too.
Saves $400–$2,000+3
Use Udemy for your 35 contact hours
The Joseph Phillips PMP Prep course on Udemy satisfies PMI's 35-hour education requirement and costs $19.99 during Udemy's frequent sales (which run multiple times per month). It has 200,000+ students, full ECO coverage and a certificate accepted by PMI. The same requirement costs $1,500+ through in-person training providers.
Saves up to $1,4804
Use free practice questions first
Before buying a paid practice simulator, use Sikhana Seekho's 200 free PMP practice questions with full explanations to assess your readiness. If you need more, PM PrepCast at $149 is the gold standard — but many candidates pass with the free questions plus the official mock exam included with their PMI membership.
Saves $0–$1495
Claim professional development tax relief
In many countries (UK, Australia, USA, Canada) professional certification costs are tax-deductible if they relate to your current employment. In the UK, HMRC allows deductions for professional development costs that maintain or improve skills for your existing job. Consult your accountant — a $555 deduction at 40% tax is $222 back in your pocket.
Saves $100–$3006
Pass first time — prepare thoroughly
A retake costs $375 (member) or $275 (non-member) on top of your original exam fee. The best way to avoid retake costs is adequate preparation: follow a structured 16-week study plan, complete 500+ practice questions and score 75%+ consistently on full timed mocks before booking. The cost of preparation materials is always less than a retake fee.
Saves $275–$3757
Earn free PDUs to reduce renewal cost
PMP renewal requires 60 PDUs every 3 years. Free PDU sources include: PMI webinars (1–3 PDUs each), PMI chapter events, reading PM books (up to 17 PDUs/cycle), writing articles, volunteering as a PM. Using free PDUs means your only renewal cost is the $60 membership fee — far cheaper than paying for courses.
Saves $60–$500 at renewal05 — Training Costs
35-Hour Training — What Does It Actually Cost?
The 35 contact hours of PM education is the most variable cost in your PMP journey. Here is a clear comparison of all available options so you can choose the best value for your situation.
| Option | Cost | PMI Accepted? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Udemy PMP Prep (Joseph Phillips) | $19.99 | ✓ Yes | Budget-conscious candidates — best value |
| Udemy PMP Prep (Andrew Ramdayal) | $19.99 | ✓ Yes | Agile-focused preparation — highly rated |
| Coursera — Google PM Certificate | $49/mo | ✓ Yes | Structured learning with graded assessments |
| LinkedIn Learning PM Path | $39.99/mo | ✓ Yes | Professionals with existing LinkedIn Premium |
| PMI REP Online Bootcamp | $399–$799 | ✓ Yes | Intensive structured prep with live instruction |
| In-person classroom (PMI REP) | $1,500–$3,000 | ✓ Yes | Candidates who require in-person learning |
| University PM certificate | $500–$2,000 | ✓ Yes | Academic environment preference |
| CAPM certification (if held) | Existing cert | ✓ Satisfies all 35 hours | Candidates who already hold CAPM |
Recommended Courses
🎯
Udemy — PMP Exam Prep by Joseph Phillips
Best value for 35 contact hours. 35+ PDU hours accepted by PMI, covers all ECO domains, 200,000+ students. Udemy sales run constantly — check before buying at full price.
From $19.99
View Course →📖
Coursera — Google Project Management Certificate
Developed in partnership with PMI. Satisfies the 35-hour requirement with graded assignments and a shareable certificate. Financial aid available for qualifying candidates.
From $49/mo
View Course →* Affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. All recommendations independently evaluated.
06 — Retakes & Renewal
Retake Fees, Renewal Costs and What Happens If You Lapse
Retake Fees
If you do not pass the PMP exam on your first attempt, you have two further attempts within your one-year eligibility window at a reduced retake fee. You do not need to reapply or pay the application fee again.
| Attempt | PMI Member Fee | Non-Member Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st attempt (original exam) | $405 | $555 | Paid after application approval |
| 2nd attempt (1st retake) | $375 | $275 | Retake within 1-year eligibility window |
| 3rd attempt (2nd retake) | $375 | $275 | Final attempt. Must wait 1 year to re-apply if failed. |
Note on retake fee order: Non-member retake fees ($275) are actually lower than member retake fees ($375). This is not a typo — PMI's pricing structure means members save more on the first attempt but less on retakes. Another reason to pass first time.
Renewal Fees (Every 3 Years)
The PMP is valid for 3 years. To renew, you must earn 60 PDUs (Professional Development Units) and pay the renewal fee. PDU earnings are tracked through PMI's CCRS portal.
| Renewal Item | PMI Member | Non-Member |
|---|---|---|
| CCR renewal fee (every 3 years) | $60 | $150 |
| PDUs required | 60 PDUs (at least 35 in Education, max 25 in Giving Back) | |
| Free PDU sources | PMI webinars, chapter events, reading PM books, volunteering, writing articles | |
| If PMP lapses | Must retake full exam — no reinstatement option | |
Keep your PMI membership active — the renewal fee difference alone ($60 vs $150) covers the membership cost over a 3-year cycle. Plus PMI membership provides ongoing access to PM resources, webinars and community that generate free PDUs.
07 — Is It Worth It?
PMP Return on Investment — The Numbers
The PMP consistently delivers one of the strongest returns on investment of any professional certification. Here is the financial case, based on PMI's 2023 Earning Power survey and current salary data.
| Country | Avg PMP Premium/Year | Total Cert Cost | Payback Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | +$23,000/yr | ~$700 | Less than 2 weeks |
| United Kingdom | +£14,000/yr | ~£600 | Less than 3 weeks |
| Australia | +A$20,000/yr | ~A$900 | Less than 3 weeks |
| Canada | +C$18,000/yr | ~C$750 | Less than 3 weeks |
| India | +₹6,00,000/yr | ~₹55,000 | Less than 5 weeks |
| UAE | +AED 36,000/yr | ~AED 2,200 | Less than 4 weeks |
The 33% figure: PMI's 2023 Earning Power survey of 2,000+ project management professionals found that PMP-certified professionals earn a median 33% salary premium over non-certified peers globally. The payback period for certification costs is typically less than one month of the salary increase.
08 — Next Steps
Ready to Start? Here Is What to Do Next
Check Your Eligibility
Free interactive checker — 30 seconds
Free Study Guide 2026
16-week plan + PMBOK 8 breakdown
200 Free Practice Questions
All ECO domains — instant answers
PMP Pass Rate 2026
What separates passers from repeaters
Full PMP Certification Guide
Everything about the exam — start here
PM Salary After PMP 2026
See the 33% uplift in your country
09 — FAQ
PMP Cost — 6 Questions Answered
The PMP exam fee is $555 USD for non-PMI members and $405 USD for PMI members. PMI membership costs $139/year — joining first saves $150 on the exam fee, making total cost $544 (member) vs $555 (non-member). Membership also unlocks free access to PMBOK 8 and the Agile Practice Guide.
Total certification cost ranges from approximately $560 to $1,200 USD depending on your training and study material choices. The minimum realistic budget: PMI membership $139 + exam fee $405 + Udemy course ~$20 = approximately $564. Add a practice simulator ($149) and you are at $713. In-person training can push this to $2,500+.
PMP renewal costs $60 USD for PMI members and $150 USD for non-members, paid every 3 years when submitting your 60 PDU report. Many PDU sources are free — PMI webinars, chapter events and reading PM books. If you let your PMP lapse without renewing, you must retake the full exam — there is no reinstatement option.
PMI does not offer direct exam fee waivers. Significant savings are available through: PMI membership ($150 exam saving), employer reimbursement (many companies cover PMP costs), PMI chapter scholarships (some local chapters offer partial funding), and Udemy course sales (35-hour courses regularly available for $14.99–$19.99).
You are allowed up to three total attempts within your one-year eligibility window. Retake fees are $375 (member) and $275 (non-member) — no reapplication or application fee needed. PMI provides a performance report by domain after a failed attempt to guide your preparation. If you fail all three attempts, you must wait one year before reapplying from the beginning.
Yes — consistently. PMI's 2023 Earning Power survey found PMP-certified professionals earn a median 33% salary premium over non-certified peers globally. In the USA this represents roughly $23,000/year additional income. The total investment of $560–$900 is typically recovered within 2–3 weeks of a post-certification salary increase. The payback period is one of the strongest of any professional certification.