CAPM: who it is for, and when to go straight to the PMP
PMI charges $300 for the CAPM exam in the US, or $225 if you are a PMI member (November 2026). PMI also requires 23 hours of project management education, so a first attempt costs about $700 with a self-paced course and up to $3,295 with a live class (non-member prices). CAPM suits people starting out in project work with little or no experience. We estimate 3 to 6 weeks of study.
Key facts
- The CAPM exam costs $300 in the US, or $225 for PMI members. (PMI, checked November 5, 2026)
- To sit it, you need a secondary diploma or equivalent, to be at least 18 and 23 hours of project management education; no project experience is required. (PMI, checked November 5, 2026)
- The exam has 150 questions in 180 minutes, and renewal takes 15 professional development units every three years. (PMI, checked November 5, 2026)
- An active CAPM satisfies the 35-hour training requirement when you later apply for the PMP. (PMI, checked November 5, 2026)
CAPM or PMP?
CAPM is PMI's entry-level project management certification. It requires no project experience, so it shows you know PMI's project vocabulary and methods rather than that you have led projects. People starting out in project work take it, such as project coordinators and new project staff.
A good fit if
- You have little or no project experience and cannot meet the PMP experience rule yet
- You coordinate projects or support a project team and want the same vocabulary as its managers
- You plan to take the PMP later and want a first PMI credential while you build experience
Think twice if
- You already meet the PMP experience rule for your education level
- You see CAPM as a required step before the PMP: it is not a prerequisite
Consider instead: The PMP, once you have the 2 to 5 years of project experience it asks for, depending on your education.
The two are not steps you must take in order. CAPM requires no project experience; PMP requires years of it. The question is which one you can qualify for now and what you need it to do.
| CAPM | PMP | |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee, non-member / member | $300 / $225 | $675 / $425 |
| Experience needed | None | 2 to 5 years leading projects, depending on education |
| Training needed | 23 hours | 35 hours, or an active CAPM |
| Exam | 150 questions, 180 minutes | 180 questions, 240 minutes |
| Renewal | 15 PDUs every 3 years | 60 PDUs every 3 years |
One useful link between them: an active CAPM counts as the 35 hours of training PMI asks for when you later apply for the PMP. See what the PMP costs.
If you choose the PMP and want a live class for its 35 hours, check the provider first: from December 1, 2026, PMI counts live training only from its Authorized Training Partners and a few other approved providers. Training completed before that date still counts, and self-paced courses from any organization qualify. We have not confirmed whether this rule also applies to the CAPM's 23 hours.
Who can sit the CAPM, and the exam format
PMI asks for three things: a secondary diploma, GED or equivalent; being at least 18; and 23 hours of project management education completed before the exam. The 23 hours can come from PMI's own on-demand prep course, an instructor-led course from a PMI training partner, or another course that certifies the hours.
The exam has 150 questions in 180 minutes.
Preparing for CAPM
For an entry-level exam, the cheapest route is also the sensible one for most people: a self-paced course that certifies the 23 hours, plus practice questions. A live course costs about four to eight times as much as PMI's self-paced one and mainly buys a schedule and an instructor. We estimate 3 to 6 weeks of study.
Published prices for the 23 hours
Each total adds the $300 non-member exam fee to the non-member course price. PMI members pay $75 less on the exam and $50 less for PMI's own course, so the cheapest member total is $575 before dues. New Horizons sells an exam voucher as an optional add-on, which is not counted here. You pay PMI for the exam only after your application is accepted.
| Route | Provider and course | Published price | Exam fee | First attempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official self-paced course | PMI, CAPM Exam Prep Course, on-demand, covers the 23 hours ($350 for PMI members). Checked November 5, 2026. | $400 | + $300 exam (non-member) | $700 |
| Live online class, 3 days | New Horizons, Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), virtual instructor-led; some in-person sessions $1,895. Checked November 4, 2026. | $1,595 | + $300 exam (non-member) | $1,895 |
| Live class, 5 days | ONLC Training Centers, Project Management Professional Certification Exam Preparation, the same class ONLC uses for CAPM; ONLC says it is a PMI Authorized Training Partner. Checked November 5, 2026. | $2,995 | + $300 exam (non-member) | $3,295 |
| Live class, 3 days | Learning Tree, CAPM Certification Training (course 3601), online or in person, 23 PDUs, commercial price. Checked November 4, 2026. | $2,785 | + $300 exam (non-member) | $3,085 |
What to ask a CAPM course provider
- Whether it certifies the 23 hours. PMI's own course covers them and Learning Tree lists 23 PDUs; get the hour count in writing from any other provider.
- Whether the class is built for CAPM. ONLC uses its PMP exam preparation class for CAPM, so ask how it covers the CAPM exam specifically.
- What happens to the exam fee. None of these prices includes it; New Horizons sells a voucher as an optional add-on, and otherwise you pay PMI after your application is accepted.
- How many days you are paying for. New Horizons and Learning Tree run 3 days; ONLC's class runs 5.
Keeping it
CAPM lasts three years. To maintain it, you earn 15 professional development units in each three-year cycle.
If your employer is paying
CAPM is a low-cost way to give project coordinators and new project staff a shared vocabulary before they qualify for the PMP. For a group, compare a private class with buying a self-paced course for each person; at $400 a seat ($350 for members), PMI's self-paced course costs a fraction of a class unless the team needs live teaching. New Horizons also lets you add an exam voucher to its class.
Questions
- How much does the CAPM cost?
- The exam is $300, or $225 for PMI members. With a self-paced course for the required 23 hours, the total starts around $700.
- Do I need experience for the CAPM?
- No. You need a secondary diploma, to be at least 18 and 23 hours of project management education.
- Is CAPM worth it if I plan to take the PMP?
- Only if you cannot qualify for the PMP yet. If you already meet the PMP experience rule, the PMP is the better use of the money.
- How long is the CAPM exam?
- 150 questions in 180 minutes.
Next step
Unsure whether CAPM or PMP fits your experience? Tell us where you are and we will point you to the right one.
Ask for help choosing CAPM training
Sources
- PMI: Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) (fees, exam, eligibility, renewal), checked November 5, 2026
- PMI: Project Management Professional (PMP) (comparison figures), checked November 5, 2026
- PMI: PMP live-training rule from December 1, 2026, checked November 5, 2026
Prices are published list prices we recorded on the dates shown, not quotes. How we research.