PMP: whether you qualify, how to cover the 35 hours and what it costs
PMI members pay $425 for the PMP exam and everyone else $675, in the US in November 2026. Because PMI requires 35 hours of project management training before you can apply, almost everyone also pays for a course. Without a PMI membership, a first attempt runs from $1,474 (self-paced course) to $4,025 (five-day class); members pay $250 less on the exam. Most working project leads need 6 to 10 weeks of study (our estimate). A live class is worth paying for when you want fixed dates or your employer is paying.
Key facts
- The PMP exam costs $425 for PMI members and $675 for non-members in the US. (PMI, checked November 5, 2026)
- To apply, you need 35 hours of project management education, or an active CAPM, plus 3 to 5 years of project experience depending on your education (2 years with a PMI-accredited degree). (PMI, checked November 5, 2026)
- From December 1, 2026, live training counts toward the 35 hours only if a PMI Authorized Training Partner, a China Registered Education Provider or an eligible accredited academic program delivers it; training completed before that date still counts, and self-paced courses from any organization qualify. (PMI, checked November 5, 2026)
- The exam has 180 questions in 240 minutes, and you can take it up to three times within a one-year eligibility period. (PMI, checked November 5, 2026)
- PMP lasts three years; renewing takes 60 professional development units per cycle. (PMI, checked November 5, 2026)
Who the PMP is for
PMP is PMI's certification for people who already lead projects. Unlike the CAPM, it requires years of project management experience, so it shows you have run projects, not only studied them. Project managers and project leads take it, and the exam covers people, process and business environment, including agile and hybrid scenarios.
A good fit if
- You have led projects for at least three years with a bachelor's degree (two with a PMI-accredited degree), or longer without one
- Your role already has you planning schedules, budgets and teams, and you want that recognized
- You can set aside 6 to 10 weeks of study and want to test within PMI's one-year eligibility period
Think twice if
- You have little or no experience leading projects: PMI will not accept the application yet
- Most of your projects ran at the same time: PMI counts overlapping projects only once, which can leave you short of the years you need
Consider instead: The CAPM needs no project experience, and an active CAPM later covers the PMP's 35-hour training requirement.
Can you apply yet?
Check this before you buy anything. PMI counts experience managing projects within the last 10 years, and how much you need depends on your education:
| Your education | Project management experience |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or GED | 5 years |
| Associate degree or vocational diploma | 4 years |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 3 years |
| Degree from a PMI-accredited (GAC) program | 2 years |
Overlapping projects only count once. If you are short on experience, the CAPM is the entry-level alternative, and an active CAPM later covers the 35-hour requirement for the PMP.
The 35 training hours and the exam
The 35 hours. PMI will not accept your application without 35 hours of project management education, or an active CAPM. It does not have to be a bootcamp: PMI accepts self-paced courses from any organization.
New from December 1, 2026: live classes, online or in person, count toward the 35 hours only if a PMI Authorized Training Partner, a China Registered Education Provider or an eligible accredited academic program delivers them. Training completed before December 1, 2026 still counts under the current rules. If a live class will end on or after that date, confirm the provider is a PMI Authorized Training Partner before you book. Self-paced courses from any organization still qualify.
The exam. $425 as a PMI member, $675 otherwise. You pay it only after PMI accepts your application. The exam has 180 questions in 240 minutes with two 10-minute breaks, at a Pearson VUE test center or online. PMI weights the current exam 33% people, 41% process and 26% business environment. You can take it up to three times within a one-year eligibility period.
Choosing a prep route
The exam rewards judgment about situations more than memorized terms, so practice questions matter more than lecture hours. A self-paced course plus a good exam simulator covers what most experienced project leads need. A live class helps if you need a deadline, want to ask an instructor about agile and hybrid scenarios, or your company is paying anyway. Some providers attach guarantees: New Horizons, for example, offers a tuition refund under stated conditions if you fail three times within 120 days of the course, so read the terms.
Prices for the 35-hour requirement
Each total adds the $675 non-member exam fee to the non-member course price. Membership changes both numbers for PMI's own course: $250 off the exam and $100 off tuition, so its member total is $1,124 before dues. Other providers' prices do not change with membership. None of these courses includes the exam fee, because PMI collects it directly.
| Route | Provider and course | Published price | Exam fee | First attempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official self-paced course | PMI, PMP Exam Prep Course, on-demand, 35 hours and 35 PDUs ($699 for PMI members). Checked November 5, 2026. | $799 | + $675 exam (non-member) | $1,474 |
| Live online class | New Horizons, PMP Certification Exam Prep, 4 days, updated for the 2026 exam; $2,495 for in-person classes. Checked November 5, 2026. | $1,995 | + $675 exam (non-member) | $2,670 |
| Live class, 5 days | ONLC Training Centers, Project Management Professional Certification Exam Preparation, 35 PDUs; $2,995 for its December and later classes, more for late registration. Checked November 5, 2026. | $2,995 | + $675 exam (non-member) | $3,670 |
| Live class, 5 days | Learning Tree, PMP Certification Training (course 276), live online or in class, 35 PDUs. Checked November 5, 2026. | $3,350 | + $675 exam (non-member) | $4,025 |
The spread is mostly about format: live teaching costs more than recorded lessons.
Should you join PMI first?
Membership cuts the exam fee by $250. The simple rule: if PMI's current annual membership price is less than $250, joining before you pay for the exam saves money, and membership also brings member pricing on other PMI products.
Checking a PMP course before you pay
- Whether it certifies the full 35 hours. PMI's own course, ONLC and Learning Tree list 35 hours or 35 PDUs in the table above; for any other course, get the hour count in writing.
- Who delivers a live class, and when it ends. A live class that finishes on or after December 1, 2026 counts only from a PMI Authorized Training Partner or another approved provider. ONLC says it is a PMI Authorized Training Partner; the New Horizons and Learning Tree pages we recorded do not say. Confirm any provider in PMI's Authorized Training Partner directory on pmi.org before enrolling. Self-paced courses are not affected.
- Whether it covers the 2026 exam. New Horizons says its course is updated for the 2026 exam; ask any other provider the same question before you pay.
Keeping the PMP
The certification lasts three years. To renew, you earn 60 professional development units in each three-year cycle, through work, courses, webinars or volunteering, and pay PMI's renewal fee.
When the company pays
Put the request in terms of a project you will run, ask for the course and exam fee together, and ask whether your employer has a PMI corporate membership. For a group, ask providers for a private-class quote and compare it per person with public seats.
Questions people ask
- How much is the PMP exam?
- $425 for PMI members and $675 for non-members in the US, as of November 2026.
- What is the total cost of getting PMP certified?
- About $1,474 with PMI's self-paced course and the non-member exam fee ($1,124 as a PMI member), and up to $4,025 with a five-day live class, before any retake or membership dues.
- Do I need a bootcamp to get the 35 hours?
- No. PMI accepts qualifying self-paced project management education from any organization, or an active CAPM. For live instructor-led training from December 1, 2026, PMI requires a PMI Authorized Training Partner, a China Registered Education Provider or an accredited academic program, so check the provider before you pay.
- How many times can I take the exam?
- Up to three times within your one-year eligibility period.
- How long does the PMP last?
- Three years. You keep it by earning 60 professional development units per cycle.
Next step
Not sure whether you qualify, or which course fits your schedule? Tell us your experience and deadline.
Ask for help choosing PMP training
Sources
- PMI: Project Management Professional (PMP) certification (fees, format, eligibility, renewal), checked November 5, 2026
- PMI: membership, checked November 5, 2026
- PMI: 2026 exam update and 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.