PMP Certification Cost (2026): Exam Fee, Membership, Training and Renewal

Last updated: 5 November 2026. Fees read that day on PMI’s site and in the PMI Certification Handbook (revised June 2026). Written by Josh Hutcheson, OnlineCourseing editor. See our review methodology.

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PMP certification cost is mostly two decisions: whether to join PMI before you pay for the exam, and how much to spend on the 35 hours of training PMI requires. Those two choices move the first-year bill by nearly $800. This guide prices each piece from PMI’s own pages and handbook, works out when membership pays for itself, and separates PMI’s own prices from the retake and renewal figures that only training providers publish.

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How much does PMP certification cost?

For a US candidate, PMP certification costs about $678 to $1,474 in the first year, based on prices we read on 5 November 2026. The low end is a PMI member using a self-paced course on sale. The high end is a non-member buying PMI’s own course. The exam fee on PMI is the largest fixed cost, and training is where your choices matter most.

The exam fee comes late in the process. PMI says the fee “will only be required after your application has been accepted and you are ready to schedule your exam,” so you can apply before you have the money ready. Before you budget, confirm you qualify: PMI asks for three to five years of experience managing projects depending on your education, or two with a degree from a PMI-accredited program. Our PMP certification requirements guide covers eligibility and the application.

PMP exam cost: member vs non-member fee

The PMP exam costs $425 for PMI members and $675 for everyone else, a difference of $250. PMI shows both prices on its PMP certification page as “Member price $425” and “Full price $675,” and its US store listing for the exam matched when we read both on 5 November 2026.

Timing decides which price you pay. The PMI Certification Handbook says: “Membership rates will only be applied to candidates who have obtained membership prior to paying for the certification.” If you pay $675 first and join afterward, plan on the higher price sticking. Join first, then pay.

You will see other numbers online. Several training providers, including Simpliaxis and StormWind, report that PMI raised the fee on 6 August 2026 from $405 and $555. They disagree on the new member price, with some saying $445. We found no PMI announcement of the change, and PMI’s store shows only the current price, which was $425 on 5 November 2026. Pages still showing $405 and $555 are out of date, so check PMI’s listing on the day you pay.

PMI membership cost: does it pay for itself?

Yes, in the year you pay for the exam, though by less than many guides suggest. PMI’s US store lists individual membership at USD $164 a year, and the exam discount is worth $250, so you finish about $86 ahead before the processing fee. PMI’s membership FAQ says “a small processing fee is charged for new members” without stating the amount. AgileFever reports a $10 application fee, which would make the net gain $76. We did not log in to the checkout to confirm it, so look for that line in your cart.

The US price is the one to use if you live in the US. The same membership shows $139 on PMI’s shop pages without /us/ in the address, and PMI says prices vary by region. Other guides quote anywhere from $129 to $164, so read the price PMI shows you before you do this math.

Figures above leave out the new-member processing fee. The $154 in the last row is the renewal price in the data PMI’s US store page loads, and PMI does not display it as page text. That row is the one most budgets miss. One year of membership pays. Three years pay only if you use the benefits, since a $90 renewal saving at the provider-reported rates would still leave you about $132 behind. Decide at each renewal rather than letting it roll.

Four membership details affect the math:

• It auto-renews. PMI’s product page says “Auto-renews every year. Cancel anytime.” Turn off renewal if you only joined for the exam discount.
• It is non-refundable. The FAQ says “PMI Membership is non-refundable and non-transferable.” Join only when you are close to paying for the exam.
• The free trial does not list member pricing. The 30-day trial needs no credit card, but PMI places “Member Pricing: Up to 30% off certification, learning and events” under paid Professional Membership. Do not count on the trial for the $425 rate.
• Paid membership has other uses. PMI lists the PMBOK Guide and other standards, plus free-for-members eLearning. That can reduce what you spend on books and on PDUs later.

Full-time students should look at the $32 student membership. PMI says “Student Members enjoy the same great benefits as PMI Members,” and you must verify your status every year. PMI’s FAQ says “We do not offer discounts on PMI membership,” so do not expect a coupon for the $164 rate.

How much does PMP training cost? The 35 hours

Self-paced training for the required 35 hours cost $89 to $799 in the options we priced, and the live classes we priced started at $699. PMI accepts its own course, self-paced courses from any organization, or an eligible live class. PMI also says an active CAPM “fulfills PMP training requirements,” which takes this cost to zero for CAPM holders.

For most candidates, self-paced is the sensible first choice, because PMI accepts it from any organization and the savings are large. On merit we would look first at Ramdayal on Udemy: 209,019 ratings at 4.8 is a stronger public record than any other course in this table, and it was updated for the July 2026 exam. Udemy’s price did not appear in the clean browser session we use to read prices, so we left it out of the totals below. A competitor, Brain Sensei, lists the course at $79 in its own comparison table on 5 November 2026; treat that as a rough guide and read the real price on the course page.

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A live class makes sense if you know you will not finish alone or if your employer funds it. Whatever you pick, keep the certificate showing the course name and hours, because PMI can ask for it in an audit. Our best PMP courses guide compares these options on teaching and materials, which this page does not try to do.

One common detour: the Google Project Management Certificate on Coursera. Coursera says it qualifies you for over 100 hours of project management education and describes it as preparation for certifications like the CAPM. It takes about six months at 10 hours a week. It is a reasonable start if you are new to the field, and Coursera Plus costs $239 a year (normally $399). If you already qualify for the PMP, a dedicated PMP course is a more direct use of your money. Our Google Project Management Certificate review has the detail.

PMP practice exams and study materials: what is worth paying for

Practice exams are the add-on most worth budgeting for, since they show whether you are ready before you risk a retake. PMI sells its PMP Practice Exam for $99. PMI’s Study Hall costs $59 for Essentials or $79 for Plus, for three months of access billed quarterly after that, so cancel it once you have passed.

On Udemy, the TIA mock exam course carries 4.3 from 3,723 ratings, was updated in September 2026, and lists four full-length mock exams with more than 700 questions. Brain Sensei’s course includes its simulator, and PrepCast’s Elite tier does too, so check what your course already includes before buying a second question bank. Our PMP practice exam guide compares the question banks in depth.

Books are the easiest line to cut. Paid PMI membership includes the PMBOK Guide and other PMI standards, so a member does not need to buy them separately. Before spending anything, you can also try PMI’s free one-hour introductory PMP course, which PMI offers on its PMP page.

PMP certification cost: first-year totals by budget

These scenarios add the exam, training and, for the member column, $164 for one year of membership at PMI’s US store price. They exclude the new-member processing fee, sales tax, retakes and any other study materials. Prices are those we read on 5 November 2026.

Here is the arithmetic for the first row: $425 + $164 + $89 = $678 as a member, and $675 + $89 = $764 as a non-member. If Brain Sensei’s sale ends and the regular $199 applies, each total rises by $110. To run your own numbers, use our certification cost calculator.

Membership wins in every row, so the real budget decision is training. Moving from the lean route to a live class or PMI’s own course adds about $600 to $700. That extra money buys format and support, and it does not change the exam you sit or the credential you earn.

How much does it cost to retake the PMP exam?

PMI charges for retakes but does not print the amount on its public pages, and training providers commonly report $275 for members and $375 for non-members. The handbook says “Repayment of fees applies to the second and third attempts to pass the exam,” and the certification FAQ says “Fees are associated with re-examination.” We read PMI’s PMP page, its US store listing for the exam, the FAQ and the June 2026 handbook on 5 November 2026, and none shows a retake price. Your PMI dashboard or cart is the place to confirm yours.

Treat these as estimates. Providers report that PMI raised exam fees in August 2026, and some of the $275 and $375 pages predate that change, so those figures may lag. Simpliaxis itself says retake pricing “is reported less consistently than the primary exam fee.” The more recent AgileFever check supports $275 and $375, and StormWind is the outlier.

The rules around retakes are clear, and they matter for your budget:

• You get a one-year eligibility period from application approval, or from the day you pass an audit if you were selected.
• You can take the exam up to three times in that year.
• If you fail three times, you must wait one year from your last exam before you can reapply for the PMP.
• If your eligibility runs out, you must reapply and pay the associated fees again.

Here is what one failed attempt would do to two of the budgets above, using the common provider figures. These are what-if numbers, and they are not part of the base totals.

At StormWind’s higher estimate, each retake would add $100 for a member and $125 for a non-member on top of those totals. Either way, a $99 practice exam or a simulator bundled with your course is a modest cost by comparison, so take full-length mocks before you book.

PMP exam cancellation, reschedule and refund rules

Changing your exam is free until 30 days before the appointment. After that it costs US$70 plus taxes, and inside 48 hours you cannot change it at all. These terms come from the PMI Certification Handbook, revised June 2026.

PMI’s example makes the cutoff concrete: for a 5 May exam, change it on or before 4 April to avoid the fee. The 30-day count does not include the day of the exam. For emergencies, PMI reviews extenuating circumstances case by case and may refund the rescheduling fee.

Refunds run on a separate clock. PMI says: “You may request a refund within 30 days from the date of purchase, provided you do not schedule and take the certification exam within that timeframe.” Once a refund is processed, PMI closes your application and your eligibility period ends. Three other terms are worth knowing:

• A refund requested after failing the identity check for an online exam carries a $100 administrative fee.
• If your one-year eligibility expires and you never scheduled, you get no refund and forfeit the entire fee.
• If you scheduled and did not show up or give proper notice, you get no refund and cannot apply the fee to anything else.

So hold off paying until you have a realistic exam date. The fee buys a one-year window, and a purchase made too early can expire.

How much does PMP renewal cost? PDUs and the CCR fee

Keeping the PMP takes 60 PDUs and a renewal fee every three years, and PMI does not print that fee in its current public handbook. The CCR Handbook, last updated April 2026 says: “Renewal fees are subject to membership and regional pricing. For the most up-to-date pricing, log into your mypmi dashboard.” PMI’s maintenance page adds that the certification renewal fee “is independent of the PMI Membership Renewal Fee,” so paying one does not cover the other.

Training providers do publish a number. PM Study Circle says “The PMP certification renewal fee is $60 for PMI members and $150 for non-members,” and Projeric, Rosemet, StormWind and AgileFever give the same pair, with AgileFever calling it a planning figure. PMTI gives $60 and $150 in one place and $164 for non-members in another, so the reported non-member range is $150 to $164. None of this comes from PMI, so confirm the price in your myPMI dashboard.

On those figures, membership does not pay for itself at renewal alone. If your membership has lapsed, rejoining at $164 to save $90 costs more than paying $150 as a non-member, so run that comparison before you rejoin.

The 60 PDUs break down this way, according to PMI:

• At least 35 Education PDUs
• At most 25 Giving Back PDUs
• At least 8 PDUs in each of the three PMI Talent Triangle areas: Ways of Working, Power Skills and Business Acumen

PDUs do not have to cost much. PMI’s PDU page lists eLearning marked “Free” alongside courses marked “Free for Members.” PMI’s own prep and practice products also list PDU values, such as 35 for the Exam Prep Course and 4 for the Practice Exam, and you can browse the rest there.

Missing the deadline is the expensive mistake. The CCR Handbook says you must submit payment no later than 90 days after your cycle end date. If you do not meet the requirements, you move to suspended status for one year and cannot use the credential. If you still have not renewed after that, your certification expires, and getting it back means a new application, the associated fees and retaking the exam.

Will my employer pay for PMP certification?

That depends on your employer, so ask before you spend anything. IRS Publication 15-B (2026) says educational assistance is exempt “up to $5,250 of benefits each year” when provided through a qualifying written program. It also says certain job-related education may qualify as a working condition benefit, which has its own tests. Your employer’s HR or tax team decides how its plan applies, so treat this as a reason to ask and confirm the details with them.

A request is easier to approve when it is specific. Before you spend anything, try this order:

• Ask HR whether a tuition or professional development budget exists, and whether it pays upfront or reimburses you after you pass.
• Get the covered items in writing, and ask about each one: exam fee, membership, training, retakes and renewal.
• Ask whether you must buy from an approved provider. If so, confirm that a live class is from a PMI Authorized Training Partner.
• Bring a one-page budget using the table above, with the exam date and the project work the credential supports.
• Keep every receipt and your training certificate.

If your employer pays, the calculation changes. PMI’s own course or a live class may be worth choosing, because the price falls on a training budget. If you pay yourself, there is another option: PMI’s certification FAQ says 529 savings can fund the PMP, and that “prep courses, books, materials, and exam fees are all qualified expenses.” Confirm with your plan provider before withdrawing.

Is the PMP worth the cost?

For someone already leading projects, the cost is small against the salary gap PMI reports. PMI’s analysis of its salary research puts the US median at $135,000 for PMP holders and $109,157 for non-holders, a gap of $25,843. Our most expensive scenario, $1,474, is under 6% of that one-year difference. If you are still weighing credentials, see our project management certification cost comparison.

Read that number with care. PMI is the seller of this credential, the data is self-reported survey data, and PMP holders already have years of experience, so the certificate cannot claim the whole gap. A better test is local: search job postings for your target role and count how many ask for the PMP. If few do, a cheaper credential may serve you better.

If you are short on experience, look at the CAPM. PMI lists it as “No experience required” at $225 for members and $300 full price, and an active CAPM later fulfills the PMP training requirement. Our CAPM vs PMP comparison sets the two side by side on cost, difficulty and career fit, and the CAPM certification guide covers that exam in full.

Does PMP certification cost the same in every country?

No. The handbook says “Prices may vary based on a candidate’s membership status and regional location,” and PMI’s renewal fees are also subject to regional pricing. All figures on this page are the US dollar prices PMI showed us on 5 November 2026. If you are in India, the UK, Canada, the UAE, Pakistan, South Africa or elsewhere, sign in to your PMI account and read the price there, since converting US dollars may give you the wrong number.

How to lower your PMP certification cost

• Join PMI before paying for the exam. You come out about $86 ahead on the exam alone, before the processing fee.
• Turn off membership auto-renewal if you only joined for the discount, and decide again later.
• Ask your employer first, before buying anything you might have had covered.
• Choose self-paced training unless you have a clear reason to pay for a live class.
• Use a 529 plan if you have one and your plan provider confirms the expense qualifies.
• Check your course for a simulator before buying a separate question bank.
• Book your exam more than 30 days out, and make any change before that point to avoid the US$70 fee.
• Pay when you have a date. An unused eligibility period forfeits the whole fee.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does PMP certification cost in total?

The exam is $425 for PMI members and $675 for non-members. Adding training, the first-year totals we priced on 5 November 2026 run from $678 for a member using a self-paced course on sale to $1,474 for a non-member buying PMI’s own course. Retakes and renewal are extra.

Is the PMP exam $425 or $675?

Both. PMI lists a member price of $425 and a full price of $675. You get the $425 rate only if your membership is active before you pay for the certification.

Is it cheaper to join PMI before taking the PMP?

Usually, yes. On PMI’s US store, individual membership is $164 a year plus a small processing fee for new members, and it cuts the exam fee by $250. That leaves about $86 ahead, less the processing fee, in the first year.

How much does it cost to retake the PMP exam?

PMI charges for the second and third attempts, but its public handbook and FAQ do not print the amount. Training providers commonly report $275 for members and $375 for non-members, and one reports about $375 and $500. Those are third-party figures, so confirm the price in your PMI dashboard or cart.

How much does it cost to renew the PMP?

PMI’s public handbook does not print the renewal fee and sends you to your myPMI dashboard for the current price. Training providers commonly report $60 for members and $150 for non-members. You renew every three years after earning 60 PDUs.

Can I get a refund on the PMP exam fee?

You may request a refund within 30 days of purchase, provided you do not schedule and take the exam in that time. PMI gives no refund if your eligibility period expires unused or if you miss a scheduled exam without proper notice.

Will my employer pay for the PMP?

That depends on your employer, so ask before you spend anything. Under IRS Publication 15-B, a qualifying employer educational assistance program can exempt up to $5,250 of benefits a year.

Can I use a 529 plan for PMP costs?

PMI says yes. Its certification FAQ lists the PMP among covered certifications and names prep courses, books, materials and exam fees as qualified expenses. Confirm the details with your plan before you withdraw.

Related guides

• Best PMP courses for the 2026 exam
• PMP certification requirements: education, experience and 35 hours
• PMP practice exams: free and paid question banks
• CAPM vs PMP: which certification first?
• CAPM certification: requirements, cost and exam
• Best project management courses
• Certification cost calculator