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PMI · CAPM

CAPM certification — cost, requirements, exam

In short

The CAPM exam fee is $225 for PMI members and $300 at the full non-member price, paid after your application is accepted.

You apply with a secondary degree, at 18 or older, and 23 hours of project management education completed before the exam — no work experience is required.

The exam is 150 questions in 180 minutes; renewal takes 15 PDUs every 3-year cycle.

US dollars, as shown on PMI's US pages.

Last verified Oct 19, 2026 · Sources below

This is a plain-English summary of PMI's published rules and US prices, checked by hand on the date shown. PMI can change prices and rules at any time. Confirm on pmi.org before you apply or pay.

Who the CAPM fits

The CAPM is PMI's entry-level certification: it asks for education, not experience. It suits people at the start of project work — students, new graduates, career changers — who want a PMI credential before they have the years the PMP asks for. If you already manage projects day to day, compare both on the CAPM vs PMP page or go straight to the PMP hub.

Eligibility

  • A secondary degree (high school diploma, GED or global equivalent).
  • Age 18 or older when you apply.
  • At least 23 hours of project management education, completed before the exam.
  • No work experience is required.

Fees

CAPM exam fee — PMI, checked Oct 19, 2026
PMI member$225
Full price (non-member)$300

US dollars, as shown on PMI's US pages.

Membership costs $164 a year and makes the CAPM more expensive on one attempt, not less — the arithmetic is on the cost page.

The exam

The CAPM exam is 150 questions in 180 minutes. PMI's public CAPM page does not state a delivery format breakdown like the PMP's — confirm the current format on pmi.org before you book.

Keeping the CAPM

Renewal takes 15 PDUs per 3-year cycle. A renewal fee is not shown on PMI's public pages — check your PMI account.

CAPM → PMP

An active CAPM fulfils the PMP's 35-hour training requirement (PMI). It covers the training requirement only — the experience years still apply. When you have the experience years, the PMP requirements page shows the four education paths and the year checker.

What is the CAPM pass rate?

PMI does not publish a pass rate for the CAPM. We don't estimate one. Any figure you see elsewhere is a third-party guess, not a PMI number — treat it accordingly.

Questions

How much does the CAPM exam cost?
$225 for PMI members and $300 at full price, paid after your application is accepted — US dollars as shown on PMI's US pages, checked Oct 19, 2026. Re-examination fees are not shown on PMI's public pages; check your PMI account before you pay.
What do I need to apply for the CAPM?
A secondary degree (high school diploma, GED or global equivalent), to be 18 or older, and 23 hours of project management education completed before the exam. No work experience is required.
How long is the CAPM exam?
180 minutes for 150 questions.
What is the CAPM pass rate?
PMI does not publish a pass rate for the CAPM. We don't estimate one, and we don't repeat third-party guesses.
Does the CAPM count toward the PMP?
One way only: an active CAPM fulfils the PMP's 35-hour training requirement. It does not replace any of the PMP's experience years.

Keep going

Sources