Requirements & Prerequisites

CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) Requirements & Prerequisites

Everything you need to know before registering for the CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management), eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.

Cost

$225-$300

Provider

PMI

Validity

5 years

Available

Global

Prerequisites & Eligibility

Education

Check official exam requirements

Experience

6-12 months of relevant experience recommended

Specific Requirements

  • A secondary degree: a high school diploma, GED or global equivalent.
  • At least 23 hours of project management education, completed before you sit the exam.
  • No project work experience is required. This is the key difference from the PMP.
  • Education hours may come from PMI Authorized Training Partners, PMI chapters, employer or company-sponsored programmes, training companies or consultants, distance-learning companies whose courses include an end-of-course assessment, or university and college academic and continuing education programmes.
  • PMI chapter meetings do not count toward the 23 hours unless at least one hour of the meeting was spent conducting a learning activity, in which case that hour counts.
  • All education hours must be recorded in the application regardless of when they were accrued, and PMI may select an application for audit.
Exam Format

Number of Questions

150 questions, of which 135 are scored and 15 are unscored pretest items placed randomly throughout the exam

Duration

180 minutes, with one 10-minute break after question 75. The optional tutorial and survey take 5 to 15 minutes and are not counted against the 180 minutes

Question Format

Multiple choice, Drag and drop, Hot spot or hot area, where you click a region of an image, Animations with audio and closed captioning, followed by one question each, Comic strip items, read as panels then answered as a multiple choice question

Passing Requirement

Not published by PMI. PMI states the passing score is determined by psychometric analysis with subject matter experts deciding how many questions must be answered correctly. The score report shows overall pass or fail plus a performance rating for each domain rather than a numeric cut score

How It Is Delivered

Computer-based at a Pearson VUE testing centre, which PMI recommends, or online proctored testing from your own location. Online proctored candidates see comic strip questions instead of animations to avoid audio issues

Languages Offered

English, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Korean, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional)

Difficulty: MediumSalary Impact: $50k-$75k
How to Register
1

Visit the official PMI certification page

2

Create an account and select your exam

3

Choose a test center or online proctoring option

4

Pay the exam fee and schedule your date

What to Bring on Exam Day
  • Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
  • Appointment confirmation email
  • For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
Frequently Asked Questions

What are the prerequisites for the CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management)?

A secondary degree: a high school diploma, GED or global equivalent.. At least 23 hours of project management education, completed before you sit the exam.. No project work experience is required. This is the key difference from the PMP.. Education hours may come from PMI Authorized Training Partners, PMI chapters, employer or company-sponsored programmes, training companies or consultants, distance-learning companies whose courses include an end-of-course assessment, or university and college academic and continuing education programmes.. PMI chapter meetings do not count toward the 23 hours unless at least one hour of the meeting was spent conducting a learning activity, in which case that hour counts.. All education hours must be recorded in the application regardless of when they were accrued, and PMI may select an application for audit..

How much does the CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) cost?

The CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) exam costs $225-$300. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.

How do I register for the CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management)?

Visit the official PMI certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date

What should I bring to the CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management)?

Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.

Ready to prepare for CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management)?

Get the complete exam guide with study plan, tips, and practice questions.

View CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) Guide