PMP (Project Management Professional) Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the PMP (Project Management Professional), eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$405-$555
Provider
PMI
Validity
3 years (60 PDUs needed)
Available
Global
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
1-3 years of hands-on experience recommended
Specific Requirements
- One of four education and experience combinations, with all experience accrued in the last 10 years: upper-secondary completion plus 60 months leading projects; a short-cycle post-secondary or advanced vocational qualification plus 48 months; a bachelor's degree or higher plus 36 months; or a bachelor's or postgraduate degree from a PMI Global Accreditation Center accredited program plus 24 months.
- 35 hours of commercial project management training aligned to the Exam Content Outline, from an Authorized Training Partner, China Registered Education Provider, GAC program, accredited academic course, employer program, training company or self-paced on-demand course with an end-of-course assessment.
- An active CAPM certification waives the 35 training hours entirely and counts as a 35-hour credit.
- Experience must be leading and directing projects in a professional setting. School projects, academic research for a degree, personal events and home improvement do not count, and routine operational or administrative work must be excluded.
- Agreement to the PMI Certification Application and Renewal Agreement and the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
- Payment of the exam fee after application approval: USD 405 for PMI members, USD 655 at full price, with regional pricing in USD, euros, BRL and INR.
- No PMI membership is required. Membership is optional and reduces the exam fee.
Number of Questions
180 questions in total: 170 scored and 10 unscored pretest questions, randomly distributed through the exam
Duration
240 minutes (4 hours) of testing time, plus two 10-minute breaks. PMI's 2026 Exam Content Outline places the first break after the case-study section and the second approximately midway through the independent question portion. The optional tutorial and the optional post-exam survey sit outside the 240 minutes.
Question Format
Case or scenario sets: a detailed situation, sometimes with graphs or charts, followed by a series of linked questions (all delivery modes, new in 2026), Graphic-based questions requiring interpretation of a chart, graph, diagram or image (all delivery modes, new in 2026), Multiple-choice single response (all delivery modes), Multiple-response questions with more than one correct answer (all delivery modes), Enhanced matching with images or diagrams and drag-and-drop (computer-based testing only), Matching across columns by dragging items (computer-based testing only), Point and click on hidden hotspot areas of an image (computer-based testing only), Pull-down list selection (computer-based testing only)
Passing Requirement
Not published. The PMI Certification Handbook states the passing score is determined by psychometric analysis rather than a fixed percentage of correct answers.
How It Is Delivered
Computer-based testing at a Pearson VUE test centre, which PMI recommends, or OnVUE online proctored testing at home or in the office. Mainland China delivery is paper-based through ATA test services. Candidates in Japan and South Korea taking the online proctored exam in their local language are proctored by ATA test services.
Languages Offered
English, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish
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
Score Scale
PMI publishes no numeric scale for the PMP. The reported outcome is pass or fail overall, plus a performance level for each of the three domains.
Score You Need
Not published. The PMI Certification Handbook states the passing score is determined by psychometric analysis rather than a fixed percentage of correct answers.
How It Is Calculated
PMI calls its exams criterion-based: the standard is whether a candidate meets the criteria for a qualified experienced project manager, not a curve against other candidates. Each scored item samples proficiency, and PMI aggregates across items to compare overall proficiency with that standard. Of 180 items, 170 are scored and 10 are unscored pretest questions used to validate future items. No wrong-answer penalty is described.
When You Get Results
Computer-based candidates see a preliminary score report at the end of the session. PMI treats it as preliminary until it confirms the result is official, and the exam report appears in the online certification results system no later than 10 business days after the exam date, with an email notification. Paper-based candidates receive results within 6 to 8 weeks.
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the PMP (Project Management Professional)?
One of four education and experience combinations, with all experience accrued in the last 10 years: upper-secondary completion plus 60 months leading projects; a short-cycle post-secondary or advanced vocational qualification plus 48 months; a bachelor's degree or higher plus 36 months; or a bachelor's or postgraduate degree from a PMI Global Accreditation Center accredited program plus 24 months.. 35 hours of commercial project management training aligned to the Exam Content Outline, from an Authorized Training Partner, China Registered Education Provider, GAC program, accredited academic course, employer program, training company or self-paced on-demand course with an end-of-course assessment.. An active CAPM certification waives the 35 training hours entirely and counts as a 35-hour credit.. Experience must be leading and directing projects in a professional setting. School projects, academic research for a degree, personal events and home improvement do not count, and routine operational or administrative work must be excluded.. Agreement to the PMI Certification Application and Renewal Agreement and the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.. Payment of the exam fee after application approval: USD 405 for PMI members, USD 655 at full price, with regional pricing in USD, euros, BRL and INR.. No PMI membership is required. Membership is optional and reduces the exam fee..
How much does the PMP (Project Management Professional) cost?
The PMP (Project Management Professional) exam costs $405-$555. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the PMP (Project Management Professional)?
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 PMP (Project Management Professional)?
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 PMP (Project Management Professional)?
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