Last updated on March-2024 by Nilotpal Ray, PMP
What is the PMP Certification Exam Cost, and how much are the retake costs for 2nd and 3rd attempts of the exam?
Planning for the PMP Certification Exam and not being fully aware of the fees/application charges for the same can be quite discomforting.
Also, you might be thinking, what if I don’t pass the exam on my first attempt? How much will it cost me for a retake? When can I apply for a retake if I have failed on my first attempt? Is there a cooling-off period?
I bet such questions are very common to an aspirant like you planning to write the PMP Exam.
In this blog post, I will discuss the answers to all of these questions so that by the time you complete reading this, you will feel far more confident about the costs associated with the PMP certification exam and the retake fees for the same (in case you need to cross that bridge at some point)!
What is the PMP Certification Exam Cost (1st attempt)?
The cost of the PMP Certification exam in your first attempt is $405 if you are a Project Management Institute (PMI) member and the cost is $555 for a non-PMI member (This is as of 2022. You can check the official PMP Certification details page from PMI if this changes in the future).
I strongly suggest you become a member of PMI because by doing that, you get a host of benefits included with the subscription (as detailed below) along with a great discount on your PMP exam fees ($405 vs. $555).
Benefits of PMI Membership ($129+$10 service fee = $139 per year)
- Access to PMI standards such as PMBOK 6, PMBOK 7, Process Group Practice Guide and the Agile Practice Guide
- Opportunity to join local chapters (the UK, US, India, UAE, and a lot of other countries)
- Free webinars to earn PDUs after your certification
- Project management templates & articles
- Networking opportunities with other PMs across the globe
What is the PMP Certification Exam Retake Cost (2nd and 3rd attempt)?
The re-examination/retake costs for the PMP exam, if you cannot ace it in your first attempt, are $275 for PMI members and $375 for non-PMI members for each retake. So, here also, you get the cost-saving benefits of being a PMI member.
Please note that after your application for the PMP exam is approved, you get a 365-day window for 3 attempts at the exam. Of course, with the right preparation strategy and attitude, I hope you ever be in a position for a retake, but it’s always good to know. If you want to know what is the passing score of the PMP Exam, you can check this article.
Also, there is no such thing as a cooling-off period if you fail in your first attempt. If you want, you can apply for the 2nd retake the next day itself. However, if you have failed the exam on your first attempt, taking a 2-3 months re-preparation time is always advisable before considering your 2nd attempt. Check out this article as well to know why aspirants find the PMP Exam hard, and what are the key reasons to fail in the PMP Exam.
Needless to say, if you plan on taking some additional training for preparation for the PMP exam (online courses, books, subscriptions, mock simulators, etc.) then you need to budget those costs as well on top of the PMP exam fees. That will give you an overall idea of your all-in cost for writing the PMP exam.
Hope you enjoyed reading the article. If you are preparing for your PMP Exam, don’t forget to check out my Udemy Courses and PMP Masterclass Sessions below:
The last one is the best if you are struggling to learn EVM during your PMP and CAPM preparation.
Cheers and I will talk to you soon!
Ray
