Here's the full CAPM® cost picture — the PMI fees you'll pay, plus how to keep your total down by passing on the first attempt.
| Item | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| Exam fee — PMI member | ~$225 (verify on pmi.org) |
| Exam fee — non-member | ~$300 (verify on pmi.org) |
| Retake | ~$150 member / ~$200 non-member |
| Required education | 23 contact hours (PM) |
| Renewal (every 3 yrs) | 15 PDUs under the CCR program |
Commonly reported pricing: about $225 for PMI members / $300 non-members, retake ~$150/$200 — PMI shows live regional pricing, verify on pmi.org. PMI membership (~$129/yr) is optional.
The biggest hidden cost of any certification is the retake — fail once and you pay the exam fee again, plus weeks of lost momentum. The cheapest way to sit CAPM® once is to walk in genuinely ready.
That's where affordable practice pays for itself: ExamDeck is $15 for lifetime CAPM® access (or $19/month All-Access across every exam) — a fraction of the exam fee — with original questions, an explanation for every option, and a readiness report that tells you when you're ready to book.
6 free questions · per-area readiness · no dumps · no ads.
Start free →Yes — that's exactly who it's for: students, business analysts and early-career professionals. There's no experience gate, and the 2023 update added a 27% Business Analysis domain, making it a natural fit for BA-adjacent roles.
CAPM has no experience requirement and tests foundations across predictive, agile and business analysis. PMP requires 36–60 months leading projects. Start with CAPM, collect experience, then upgrade.
150 questions (135 scored + 15 unscored pretest) — multiple choice, drag-and-drop, hot-spot and scenario-based formats — in 180 minutes, with a 10-minute break after question 75.
PMI does not publish a numeric cut score — results are pass/fail with per-area performance indicators. Aim for a consistent 80–85% on realistic mocks before booking.
PMI does not publish official pass rates, so any exact percentage quoted online is unverified. The readiness signal that actually predicts passing: consistently holding 80–85% on realistic, full-length practice exams before you book.
Secondary degree (high school diploma or global equivalent), 23 contact hours of project management education completed before the exam. No professional project management experience required — built for students and career-changers.
Commonly reported pricing: about $225 for PMI members / $300 non-members, retake ~$150/$200 — PMI shows live regional pricing, verify on pmi.org. PMI membership (~$129/yr) is optional.
For most candidates, commonly reported 60–150 hours beyond the mandatory 23 contact hours. What matters most is practising questions and analysing why each option is right or wrong — not just reading.
15 PDUs every 3 years under PMI's CCR program (since the 2023 update — no re-exam needed).
No — every question is original, written to test the concepts and reviewed before it ships, with an explanation linked to the source for every option. Dumps are stale, often wrong, and against PMI's policies.