CAPM
Offered by Project Management Institute (PMI)
The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is PMI's entry-level project management certification. Unlike the PMP, it requires no project management work experience — a secondary diploma and 23 hours of project management education are enough — which makes it a common starting point for people beginning a project management career.
EXAM AT A GLANCE
Questions
150
135 scored
Testing time
180
minutes
Sections
4
Delivery
Pearson VUE test center or online proctored
Cost
$225 / $300
Your CAPM Community
Connect with other people preparing for the CAPM.
What the exam covers
Project Management Fundamentals & Core Concepts
36%
Predictive, Plan-Based Methodologies
17%
Agile Frameworks / Methodologies
20%
Business Analysis Frameworks
27%
About the CAPM certification
The current exam covers predictive, agile, and business-analysis frameworks. Passing it does not make you a PMP. It shows you understand the language and frameworks PMI tests at the associate level.
Who it’s for
Students, recent graduates, and career changers who want a recognized project management certification without the PMP's experience requirement.
CAPM certification cost
PMI charges an exam fee after it accepts your application. The price depends on whether you are a PMI member in good standing at the moment you pay, and on regional pricing. For U.S. candidates, PMI's published CAPM exam fee is $225 for members and $300 for non-members. Currency conversion and local pricing can change the amount on your payment screen, so confirm the figure on PMI's CAPM page before you pay.
That fee is for one exam attempt. It does not include PMI membership, the 23 contact hours of project management education (the training provider sets that price), optional prep courses, or a later renewal. If membership is still processing when you pay, PMI charges the non-member rate and does not refund the difference.
Membership is optional. Buying it only to save $75 on a single CAPM attempt usually costs more than the discount. It is more relevant if you expect a retake, want member pricing on PMI materials, or plan to pursue the PMP while the membership is active.
If you do not pass, PMI lets you attempt the exam up to three times within your one-year eligibility period. Each extra attempt has its own retake fee, listed separately from the first exam fee. Moving a Pearson VUE appointment can add a reschedule fee that is also separate from what you paid PMI.
The certification is valid for 3 years. Keeping it requires 15 Professional Development Units and a renewal fee. Neither is included in the original exam price.
- Testing time
- 180 minutes (3 hours), with one 10-minute break
- Prerequisites
- Secondary diploma (high school / GED / global equivalent) + 23 contact hours of PM education completed before the exam
Official exam page· Details verified October 2026
Exam details can change. Always confirm current requirements, fees, and exam policies with the certification provider before registering.
How to take the CAPM certification
- 1
Finish the 23 hours of project management education before you apply. PMI checks that requirement; the exam fee does not pay for the course.
- 2
Create a PMI account, submit your education, and wait for the application to be accepted. You pay the exam fee after acceptance, not as a separate application charge.
- 3
If you want the member price, wait until PMI confirms membership before you pay. Then schedule at a Pearson VUE center or online.
- 4
Use the eligibility window. You can sit up to three times in that year if you do not pass. Read PMI's current handbook for what a retake costs before you assume the first fee covers it.
How to prepare
01
Complete the required 23 contact hours of project management education.
02
Review the current CAPM Exam Content Outline and the four domains.
03
Study both predictive and agile approaches alongside the fundamentals and business analysis domains.
04
Practice with a question bank until you're consistently scoring above 75%.
05
Sit a timed full-length mock exam before test day.
Related resources
FAQ
How much does the CAPM certification cost?
PMI's published U.S. exam fee is $225 for members and $300 for non-members, for one attempt. Regional pricing can differ. Membership, the required 23 hours of education, retakes, rescheduling, and renewal are separate costs. Confirm the amount on PMI's CAPM page before you pay.
Is the CAPM worth it if I have no experience?
It is built for people without project leadership experience. It signals that you have studied PMI's associate-level frameworks. Hiring still depends on the employer.
What's the difference between CAPM and PMP?
CAPM has no experience requirement and is entry-level. PMP requires years of project leadership experience and is a senior certification. CAPM education can count toward the PMP's education requirement.
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