How Much Does the PMP Cost? Exam Fee, Membership, Retakes, and Renewal

The PMP exam fee shown on PMI's page

Both prices were shown in US dollars on PMI's main PMP page. PMI's certification handbook says prices vary by membership status and regional location, so the amount at checkout in your country may differ from the figures above. Confirm the price in your PMI account before you pay.

Three rules from PMI shape what you actually pay:

• You pay after approval. PMI's PMP page notes that the exam fee is due only after your application is accepted and you are ready to schedule.
• Member pricing needs membership first. The handbook says membership rates apply only to candidates who became members before paying for the certification. Joining afterward does not lower a fee you already paid.
• Accommodations are free. PMI charges nothing extra for approved test accommodations.

Does PMI membership pay for itself on the PMP exam?

On the prices shown above, the member discount on one exam attempt is $655 − $405 = $250.

That gives a simple break-even rule. If the total cost of joining PMI in your region, including any one-time fee, is less than $250, membership pays for itself on the exam fee alone. If it costs more, it can still make sense for other reasons, but not on the exam fee by itself. PMI's membership page did not show a dues amount on October 27, 2026, so check the price at checkout before you join, and remember that you must join before you pay the exam fee for the discount to apply. The same page lists member pricing under the paid Professional Membership, not under the free 30-day trial.

PMP cost worksheet beyond the exam fee

The training cost depends entirely on the provider you choose. The rules for which courses count, including the change for live classes from December 1, 2026, are in the PMP 35 contact hours guide.

Exam prep, such as question banks and practice exams, is a separate line from training, and PMI does not count it toward the 35 hours. Full PMP prep on Passy is not on sale yet, but the PMP page lists the one-time prices planned for 30, 90, or 180 days of PMP prep, and the 20 free PMP practice questions cost nothing.

PMP refund rules and fees you can avoid

PMI's handbook allows a refund request within 30 days of purchase, as long as you have not scheduled and taken the exam in that time. A processed refund closes your application and ends your eligibility period. PMI does not refund the fee if your one-year eligibility period expires before you schedule, or if you miss a scheduled exam without proper notice.

Most of the avoidable costs come from timing and paperwork:

• The US$70 late-change fee. It applies to any change within 30 days of the appointment, and the 30 days do not include the exam day itself. Book a date you are confident about, and move it early if you must.
• The 48-hour lock. Inside the last 48 hours you cannot reschedule or cancel. Missing the exam then forfeits the whole fee.
• A name mismatch. If the name on your ID does not exactly match your scheduling notice, PMI's handbook says you will not be allowed to test and must pay the exam fee again to test later.
• An online setup that fails. Pearson VUE says that if you do not meet an OnVUE requirement at check-in, you cannot test and the fee is forfeited. Run the system test well before exam day.
• Emergencies. PMI's extenuating circumstances policy covers events such as a medical emergency, military deployment, a death or illness in the immediate family, a natural disaster, or force majeure, but not work-related reasons. PMI may refund the late-change fee, and for a missed exam you contact PMI within 72 hours.

The booking steps and a worked calendar for the 30-day and 48-hour lines are in how to schedule the PMP exam.

PMP retake and renewal costs: what PMI states

PMI's handbook says repayment of fees applies to the second and third attempts within your one-year eligibility period, and PMI's PMP page says fees are associated with re-examination. Neither gives the retake amount on the pages checked for this guide, so look it up in your PMI account before you rebook, and treat retake prices quoted by training sites as unconfirmed. After three unsuccessful attempts, you wait one year from your last exam before you can reapply. If your year runs out with attempts left, you can reapply right away. Either way, another chance means a new application and its fees. The PMP retake guide covers the timeline.

The cheapest attempt is one you are ready for. A full-length timed rehearsal before you book shows whether you are, and the PMP page describes the timed PMP mock exam planned for launch for that purpose. Any long timed set of original questions does the same job in the meantime.

After you pass, the PMP stays active through PMI's Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program: 60 professional development units every three years plus a renewal fee. PMI's CCR Handbook (last updated April 2026) says renewal fees depend on membership and region, that the current amount appears in your myPMI dashboard rather than on a public page, and that payment is due no later than 90 days after your cycle ends. The certification renewal fee is separate from PMI membership dues.

If you have not applied yet, how to apply for the PMP shows where payment fits after approval. When you are ready to compare study costs, see what the free PMP tools cover and what full prep adds at launch.