If you are an IT professional, at some point in time, you might have wondered about the PMP certification, how much does the PMP test cost, and where and how to give it a start. One thing is clear, if you've set your goals on obtaining the PMP certification, then you have made the right choice - and you've got a bright future ahead! But getting PMP-certified isn't as simple as the three-letter word sounds. The certification demands real-world project management education and experience.
Now, before we learn about the PMP certification cost, let us first understand what is PMP.
What Is PMP?
PMP or Project Management Professional certification is a well respected professional designation for project managers worldwide. The Project Management Institute (PMI) gives PMP certification to candidates.
PMP denotes the documented experience, education, skill, and competency required to lead and execute projects. It is one of the most prestigious or Gold Standard certifications offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), USA.
Just as CPA validates your expertise in accountancy, PMP certifies you of the ability to manage projects— and recognizes the hard work you've done so far. This certification is valid for three years. According to the PMI, as of August 2019, there are around 932,720 active PMP certified individuals and 300 chartered chapters in 218 countries.
The PMI, a non-profit organization, began its journey in 1969. Its members are continuously supported by education, networking and thorough project management standards, and providing a common platform to communicate and exchange their views. The first edition of the PMI's standard for project management or the PMBOK was released in 1996 and has now reached the 6th edition.
It is pertinent to mention that updating of the PMBOK guide happens every 4-5 years. The process is carried out by a team of a highly competent group of practitioners, along with the members of the ANSI. The PMI issued its first member certificate in the year 1984 in Philadelphia, USA. Since then, the community of certified PMPs has been growing at a steady pace.
PMP is undoubtedly the most coveted project manager certification in the world today. PMI institute has been providing value to around 3 million professionals cutting across continents, with its credentials, standards and guides. Moreover, PMP certification has become a mandatory requirement for many jobs worldwide.
After obtaining a PMP certification, professionals can maintain it through a process, known as the Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program.
Now that we have understood about PMP, let us next go through the PMP certification cost.
What Is PMP Certification?
Issued by PMI, the PMP certification acknowledges your ability and skills in project management. It signifies your grasp of the latest concepts, approaches and practices concerning project management. PMP certificate holders across 40 countries earn around 16% more than non-certified colleagues.
A better understanding and applicability of waterfall project scheduling, Agile, business and leadership management makes you stand out among others.
How Long Does PMP Certification Take?
Based on eligibility criteria, the exam preparation duration depends on the type of experience or education level you already have. The following sections indicate the time required for each eligibility criterion.
Work Experience
It involves the candidates' degrees and relevant project handling or training hours:
Education |
Time duration |
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High-school Certificate |
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Graduation or four-year degree |
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Project Management Training
Mentioned above as contact hours, you must hold Project Management training of a specified duration via PMP certification courses. Both offline and online modes are acceptable. You can also consider a Certified Associate in Project management (CAPM) certification.
The choice of online or offline training depends on the candidate's schedule, the requirement of interaction with guides/trainers and the price of courses.
Application Processing Time
After the application submission, you will require a certain amount of time to wait for the process of final approval or rejection. Generally, candidates can expect a response within three to five working days.
Study Time
The study time varies for each person based on their level of preparation and the time taken to understand. Practical knowledge and dedication also contribute to the overall study time. Nevertheless, candidates can utilize preparation resources and guidance to speed up the procedure.
PMP Certification Cost
Wondering what the cost of quality PMP is? PMP cost incurred to earn 35 PDUs varies from country to country -from $300 to $5000.
PMP exam costs $405 for members of PMI and $555 for non-members. In many companies, employees are offered the opportunity to earn professional certifications and education benefits.
A PMP certification costs between INR 22,763 and INR 3,79,397 depending on where one is registering. PMP certification in India costs INR 23,459 for members of the PMI and INR 42,863 for non-members of the PMI. The application fee for the PMP exam in India is INR 9,963.
Re-examination Fee Structure:
- For PMI members: $275
- For non-PMI members: $375
A person, choosing to become a PMI member, at the time of application will have to shell out a PMP price of $555, which will cover both the examination and the membership fees.
Interestingly, even if a person doesn't wish to become a PMI-member, he/she will anyway have to pay the same PMP exam fee.
Hence, we recommend you to apply for the PMI membership option so that paying your PMP course fee is more practical.
After going through the PMP certification cost, let us next learn what exactly is its renewal fee.
What is the PMP Renewal Fees?
Confused about the structure of the PMP reexamination fee? After PMI confirms that a person has met the PDU requirements, he/she will receive an electronic notification to apply for PMP fees renewal.
Once the concerned person receives the notification, PMI asks them to submit the PMP certification renewal fee payment through the online certification system.
PMI Membership Status CCR Renewal Fee:
#PMI member - $60
#Non-PMI member - $150
Note: PMI's membership renewal fee is different and separate than the certification renewal fee. A candidate can complete the renewal process at any point during his/her cycle, post-meeting of the PDU requirements by submitting the payment, no later than 90 days after the cycle end date.
PMI will send the candidate an updated certificate with the new active certification/CCR cycle dates, after processing the completed application and the renewal payment. It generally takes six to eight weeks for postal delivery of the document.
PMI certification holders will have to agree to comply with the terms of use, including adherence to the audit norms. In case of an audit, the candidate will be allowed to renew his/her certification only after he/she has completed the audit and complied with all the terms and conditions.
Process
The PMI will randomly select a band of PMI certification holders for the audit process. During this time, a candidate will be required to submit supporting materials to verify any PDUs.
Therefore, a candidate must keep the documents for all PDU claims, at least 18 months after the end of the CCR cycle.
Cancellation of Certificates
A candidate has the liberty to cancel his/her certification at any time. For this, the candidate has to contact Customer Care in writing at customercare@pmi.org.
On receiving the application form, PMI will refund one-third of the renewal fee for each full year of the renewed certification/CCR cycle that the candidate has not used following the date of the written cancellation request.
If other extenuating circumstances prohibit a candidate from completing the certification renewal process, he/she may contact Customer Care. PMI will review and settle all claims on a case-to-case basis.
After having learned about the PMP certification cost, the renewal fee and more, let us understand the uses of this PMP certification.
How Much Do PMP Certification Classes Cost?
The rate varies based on the mode of classes. However, the general range lies between $300 to $3000. In addition, some educational platforms provide free certification courses too. However, they are trial versions and can not be relied upon solely for preparation.
Online Courses
The online courses for PMP certification training can be seen at $1070 and $1995 for the same 35 hours of training requirement. Simplilearn, Premier Authorized Training Partner by PMI, charges € 999 for the PMP Certification Training Online Course.
Online courses are usually suitable for candidates aiming for the exam while working or if they are busy with other schedules. They are self-paced programs with both live and pre-recorded classes.
In-person courses
Currently, the rate for offline or in-person courses lies at $1899. There are combined options as well, which cost $6000. The offline classes also produce a high success rate, depending on the quality of interactive sessions and guidance.
What is the Use of PMP Certification?
The PMP adds value to your career. The CIO magazine ranked this course as the top project management certification because it provides palpable evidence that the candidate has the required skills and experience that employers want.
According to PMI's most recent Project Management Salary Survey, the median salary for PMP holders in the USA is 25% higher than non-certified project management professionals.
Re-examination Fees
- For PMI members $275
- For non-PMI members $375
To clear the examination, the willing candidate has to pass multiple-choice question sets. The candidate has to answer 200 questions in 4 hours. The examination can be taken in 13 different languages, globally.
The PMI designs the examination to assess a candidate’s management knowledge in five different fields. The fields, along with the distribution of questions, are as follows:
- Initiating the project (13)
- Planning the project (24)
- Executing the project (30)
- Monitoring and Controlling a project (25)
- Closing the project (8)
As we have learned the PMP Certification cost, let us look at some reference books that can help us with the preparation.
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Find Our PMP Training in Top Cities |
PMP Exam Reference Books
The two books which a candidate can use for the preparation of PMP exam are:
- The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try, Sixth Edition- Written by Andy Crowe, the founder and CEO of Velociteach, a leading provider of project management training and exam preparation.
- PMP Exam Prep: Questions, Answers & Explanations- Written by Christopher Scordo, the founder and Managing Director of PMTraining.
What’s Next
The PMP certification can help you get lucrative job roles in IT, manufacturing, finance, healthcare, and other exciting industries.
Project Management Institute (PMI), the certifying body of PMP, published the Project Management Best Practice Guide named "Project management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)", which is the base for the PMP® certification exam.
PMP exam is challenging for most professionals since it covers a vast array of topics conforming to the syllabus based on PMBOK. Hence, the choice of a good training institute is imperative. Passing the PMP exam is tough; therefore, it will be better if a candidate reads a few books on the topic. You can also enroll for our Online PMP Certification Training Course which covers the latest best practices highlighted in the PMBOK Guide - 6th Edition, and learn from expert practitioners and pass the PMP® exam on your first attempt.
FAQs
1. Why should I opt for PMP Certification?
PMP training surely provides professionals with the capacity, knowledge, and abilities to be confident and prepared to lead complex projects. The PMP certification also equips you with the necessary technique and technical competence to complete projects successfully and on schedule.
2. Which skills do I need to develop to become a project manager?
Project management abilities are necessary to design, manage, execute, and complete projects. Project management abilities include both hard and soft skills since they assist in delegating and prioritizing work, managing resources, analyzing problems, reporting progress, and analyzing project performance. He should be able to communicate well. He should possess the versatility to pursue Negotiation, Leadership, Scheduling and Time Management, Risk Management, Critical Thinking, Technical Expertise, and Problem Solving.
3. Is PMP certification worth taking?
The PMP certification is unquestionably valuable. According to PMI data, a qualified PMP may expect a 20% salary rise. Other project managers have agreed that this accreditation provides a considerable return on investment.
4. Can I clear the PMP exam without reading PMBOK?
Yes, you can pass the PMP test without reading the PMBOK Guide.
5. How much does the PMP exam cost?
PMP exam fees for computer-based testing (CBT) are $405 for members from PMI and $555 for non-PMI members. Employees at many firms are given the option to get professional certifications and educational perks.
6. How much does PMP exam training cost?
It varies from company to company depending on the course that you are studying for the PMP exam.
7. How long does it take to learn for PMP?
On average, most successful PMP candidates study for the test for 35 hours or more. A PMP certification provides evidence of project management leadership knowledge and experience, as it includes 180 multiple-choice questions.
8. Who is eligible for PMP?
A four-year bachelor's degree or a high school diploma, 3 years of project management experience, 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM certification. Graduates must complete 4500 project management and project leadership hours, while diploma holders must complete 7500 hours.
