PMP Certification Cost

If you’re considering pursuing a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, one of the important factors to consider is the cost associated with the certification process. Understanding the PMP certification cost can help you plan your budget and make informed decisions about your certification journey. In this article, we will explore the various components of the PMP certification cost and provide insights on how to manage and reduce these expenses.

Three Elements of PMP Certification Cost:

• Certification Training
• PMP Exam Fee
• Exam Prep Time

PMP Exam Fee With PMI Membership and Without PMI Membership

When it comes to your PMP exam fee, PMI members have a discount. PMI members taking the PMP certification exam pay $405 USD, while the PMP exam fee for non-members is $555. That’s a $150 dollar difference. However, if you decide to become a PMI member on the day you take the exam, you will still have to pay $555 — the cost of your membership as well as your PMP exam fee. On the plus side, membership will mean that you have access to PMI resources, such as the latest PMBOK Guide, which is why we recommend making use of the PMI membership.

You’ll also enjoy more discounts as a PMI member going forward, as shown in the table below.

It’s certainly a boon to take on PMI membership when considering the overall PMP certification cost. However, as we stated above, the PMP exam fee only covers one element of your overall PMP certification cost. So let’s get into training and time.

PMP Certification Cost as a Whole: What To Consider

The project management field is one that is currently enjoying a high demand, and it can be easy to find an exciting career with plenty of room for success in this industry. If you’re passionate about a career in project management, you likely already know the importance of a PMP certification. The Project Management Professional certification is given by the Project Management Institute (PMI).  It’s the most widely recognized, established certification for project management professionals.

A PMP certification will open doors to more fulfilling careers and networking, more than any other project management professional certification. Simply put, a PMP certification is a smart investment, and one that will pay off. However, it is not a cheap investment.

What are other costs of PMP certification? First, beyond the PMP exam fee, there are also training costs. Some of that training is necessary to be eligible for your PMP certification — for example, the 35 hours, minimum of project management education. Other training costs will help you develop a study plan that ensures your success in taking the PMP certification. Without this, your PMP certification cost will be higher as you will have to retake the 180-question test multiple times before you pass.

There is also time to consider. Time is just as much of an investment, and for working professionals, time is money.

PMP Certification Cost #1: 35 Hours of Project Management Education

As stated above, to even be eligible for PMP certification, you need to complete 35 hours of project management education. This training can be done in a physical classroom or online. These are your contact hours. The best way to earn these hours AND prepare for the exam at the same time is to take a PMP exam prep course.

Choose a company that will provide a pass guarantee and that has a high “first-time pass rate” for their students.   Brain Sensei is one such exam prep company.  They offer PMP exam preparation courses in either a self-paced format or with a live virtual instructor as well as a solid pass guarantee and money-back guarantee.  They boast an impressive 99.6% first time pass rate for their students..

The real question is how much those 35 mandatory contact hours will cost, and it really depends on a few factors: first, is your training online or in-person? Online classes tend to be more affordable than in-person classes, especially if it’s self-paced, without a live instructor. It can also depend on the country where the training is received. For instance, training done in North America, Australia, Europe, or Arabian countries tend to cost more than training done in South America. Here are some of the averages:

• North America, Australia: $1,500-3,500
• South America: $600
• China, India: $500
• European Countries: $1,200-2900
• Saudi Arabia : $2,500

PMP certification costs can vary widely when it comes to training, even within the same country. However, if you’re working on a lighter budget, one option that might serve you well is online self-paced PMP exam prep courses. These courses allow you to work on a flexible schedule and typically cost far less, usually around the $500 mark.

One other benefit of our self-paced PMP training is that you can access it at any time, meaning months before your PMP exam as well as the day before. In a classroom, you receive the necessary training and then go home. Self-paced PMP training allows you to keep the information at the forefront of your mind so you can test with confidence.

Brain Sensei’s self-paced PMP training course allows you to prep for the PMP exam at your own rate, however fast or slow that might be. For just $499.99, you receive access to all of the information you need for an entire year, including an unlimited exam simulator with realistic and up-to-date exam questions. Check it out here.

What Will You Receive With the Self-Paced PMP Exam Prep Course From Brain Sensei?

The goal of the self-paced PMP exam prep course from Brain Sensei is to help you meet the requirements of the exam, as well as give you all the tools and information you need to pass your PMP certification exam, using a unique and interactive story-based approach. For the cost you will pay for the exam, you will receive:

• UNLIMITED exam simulator – dynamically generated from their bank of 1,500 realistic exam questions so that you get a different test each time you take it
• Base knowledge assessments with discoverability questions to reveal the blind spots holding you back
• Spaced Repetition System for retaining key project management terminologies and concepts
• Summary of key Knowledge Points for each process to recap what you’ve learned
• Access to a Facebook group to get support and ask any questions in case you get stuck
• Follow up emails filled with tips, tricks, and reminders
• Offline video walkthrough of learning modules (Apple Podcast users only). Available to stream for Android and Apple users via Spotify and Apple Podcast apps (data charges may apply).
• Speedy student support

PMP Certification Cost #2: Exam Prep Time

Time is precious to all of us. If you are a full-time project management professional trying to establish your career, you probably have precious little leisure time as it is. You want to spend that time with family or friends or simply doing things you enjoy. Time is an investment, just like money. It also counts as a PMP certification cost because the sooner you’re able to get your certification, the sooner you can move up in your career, including moving up in pay.

However, time is a necessary investment to do well in your PMP exam. How much time? It depends on the individual, especially with our self-paced course. Anywhere between 4,500-7,500 hours of experience in the industry are required to be eligible for the PMP certification, as well as the aforementioned 35 contact hours. The PMP exam has 180 questions, making it quite the behemoth of a test. It might take you 3 months, it might take 6 months, or it might take 5 weeks.  Most take about 3 months to prepare for the exam.

It’s worth noting that for full-time professionals, your PMP exam prep is most likely to take you months, not weeks. There are plenty of ads out there for 30-day PMP exam prep programs. For some, cramming in all of that information in that time can work. However, if you have a full-time work schedule and want to have any semblance of a social life, your studying hours may be limited. Come up with a study plan that works best for you and stick to it.

PMP Certification Cost #3: PMP Exam Fee

Finally, there’s the PMP exam fee. After you’ve invested the money into training and the time into studying for the exam, the next step is to fill out a PMP application. This application will determine your eligibility for the PMP certification. Once it’s approved, schedule a date to sit for the test at a Pearson VUE Test Center. You can do so through the PMI website portal.

As we discussed above, the upfront cost should be the same — $555 — but there is a difference in long-term PMP cost for PMI members and non-members. Let’s review the cost table again.

It’s also worth noting that the re-attempt PMP exams also cost money, so the fewer times you have to take the test, the more you’ll save on your overall PMP certification cost.

PMI membership, while beneficial and recommended, comes with its own costs. It’s for this reason that if you decide to apply for membership on the day you take your PMP certification exam, your overall cost will still be the same as the cost non-members pay. PMI membership fees include a one-time application fee for $10 and a yearly membership fee for $129.

However, for the cost, PMI membership lasts for an entire year and gives you access to invaluable downloadable content, as well as the most recent PMBOK. Want to learn more about PMI membership? Check out their website.

Conclusion

Obtaining a PMP certification is an investment in your professional development and can significantly enhance your project management career. Understanding the cost associated with the certification process allows you to plan your budget effectively. By considering factors such as exam fees, PMI membership, exam prep resources, retake fees, continuing education, and miscellaneous expenses, you can make informed decisions and manage your PMP certification costs efficiently.

Remember, while the PMP certification cost may seem substantial, it’s important to view it as an investment in your future career growth and earning potential. With proper planning and budgeting, you can successfully navigate the certification process and reap the benefits of being a certified PMP.

Have you led projects and are looking to earn a project management certification?  You might be interested in learning about how lucrative this can be.  Check out these articles.

Should You Become PMP Certified? – Here’s Why Becoming A Certified Project Management Professional Can Boost Your Career

13 PMP Benefits Once You Get The PMP Certification

No experience leading projects but still want to get into project management?  No problem!  Check out these articles.  

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