The total PMP certification cost has three primary parts: the PMI exam fee, training and exam preparation, and optional or future expenses. As of August 5, 2026, our annual PMP course is $299.99 through August 15. That creates a core nonmember budget of $954.99 before taxes and optional expenses. For the member route, add PMI’s current membership price to the $405 member exam fee and the course price.
These examples include the PMP exam and our course, which provides 35 contact hours and includes the exam simulator. They exclude taxes, retakes, rescheduling charges, extra study products, and certification renewal after you pass.
Our PMP exam prep course includes 35 contact hours and the exam simulator, so those items are not separate Brain Sensei purchases.
How Much Does PMP Certification Cost?
Your PMP cost depends on the products and services you choose. The two examples below use published U.S. prices from PMI and Brain Sensei for 2026.
| Cost item | PMI member route | Full-price route | Required or optional | Payment frequency |
| PMI membership | Varies by market | Not purchased | Optional | Annual |
| PMP exam | $405 | $655 | Required | Per exam attempt |
| Brain Sensei PMP course | $299.99 through Aug. 15, 2026 | $299.99 through Aug. 15, 2026 | Required if you need the course and training hours | One year of access |
| Core subtotal | $704.99 + PMI membership | $954.99 |
The member-route calculation is:
Current PMI membership price + $405 member exam fee + $299.99 promotional course price
The full-price calculation is:
$655 full-price exam fee + $299.99 promotional course price = $954.99
PMI currently lists a $405 member exam fee and a $655 full price in the United States. Our $299.99 annual course promotion is scheduled through August 15, 2026. Recheck both organizations’ current prices before publication or purchase.
These are example core budgets, not a guaranteed cost for every candidate. Your total can increase if you retake the exam, reschedule within a fee window, purchase additional study resources, travel to a testing location, or pay to renew your certification later.
PMP Exam Cost
PMI charges the PMP exam fee after your application has been accepted and you’re ready to schedule the exam.
For 2026, the U.S. PMP exam cost is:
- $405 for PMI members, paid per exam attempt
- $655 at the published full price, paid per exam attempt
The $405 and $655 prices are current U.S. PMI exam fees for 2026. The exam fee covers the PMP examination itself. It doesn’t include PMI membership, training, exam preparation, travel, or future renewal.
Retakes, cancellations, and rescheduling have their own rules and possible charges. You can see those details in the complete guide to PMP exam fees.
Is PMI Membership Worth Buying Before the PMP Exam?
PMI membership is optional. You don’t need to become a member to apply for or take the PMP exam.
The membership route should be calculated as follows:
- PMI membership: use the current price shown in your PMI account
- PMI member PMP exam: $405 for one exam attempt
- Combined membership and exam cost: current membership price + $405
- Full-price PMP exam: $655
- Compare the result with the $655 full-price exam fee
Membership lowers the exam fee, but whether it lowers the combined total depends on the membership price shown to you and any taxes or chapter dues.
This comparison does not apply automatically to every country or market.
PMI membership can make sense if you plan to use the member exam price or want the member resources included with the membership. You should compare the membership cost and exam fee together, not look at the exam discount by itself.
PMP Training Cost and the 35-Hour Requirement
Before you take the PMP exam, you need 35 hours of project management education or training, also called 35 contact hours. These hours are separate from the exam fee.
You can meet the education requirement through options such as:
- Self-paced online courses
- Live virtual instruction
- In-person training
- Academic project management education
The PMP training cost depends on the course you select. PMI doesn’t set one universal price for every training provider, so this article doesn’t use unsupported regional averages or general claims about what training usually costs.
If you need both the 35 contact hours and exam preparation, a combined course can make your budget easier to manage. You can review the other eligibility details in the PMP certification requirements guide.
Brain Sensei PMP Course Cost
Our current self-paced PMP course costs $349.99 for one year of access, based on the company’s 2026 product price. This is a one-time course purchase for the stated access period.
The course is fully online and self-paced. It includes:
- The required 35 contact hours
- Content aligned with the PMP exam effective July 9, 2026
- A PMP exam simulator
- More than 2,200 practice questions
- Three static 180-question practice exams
- Unlimited dynamically generated practice exams
- Knowledge assessments
- Spaced repetition
- Interactive course content
- Student support
The included simulator gives you exam practice without requiring a separate simulator purchase for the same budget. You can learn at your own pace and return to the material during your active one-year access period.
The course also includes a current 30-day refund guarantee and a pass guarantee for the applicable course, subject to the conditions in the Brain Sensei Terms and Conditions.
If you need training hours and a complete preparation option, review the PMP exam prep course.
What Does the PMP Course Price Include?
The PMP course price of $349.99 includes the course access, 35 contact hours, exam preparation content, and the included PMP exam simulator. It doesn’t include the PMI exam fee, PMI membership, taxes, retakes, or certification renewal.
For the core budget examples in this guide, our course is counted once. You shouldn’t add the standalone simulator to the same total because the annual course already includes the simulator.
Do You Need to Pay Separately for a PMP Exam Simulator?
That depends on what your preparation course includes.
Our annual PMP course includes its full PMP exam simulator. If you purchase that course for $349.99, you don’t need to add the standalone simulator as another cost in the same budget.
The standalone PMP practice exams are intended for candidates who already have their 35 contact hours and only need realistic exam practice. The simulator includes:
- Six months of access
- Three static 180-question exams
- Unlimited dynamically generated exams
- A question bank with more than 2,200 questions
- Detailed answer explanations
- Performance information
The standalone simulator price isn’t included here because the current official Brain Sensei information used for this guide doesn’t provide one unambiguous price.
Optional PMP Study Resource Costs
You don’t automatically need to buy every preparation product available. Choose optional resources only when they fill a real gap in your study plan.
The following prices come from PMI’s U.S. store for 2026:
| Optional resource | Price | What the payment covers | Payment frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| PMI Study Hall Essentials | $59 | Three months of access | One-time purchase |
| PMI Study Hall Plus | $79 | Three months of access | One-time purchase |
| PMI official PMP Practice Exam | $99 | Official PMP practice exam access | One-time purchase |
These products are optional. They aren’t included in the core Brain Sensei budgets, and you don’t need to purchase all three.
Avoid double-counting practice tools. If your selected course already includes an exam simulator, adding another practice product may give you more questions, but it also increases your total cost.
Possible Additional PMP Costs
Your certification budget can increase in several situations:
- You need to retake the PMP exam
- You reschedule within PMI’s fee window
- You miss an exam appointment
- You purchase optional study products
- You travel to a testing center
- You renew the certification after passing
This article doesn’t add unverified retake or rescheduling amounts to your total. Those charges depend on the applicable PMI policy and situation. Read the detailed PMP exam fees guide for the current retake, cancellation, and rescheduling information.
Travel can also add costs, but the amount depends on your location and testing arrangement. This guide doesn’t assign a dollar value to transportation, parking, lodging, childcare, or time away from work.
PMP Certification Renewal Cost
PMP certification is maintained on a three-year cycle. During each cycle, you need to earn 60 PDUs to maintain the credential.
The 35 contact hours and 60 PDUs are different requirements:
- The 35 contact hours are completed before you take the PMP exam.
- The 60 PDUs are earned after you pass, during each three-year renewal cycle.
PMI charges a certification renewal fee separately from PMI membership renewal. The cost of earning PDUs also depends on how you choose to complete them. Some qualifying activities can be completed at no additional educational cost, but you shouldn’t assume every PDU will be free.
Your complete long-term PMP budget should account for the renewal fee, PDU activities, and any learning products you choose to purchase during the three-year cycle. No renewal amount is included in the core totals because it is paid after you pass and isn’t part of the initial certification purchase.
Example PMP Certification Budgets
The examples below show how the cost of PMP certification changes when you add membership or optional preparation products.
| Scenario | Calculation | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|
| PMI member with Brain Sensei annual course | Current PMI membership price + $405 exam + $299.99 course promotion | $918.99 |
| Full-price exam with Brain Sensei annual course | $655 exam + $299.99 course promotion and simulator | $1,004.99 |
| PMI member with Brain Sensei and Study Hall Essentials | Current PMI membership price + $405 exam + $299.99 course promotion + $59 Study Hall Essentials | $977.99 |
| Full-price exam with Brain Sensei and Study Hall Plus | $655 exam + $299.99 course promotion and simulator + $79 Study Hall Plus | $1,083.99 |
The third and fourth scenarios include optional Study Hall purchases. They aren’t required budgets, and they don’t suggest that you need Study Hall to pass.
The Brain Sensei simulator isn’t added separately in these examples because it’s included with the annual course.
How to Reduce Your PMP Certification Cost
You can manage your PMP certification cost without cutting out the preparation you need.
- Compare the PMI membership and member exam combination before paying the exam fee.
- Choose a course that includes both the 35 contact hours and exam practice.
- Don’t purchase a separate simulator when your course already includes one.
- Use free previews before buying a preparation product.
- Employer education or certification reimbursement can reduce your out-of-pocket cost.
- Prepare sufficiently before scheduling the exam to reduce the risk of an additional exam fee.
- Avoid unnecessary rescheduling.
- Purchase optional resources only when they address a clear study gap.
A lower price isn’t helpful if the preparation doesn’t cover your needs. The better comparison is the total cost of the course, exam practice, access period, and required training.
Is PMP Certification Worth the Cost?
The answer depends on your situation.
PMP certification may fit your plans if:
- The roles you’re targeting list PMP certification as a preferred or required qualification.
- You already meet the project experience and education requirements.
- Your employer values the credential or offers reimbursement.
- You need formal training to meet the 35 contact-hour requirement.
- You plan to continue working in project leadership or project-focused roles.
The certification doesn’t guarantee a raise, promotion, job, or fixed return on your investment. Its value depends on your experience, target roles, employer, location, and how the credential fits into your career plans.
Before you spend the money, compare the initial exam and training costs with your professional goals. If you need a flexible course that combines the 35 contact hours with exam practice, our self-paced PMP course gives you one preparation option to consider.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does PMP certification cost in 2026?
The total depends on membership status, training choice, and optional resources. The exam is $405 for PMI members and $655 at the full nonmember rate.
How much does a PMP course cost?
Course prices range from low-cost self-study products to premium instructor-led programs. Compare the price with the included education hours, access, practice, and support.
Are the 35 contact hours included in the exam fee?
No. Training is a separate expense unless you already satisfy the education component through an accepted alternative.
Does our course include the exam simulator?
Yes. Our PMP course includes the simulator and more than 2,200 practice questions.
Do you need to buy PMI Study Hall?
No. It is an optional supplemental resource rather than an application or exam requirement.
Are PMP retakes free?
No. A retake requires another examination fee.
How much does it cost to maintain PMP certification?
PMP holders need 60 PDUs during each three-year cycle and pay the renewal fee.
