Professional certification · Project Management
Certified Associate in Project Management
The CAPM is PMI's entry-level project management certification for students and early-career professionals. It requires no project experience, only a secondary diploma and a short block of project management education.
Issued by Project Management Institute (PMI) · Official page
Verified by ConnectPrep Verified against Project Management Institute (PMI) on October 18, 2026. Fees and rules change; always confirm on the official page before you apply.
Who can apply
- A secondary degree such as a high school diploma, GED, or global equivalent.
- At least 18 years old.
- At least 23 hours of project management education completed before the exam.
Exam
- Exam
- CAPM Exam
- Format
- Computer-based multiple choice at a Pearson VUE test center or online
- Questions
- 150
- Time
- 180 minutes
135 scored and 15 unscored pretest questions. Up to three attempts are allowed within one year.
Official fees
| Fee | Amount | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam fee, PMI member | Data unavailable | Not verified. No amount appears on PMI's public pages. | Official page |
| Exam fee, nonmember | Data unavailable | Not verified. PMI says prices vary by membership and region. | Official page |
| Reschedule or cancel within 30 days of appointment | $70 | Plus taxes, per the PMI Certification Handbook revised June 2026. | Official page |
Only fees published by the issuer or regulator are listed. Blank amounts mean no official figure was available to verify.
Renewal and continuing education
- Cycle
- Every 3 years
- Requirement
- Earn 15 professional development units (PDUs) in each three-year cycle.
Related careers
| Occupation | National median wage |
|---|---|
| Project management specialists | $102,320 |
Holding a credential does not guarantee these wages; they describe all workers in the occupation.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Sources
- PMI: Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) Certification, accessed October 18, 2026
- PMI Certification Handbook (revised June 2026), accessed October 18, 2026
Verification notes
CAPM exam fees for members and nonmembers and renewal fees are not published on the PMI pages reviewed, so amounts are null.
ConnectPrep is not affiliated with Project Management Institute (PMI). Credential names may be trademarks of their owners.