PMI Certification Cost 2026: Exam Fees, Membership & Renewal Costs

PMI certification costs in 2026 run from $225 for the CAPM (PMI members, US) to $1,000 for the PgMP or PfMP (non-members, US). The PMP costs $425 for members and $675 for non-members in the US, $405 and $655 in the UK, UAE and Canada, and ₹27,406 and ₹55,488 in India. PMI sets your price by the country in your PMI account. Membership saves money on most exams, but not on the CAPM or PMI-ACP alone.

Key Highlights of PMI Certification Cost

• In the US, the PMP costs $425 for PMI members and $675 for non-members, a $250 gap.
• In the UK, UAE and Canada, the PMP costs $405 for members and $655 for non-members.
• In India, PMI prices the PMP in rupees: ₹27,406 for members and ₹55,488 for non-members.
• PgMP and PfMP top PMI's price list at $800 for members and $1,000 for non-members in the US, UK, UAE and Canada.
• PMI-CPMAI costs $699 for members or $899 for non-members (US, UK, UAE, Canada) and includes a 21-hour prep course.
• PMI retired DASM, its scrum master credential. The last DASM exam date was 30 November 2025.
• Renewal costs $60 for members and $150 for non-members in USD markets, or ₹4,053 and ₹10,133 in India.

You want one number, so here it is: the PMI certification cost for a single exam in 2026 ranges from $225 to $1,000 in the US, UK, UAE and Canada, and from ₹15,247 to ₹67,550 in India. Where you land depends on 4 things. You pick the credential, your PMI account country, whether you join PMI, and how you earn the required training hours.

Many guides still show fees that match no current PMI price list. Every fee below comes from PMI's own store for each country, checked on 26 September 2026. Local taxes such as GST or VAT may appear on top at PMI checkout.

What You Actually Pay PMI For

Your PMI exam fee covers two things: PMI's review of your application and one exam attempt. You pay the exam fee only after PMI approves your application. PMI's store lists no separate application fee on top.

Everything else in your budget falls into 4 buckets:

What is a PDU? A PDU (professional development unit) equals one hour of learning, teaching, or volunteering in project management. PMI asks you to earn a set number of PDUs every three years to keep your credential active.

One common mistake: candidates pay for training first, then discover their provider's hours no longer qualify. Check the training rules for your credential before you spend anything on a course.

PMI Certification Cost for Every Credential in 2026

This table shows PMI's exam fee for each major credential, by country, as member/non-member prices. All figures come from PMI's store on 26 September 2026.

PMI also lists the CSPP for sustainability-focused project professionals. PMI's store did not return a standalone CSPP exam price, so check its page directly. PMI-CP no longer appears in PMI's certification menu.

Entry and Core Credentials: CAPM and PMP

The CAPM is PMI's cheapest credential: $225 for members or $300 for non-members in the US, UK, UAE and Canada, and ₹15,247 or ₹20,265 in India. It suits you if you lack the 3 years of project leadership the PMP demands. For a full CAPM breakdown, see the CAPM certification cost guide.

The CAPM also works as a hidden discount on the PMP later. PMI's PMP page states that an active CAPM certification fulfills the PMP training requirement, so you skip buying a second 35-hour course. If you are unsure which exam fits, compare them in CAPM vs PMP.

The PMP gets its own section below, because it has the widest price spread between countries.

Agile Credentials: PMI-ACP and the "PMI Scrum Master" Question

The PMI-ACP costs $435 for PMI members and $495 for non-members in the US, UK, UAE and Canada. In India, it costs ₹29,433 or ₹33,486. That member discount of $60 (₹4,053 in India) is PMI's smallest, which matters in the break-even section. OurPMI-ACP certification cost pagecovers the ACP budget line by line.

If you searched for a "PMI scrum master certification cost," here is the direct answer: PMI no longer sells one. PMI retired DASM and its other Disciplined Agile certifications and replaced them with a single Disciplined Agile Foundations course. The last DASM exam date was 30 November 2025. Today, your PMI Agile options are the PMI-ACP credential or the Disciplined Agile Foundations course.

Specialist Credentials: PMI-RMP, PMI-SP, PMI-PBA and PMI-PMOCP

The PMI-RMP and PMI-SP share one price: $520 for members and $670 for non-members in the US, UK, UAE and Canada, or ₹35,126 and ₹64,655 in India. In India, the non-member price is almost double the member price, so membership pays off quickly there.

The PMI-PBA costs $405 for members and $555 for non-members in the US, UK, UAE and Canada, and ₹27,406 or ₹53,558 in India. The PMI-PMOCP, PMI's PMO credential, is the one specialist exam priced differently in the US ($520 / $700) than in the UK, UAE and Canada ($475 / $655). In India, it costs ₹32,135 or ₹44,294.

Senior Credentials: PgMP and PfMP

The PgMP and PfMP carry PMI's highest fees: $800 for members and $1,000 for non-members in the US, UK, UAE and Canada, and ₹54,040 or ₹67,550 in India. Both also involve a panel review of your experience, which adds weeks to your timeline, not money.

Most PgMP and PfMP candidates already hold a PMP and an active membership, so they pay the member rate. See the PgMP certification cost guide or the PfMP certification training page for prep options.

AI Credentials: PMI-CPMAI and PMI's Free Generative AI Courses

PMI's only AI certification is the PMI-CPMAI. PMI sells it as a bundle of the certification and a 21-hour self-paced exam prep course: $699 for members or $899 for non-members in the US, UK, UAE and Canada, and ₹47,285 or ₹60,796 in India. That makes it the only PMI credential where the fee already covers your training.

If you searched for a "PMI generative AI certification," know that PMI's generative AI offerings are free courses, not certifications. PMI's Generative AI Overview for Project Managers is a free, 1-hour eLearning course worth 5 PDUs. Its follow-up, Practical Application of Generative AI for Project Managers, is also free and runs about 5 hours for 5 PDUs. Use them to earn renewal PDUs, then choose PMI-CPMAI certification trainingwhen you want a credential employers can verify.

PMP Certification Cost in 2026

PMI's PMP exam fee depends on your account country. In the US, you pay $425 as a member or $675 as a non-member. In the UK, UAE and Canada, you pay $405 or $655. In India, you pay ₹27,406 or ₹55,488.

The exam content changed in 2026 too. According to PMI's PMP page, the current exam has 180 questions over 240 minutes, weighted People 33%, Process 41%, and Business Environment 26%. The heavier Business Environment share means older prep materials cover less of what you face now.

Here is what a realistic US PMP budget looks like in 2026:

US training ranges come from PMTI's 2026 pricing: $259 to $1,000 for online self-paced courses and $1,000 to $3,000 or more for bootcamps. In India, a member pays ₹38,021 to PMI (₹10,615 membership plus ₹27,406 exam) before training and any GST.

The biggest 2026 change hits your training choice, not the exam fee. From 1 December 2026, PMI only accepts live class hours from Authorized Training Partners, China Registered Education Providers, or eligible accredited academic programs. Self-paced online courses from any organization still count. Before you enroll in any live course, search PMI's ATP directory for your provider's name. Simpliaxis is a PMI Authorized Training Partner, so its live online PMP hours continue to count after the rule takes effect.

For PMP-only detail, read thePMP certification cost breakdownor the PMP exam fee increase explainer.

PMI Certification Fees by Country: US, India, UK, UAE and Canada

PMI sets your price by the country in your PMI account, not your passport. According to 3FOLD Training, an Indian professional working in the UAE should register under the UAE, because the account country decides fees, taxes, and VAT. Your exam location stays separate, so you can still test online or at a Pearson VUE center elsewhere.

On 26 September 2026, PMI's store showed the UK, UAE and Canada the same international USD price list, while the US and India each had their own. Using the PMP as the example:

India needs its own note. PMI's India prices are local rupee prices, not conversions of the US price. At the member rate, an Indian candidate pays roughly half the non-member rate for the PMP (₹27,406 vs ₹55,488), the biggest member discount in any of the 5 markets.

For 35-hour training in India, Kavita Sharma's 2026 guide puts typical costs at ₹10,000 to ₹30,000 depending on self-paced or live online format. In the UK, UAE and Canada, compare quotes from PMI Authorized Training Partners in your local currency.

Should You Join PMI Before You Pay? The Break-Even Math

PMI membership costs $164 a year in the US, $139 in the UK, UAE and Canada, and ₹10,615 in India. Whether it pays off depends on your exam and your country. Compare the exam savings with the membership price:

Renewal adds a second saving: $90 per 3-year cycle in the US, UK, UAE and Canada ($150 minus $60), and ₹6,080 in India. That tips the US PMI-RMP, PMI-SP and PMI-PBA decisions toward joining if you plan to keep the credential.

The stacking trick: membership lasts 12 months, and PMI applies member pricing to every exam you pay for in that window. In the US, paying for the PMP and PMI-ACP in the same membership year saves $310 on exams alone. You also get the PMBOK Guide in digital form, which non-members buy separately.

Read more about what membership includes in benefits of PMI membership.

What PMI Renewal and Retakes Cost

Every PMI credential runs on a 3-year cycle. You earn PDUs, then pay PMI's renewal fee.

If you fail, PMI charges a reduced retake fee for your second and third attempts:

You can earn many PDUs for free. PMI's two generative AI courses alone give you 10 PDUs at no cost. Webinars, volunteering, and on-the-job teaching also count.

The mistake to avoid: letting your credential lapse. Re-earning a PMP in the US costs at least $848 (membership, exam and the cheapest self-paced course), or 14 times a $60 renewal. For the PMP specifics, see PMP certification renewal fee and PMP PDU requirements.

Hidden Costs Most PMI Budgets Miss

The exam fee and training cover most of your budget, but 5 smaller costs catch candidates off guard:

• Late rescheduling. PMI's Certification Handbook (revised June 2026) charges US$70 plus taxes if you reschedule or cancel within 30 days of your appointment, in every country. Within 48 hours, you cannot reschedule at all.
• No-shows and expired eligibility. Miss your appointment or let your 1-year eligibility period run out, and PMI keeps the entire exam fee.
• Training that stops counting. A live bootcamp from a provider that is not a PMI ATP no longer satisfies the PMP requirement after 1 December 2026. You pay twice if you have to redo the hours.
• Card and currency fees. PMI bills the US, UK, UAE and Canada in USD. A UK, UAE or Canadian card may add a foreign transaction fee on top.
• Online identity check failures. If you fail PMI's pre-scheduling identity check for online testing and request a refund, PMI deducts a $100 administrative fee.

One cost you can recover: PMI refunds your exam fee if you request it within 30 days of purchase and have not scheduled the exam.

Which PMI Certification Returns the Most for the Money?

Cost only makes sense next to payback. According to PMI, PMP holders report a 17% higher median salary than non-certified peers, with a US median of $135,000 and more than 1.7 million holders worldwide.

That 17% reflects experience as well as the credential, so treat it as a ceiling, not a promise. Still, the math works at much smaller gains. If a PMP lifts a $90,000 US salary by just 5%, a $1,600 total US budget pays back in about 4 months.

Use this quick decision guide by career stage:

Salary data by role sits in our PMP certified salary guide.

How to Cut Your PMI Certification Cost Without Cutting Corners?

1. Check your PMI account country first. It determines your price list: US, international (UK, UAE, Canada) or India.
2. Pick your credential, then decide on membership. Use the break-even table. Join for the PMP, PgMP, PfMP, PMI-CPMAI and PMI-PMOCP in every market. Skip it for a standalone CAPM or PMI-ACP.
3. Pay for membership before you pay the exam fee. PMI applies member pricing only if you are a member when you pay.
4. Stack exams inside one membership year. Paying for two exams in 12 months doubles your member savings.
5. Use the CAPM as a PMP shortcut if you are early in your career. An active CAPM replaces the 35-hour PMP training requirement.
6. Confirm your live training provider is a PMI ATP. This matters for every PMP application submitted after 1 December 2026, because non-ATP live hours stop counting.
7. Book your exam date more than 30 days out. That keeps you clear of PMI's US$70 late rescheduling fee.
8. Earn PDUs from free PMI courses. The generative AI courses cover 10 PDUs, a sixth of a PMP renewal.

Funding a whole team? If you manage L&D for 5 or more people, per-seat pricing, scheduling around delivery, and exam-readiness tracking change the math. Simpliaxis, a PMI Authorized Training Partner, runs corporate group training for PMP, CAPM, PMI-ACP and PMI-CPMAI cohorts, live and online.

Conclusion

You now face 3 decisions. First, pick the credential that matches your experience: CAPM if you are early, PMP at 3+ years, or a specialist credential if your role already sits in agile, risk, business analysis, PMO work or AI. Second, run the break-even math for your country before you join PMI: membership saves $250 on the PMP in the US but only $60 on PMI-ACP. Third, choose training hours PMI will accept, especially for live PMP classes after 1 December 2026.

Ready to lock in your hours and prepare for the new exam? Explore the live online PMP certification training from Simpliaxis, a PMI Authorized Training Partner. It covers your 35 contact hours, which still count after the 1 December 2026 rule, and the updated 2026 exam content. If you are starting out, the CAPM certification traininggets you certified and covers your future PMP training requirement in one step.