PMI Certification Types & Information
1. Project Management Professional (PMP)®
The PMP is the gold standard of project management certification. Recognized and demanded by organizations worldwide, the PMP validates your competence to perform in the role of a project manager, leading and directing projects and teams. Learn more
Benefits
The Project Management Professional (PMP)® is the most important industry-recognized certification for project managers. You can find PMPs leading projects in nearly every country and, unlike other certifications that focus on a particular geography or domain, the PMP® is truly global. As a PMP, you can work in virtually any industry, with any methodology and in any location. The PMP can also provide a significant advantage when it comes to salary and earning potential. Among survey respondents to PMI’s Earning Power Salary Survey, those with a PMP certification garner a higher salary (20% higher on average) than those without a PMP certification (Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey Ninth Edition). Employers benefit as well. When more than one-third of their project managers are PMP-certified, organizations complete more of their projects on time, on budget and meeting original goals. (Pulse of the Profession® study, PMI, 2015.) The PMP signifies that you speak and understand the global language of project management and connects you to a community of professionals, organizations and experts worldwide. Become a PMP and become a project hero.
Who Should Apply?
An experienced project manager who meets the following requirements:
- Perform their duties under general supervision and are responsible for all aspects of the project for the life of the project
- Lead and direct cross-functional teams to deliver projects within the constraints of schedule, budget and resources
- Demonstrate sufficient knowledge and experience to appropriately apply a methodology to projects that have reasonably well-defined project requirements and deliverables.
Prerequisites
- Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree or the global equivalent)
- 7,500 hours leading and directing projects
- 35 hours of project management education
OR
- Four-year degree
- 4,500 hours leading and directing projects
- 35 hours of project management education
Gain and Maintain Your PMP
- The PMP application will require you to organize your work experience. See what you need to apply
- The certification exam has 200 multiple-choice questions, and you have four hours to complete it.
- To maintain your PMP, you must earn 60 professional development units (PDUs) every three years.
Costs
- Member: US$405.00
- Non-member: US$555.00
Gain and Maintain Your PMP
- The PMP application will require you to organize your work experience. See what you need to apply
- The certification exam has 200 multiple-choice questions, and you have four hours to complete it.
- To maintain your PMP, you must earn 60 professional development units (PDUs) every three years.
PMP Exam Guidance
2. Program Management Professional (PgMP)®
Designed for those who manage multiple, complex projects to achieve strategic and organizational results. Learn more.
Benefits
As a program manager, you’re a senior-level practitioner on the forefront of advancing your organization’s strategic goals. You manage multiple, related projects in a coordinated way, achieving benefits that could not occur if the projects were handled separately. Your leadership is instrumental. With program management maturity, an organization’s projects are far more successful than without it — 76 percent compared to 54 percent according to our 2015 Pulse of the Profession® report. The Program Management Professional (PgMP)® is a visible sign of your advanced experience and skill and gives you a distinct advantage in employment and promotion.
Who Should Apply?
If you have the proven ability to manage multiple, related projects and navigate complex activities that span functions, organizations, regions or cultures and to align results with organizational goals, then you’re a potential PgMP.
Prerequisites
- Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree or the global equivalent)
- 6,000 hours of project management experience
- 10,500 hours of program management experience
OR
- Four-year degree
- 6,000 hours of project management experience
- 6,000 hours of program management experience
Costs
- Member: US$800.00
- Non-member: US$1,000.00
Gain and Maintain Your PgMP
- First phase of evaluation is panel review.
- The certification exam has 170 multiple-choice questions, and you have four hours to complete it.
- To maintain your PgMP, you must earn 60 professional development units (PDUs) every three years.
PgMP Exam Guidance
3. Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)®
Our portfolio management certification recognizes the advanced experience and skill of portfolio managers. The PfMP demonstrates your proven ability in the coordinated management of one or more portfolios to achieve organizational objectives. Learn more
Benefits
Who Should Apply?
Prerequisites
All applicants must possess a minimum of eight years of professional business experience AND
- Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree or the global equivalent)
- 10,500 hours of portfolio management experience
OR
- Four-year degree (bachelor’s degree or the global equivalent)
- 6,000 hours of portfolio management experience
Costs
- Member: US$800.00
- Non-member: US$1,000.00
Gain and Maintain Your PfMP
- First phase of evaluation is panel review.
- The certification exam has 170 multiple-choice questions and you have four hours to complete it.
- To maintain your PfMP, you must earn 60 professional development units (PDUs) in portfolio management topics every three years.
PfMP Exam Guidance
4.Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®
The CAPM demonstrates your understanding of the fundamental knowledge, terminology and processes of effective project management. Learn more
Benefits
Regardless of your career stage, the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® is an asset that will distinguish you in the job market and enhance your credibility and effectiveness working on — or with — project teams. Organizations with standardized practices attain better results, as shown in our 2015 Pulse of the Profession® report. Because the CAPM® recognizes your knowledge of the profession’s preeminent global standard, you’ll stand out to employers and be poised to move ahead. Project management is a rapidly growing profession. Through 2020, 1.57 million new jobs will be created each year and qualified practitioners are in demand. With the CAPM, you’ll be on the fast track to opportunity. Online Proctored Exam To provide greater flexibility, we now offer the option to take your exam online. With scheduling flexibility and the comfort of your home or office, the online CAPM exam is a convenient option that fits your schedule. Learn more about the online proctored experience Student Bundle Students can submit one application form to join PMI as a student member and take the CAPM exam at the member discount rate. Learn more about becoming a student member
Who Should Apply?
If you’d like to manage larger projects and gain more responsibility or add project management skills into your current role, then the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is right for you.
Prerequisites
- Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree or the global equivalent)
- 1,500 hours of project experience
OR
- 23 hours of project management education completed by the time you sit for the exam.
Our Project Management Basics online course fulfills this educational prerequisite.
Costs
- Member: US$225.00
- Non-member: US$300.00
Gain and Maintain Your CAPM
- The certification exam has 150 multiple choice questions, and you have three hours to complete it.
- To maintain your CAPM, you must retake the exam every five years.
CAPM Exam Guidance
5. PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)®
The PMI-PBA highlights your expertise in business analysis. It spotlights your ability to work effectively with stakeholders to define their business requirements, shape the output of projects and drive successful business outcomes. Learn more
Benefits
Business analysis has become a competency of critical importance to project management. Becoming certified as a business analysis (BA) expert can move your career in a fresh direction while opportunities for BAs are on the rise. Inaccurate requirements gathering consistently ranks in the top three causes of project failure yet only half of organizations have the resources in place to perform this function properly, according to our Pulse of the Profession® research. It’s time to become the certified expert your organization needs. If you work with stakeholders in defining requirements, shaping project outputs and driving intended business outcomes, the PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® will spotlight your valuable skills.
Who Should Apply?
If you work with project teams and manage requirements or product development, or if you’re a project or program manager who performs business analysis in your role, then the PMI-PBA® certification is right for you.
Prerequisites
- Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree
- 7,500 hours of business analysis experience
- 35 contact hours of education in business analysis
OR
- Bachelor’s degree or the global equivalent
- 4,500 hours of business analysis experience
- 35 contact hours of education in business analysis
Costs
- Member: US$405.00
- Non-member: US$555.00
Gain and Maintain Your PMI-PBA
- The certification exam has 200 multiple-choice questions and you have four hours to complete it.
- To maintain your PMI-PBA, you must earn 60 professional development units (PDUs) in business analysis topics every three years.
PMI-PBA Exam Guidance
6. PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®
Created for those who believe in and apply agile principles and practices on projects. It requires a combination of training, experience and an exam. It also bridges agile approaches such as SCRUM, XP, LEAN and Kanban. Learn more
Benefits
If you’re experienced using agile approaches, have good collaboration skills, eagerly embrace complexity and thrive on rapid response times, then your talents are in demand. The PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® formally recognizes your knowledge of agile principles and your skill with agile techniques. It will make you shine even brighter to your employers, stakeholders and peers. The PMI-ACP® is our fastest growing certification, and it’s no wonder. Organizations that are highly agile and responsive to market dynamics complete more of their projects successfully than their slower-moving counterparts — 75 percent versus 56 percent — as shown in our 2015 Pulse of the Profession® report. The PMI-ACP spans many approaches to agile such as Scrum, Kanban, Lean, extreme programming (XP) and test-driven development (TDD.) So it will increase your versatility, wherever your projects may take you.
Who Should Apply?
If you work on agile teams or if your organization is adopting agile practices, the PMI-ACP is a good choice for you. Compared with other agile certifications based solely on training and exams, the PMI-ACP is evidence of your real-world, hands-on experience and skill.
Prerequisites
- 2,000 hours of general project experience working on teams. A current PMP® or PgMP® will satisfy this requirement but is not required to apply for the PMI-ACP.
- 1,500 hours working on agile project teams or with agile methodologies. This requirement is in addition to the 2,000 hours of general project experience.
- 21 contact hours of training in agile practices.
Costs
- Member: US$435.00
- Non-member: US$495.00
Gain and Maintain Your PMI-ACP
- The certification exam has 120 multiple-choice questions and you have three hours to complete it.
- To maintain your PMI-ACP, you must earn 30 professional development units (PDUs) in agile topics every three years.
PMI-ACP Exam Guidance
Review tips, resources and FAQs to help you prepare. Resources are now available in five new languages.
7. PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)®
The PMI-RMP certification recognizes demonstrated knowledge and expertise in the specialized area of assessing and identifying project risks along with plans to mitigate threats and capitalize on opportunities. Learn more
Benefits
With your advanced skills in risk management, you perform a specialized function attuned to the needs of a project environment that is increasingly global, virtual and complex. The PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)® highlights your ability to identify and assess project risks, mitigate threats and capitalize on opportunities. In this capacity, you enhance and protect the needs of your organization. Gaining distinction as a PMI-RMP® sets you apart from other professionals and brings credit to your organization. Eighty-three percent of organizations that are high performers in project management practice risk management frequently while just 49 percent of low performers do so. The practice contributes to a handsome payoff: high performers meet their goals 2.5 times more often and waste 13 times less money than low performers, as found by our 2015 Pulse of the Profession® report. If you’re ready for greater recognition, the PMI-RMP will validate your specialized expertise and help you stand out to employers, stakeholders and peers.
Who Should Apply?
If you have advanced knowledge and experience in risk management, or if you are a project manager focused on project risk management, including for large projects and/or complex environments, then the PMI-RMP® is an excellent choice for you.
Costs
- Member: US$520.00
- Non-member: US$670.00
Prerequisites
- Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree, or the global equivalent)
- 4,500 hours of project risk management experience
- 40 hours of project risk management education
OR
- Four-year degree (bachelor’s degree or the global equivalent)
- 3,000 hours of project risk management experience
- 30 hours of project risk management education
Costs
- Member: US$520.00
- Non-member: US$670.00
Gain and Maintain Your PMI-RMP
- The certification exam has 170 multiple-choice questions and you have 3.5 hours to complete it.
- To maintain your PMI-RMP, you must earn 30 professional development units (PDUs) in risk management topics every three years.
PMI-RMP Exam Guidance
8. PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)®
The PMI-SP certification recognizes demonstrated knowledge and advanced experience in the specialized area of developing and maintaining project schedules. Learn more
Benefits
As a candidate for the PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)®, you know there is much more to project scheduling than just the use of tools and technology to build a schedule for your team. Schedules are a fundamental element of project management yet half of all projects — 50 percent — are not completed within the initially scheduled timeframe according to our 2015 Pulse of the Profession® report. Projects and teams today are increasingly global and virtual, and project schedules are key to managing activities, resources, dependencies and ultimately, project outcomes. The PMI-SP® will recognize your knowledge and skill to drive the improved management of project schedules.
Who Should Apply?
If you have advanced knowledge and experience developing, managing and maintaining project schedules and you’d like to showcase your skills, then the PMI-SP is an excellent choice for you.
Prerequisites
- Secondary degree
- 5,000 hours project scheduling experience
- 40 hours project scheduling education
OR
- Four-year degree
- 3,500 hours project scheduling experience
- 30 hours project scheduling education
Costs
- Member: US$520.00
- Non-member: US$670.00
Gain and Maintain Your PMI-RMP
- The certification exam has 170 multiple-choice questions and you have 3.5 hours to complete it.
- To maintain your PMI-SP, you must earn 30 professional development units (PDUs) every three years in the specialized topic of project scheduling