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PMI · Project Management & Agile · Professional

PMI Project Management Professional (PMP) exam guide

Exam PMP

The PMP is the most recognized project management certification worldwide. It validates the ability to lead projects across predictive, agile and hybrid approaches in three areas: People, Process and Business Environment. It typically leads to higher pay and is a common requirement for senior project and program roles.

Questions180
Time limitSee official page
Passing scoreSee official page
Exam fee$555 USD
Valid for3 years
DeliveryPearson VUE test center or online proctored

Format: Multiple choice, multiple response, matching, hotspot and fill-in-the-blank. Fee note: $405 for PMI members.

Who it's for

Project managers and team leads with 3-5 years of project leadership experience.

What the exam covers

People—
Process—
Business Environment—

A dash means the vendor does not publish a weight for that domain.

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: Four-year degree: 36 months of project leadership experience within the past 8 years plus 35 hours of project management education or CAPM. High school diploma or associate degree: 60 months of experience within 8 years plus 35 hours of education or CAPM.

Recommended: Leading projects across predictive, agile and hybrid approaches.

Keeping it active

3-year cycle: earn 60 PDUs through PMI's Continuing Certification Requirements program and pay the renewal fee (lower for PMI members).

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • Leading and motivating project teams
  • Managing scope, schedule, cost and quality
  • Agile and hybrid delivery
  • Risk and stakeholder management
  • Managing conflict and negotiation
  • Aligning projects with business strategy and compliance

Job roles

Project ManagerSenior Project ManagerProgram ManagerPMO ManagerIT Project ManagerDelivery Manager

Where it fits in your path

Planning a degree too? See how this cert earns college credit in the College Credit Navigator.

Build my study plan

  1. Week 1: Confirm eligibility, complete 35 contact hours if needed, and download the current PMP Exam Content Outline from PMI.
  2. Week 2-3: People domain: leadership, team building, conflict, stakeholder engagement.
  3. Week 4-6: Process domain: predictive and agile planning, scope, schedule, cost, risk, quality, procurement.
  4. Week 7: Business environment: compliance, benefits delivery, organizational change.
  5. Week 8-10: Full-length timed mock exams with review; read the Agile Practice Guide.

Make it yours: pick your exam date and weekly hours. We'll split your time by domain weight and give you a printable plan.

Exam-day tips

  • Use the PMI Exam Content Outline in effect on your test date; PMI updates the outline periodically.
  • The PMI mindset is servant leadership and proactive problem solving; avoid escalate-first answers.
  • About half the exam reflects agile or hybrid approaches.
  • Take scheduled breaks; the exam is long and fatigue causes errors.
  • Practice full-length timed mocks to build stamina.

Key terms for this exam

All 345 terms Study with thinQcards™

Commonly confused on this exam

Frequently asked questions

How much does the PMP cost?

$405 for PMI members and $555 for non-members.

What are the PMP requirements?

36 months of project leadership experience (with a four-year degree) or 60 months (without), within the past 8 years, plus 35 hours of education or CAPM.

How many questions are on the PMP?

180 questions.

How do I maintain PMP?

Earn 60 PDUs every 3 years and pay the renewal fee.

PMP vs PRINCE2?

PMP is experience-based and globally dominant; PRINCE2 is a method certification popular in the UK and Europe.

Official page: www.pmi.org. Reviewed November 2026. Vendors change fees and objectives, so confirm with the vendor before you book. Spot something out of date? Tell us.