Short answer
$225 if you are a PMI member, $300 if you are not. That is the exam fee for one attempt.
Source: PMI store, CAPM exam listing · checked October 30, 2026
U.S. pricing. PMI’s handbook says prices may vary by membership status and regional location. You pay after PMI accepts your application, per PMI’s CAPM page.
Every fee in one place
| Item | PMI member | Non-member | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam fee, first attempt | $225 | $300 | PMI store: exam |
| Retake, per attempt | $150 | $200 | PMI store: retake |
| PMI membership | $139 a year, recurring | not needed | PMI store: membership |
| Reschedule or cancel inside 30 days | $70 plus tax | $70 plus tax | PMI handbook |
| Manual rescore, paper-based exams only | $45 | $45 | CAPM ECO |
Does membership pay for itself?
On exam fees alone, no. $139 for a year of membership plus the $225 member fee is $364, against $300 for a non-member. Add one retake and it is $514 against $500. That is our arithmetic on PMI store prices checked October 30, 2026.
PMI’s own CAPM Exam Prep Course is priced the same way, $350 for members and $400 for non-members (PMI store, checked October 30, 2026), and the totals still come out slightly in favor of not joining. The arithmetic is consistent, if nothing else. Membership can make sense for other reasons; exam savings is not one of them on these prices.
One rule from the CAPM ECO matters if you do join: the member rate applies only if your membership is confirmed before you pay for the exam, and PMI does not refund the difference if you join afterward.
The 23 hours of project management education are a separate cost, set by whoever provides them. What counts is on CAPM requirements, and the options are compared on CAPM prep options.
Refunds, retakes and renewal
Can I get the exam fee back?
Within 30 days of purchase, if you have not scheduled or taken the exam (PMI Certification Handbook, checked October 30, 2026). After a refund PMI closes the application and the eligibility period ends.
What does a CAPM retake cost?
$150 for members and $200 for non-members per attempt (PMI store, checked October 30, 2026). Attempts and waiting periods are on CAPM retake policy.
How much is CAPM renewal?
A renewal fee applies every three years; PMI prices it by membership and region, and the amount sits behind a PMI login, so we do not print one. You also need 15 PDUs per cycle (CCR Handbook, checked October 30, 2026). More on CAPM renewal.
Do I pay when I submit the application?
No. Payment comes after PMI accepts the application (PMI’s CAPM page, checked October 30, 2026). The CAPM ECO says registrations are processed in 24 hours or less unless picked for audit; the steps are on how to apply for the CAPM.
Are the prices the same outside the U.S.?
Not necessarily. PMI’s handbook says prices may vary by membership status and regional location. Every figure here is a U.S. store price checked October 30, 2026.
Sources
- PMI store: CAPM exam www.pmi.org — $225 member, $300 non-member
- PMI store: CAPM retake www.pmi.org — $150 member, $200 non-member
- PMI store: individual membership www.pmi.org — $139 a year, recurring
- PMI Certification Handbook, revised June 2026 www.pmi.org — refunds, rescheduling fee, regional pricing
- PMI CAPM Examination Content Outline, 2023 update www.pmi.org — member-rate rule, manual rescore, processing time
- PMI CCR Handbook, updated April 2026 www.pmi.org — renewal cycle and fee basis
- PMI: Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) www.pmi.org — payment after acceptance