The eligibility list
- A secondary degree: high school diploma, GED or global equivalent.
- 23 hours of project management education, completed by the time you sit the exam.
- At least 18 years old.
- No project experience; PMI’s CAPM page states none is required.
- Your course records, certificate or transcript, kept where you can find them in case the application is audited.
What counts toward the 23 hours
The 2023 CAPM Examination Content Outline (ECO) accepts self-study guides, courses, workshops and training sessions, as long as they come from one of these provider types:
- PMI Authorized Training Partners
- PMI chapters, for hours spent on a learning activity (an ordinary chapter meeting does not count)
- employer or company-sponsored programs
- training companies and consultants
- distance-learning companies, if the course ends with an assessment
- university or college academic and continuing education programs
Topics that count: quality, scope, time, cost, resources, communications, risk, procurement, integration, agile and business analysis (CAPM ECO, checked October 30, 2026).
This site and its app are not on that provider list, so nothing here adds an hour to the education record. One provider that reports its hours: Google says its Project Management Certificate gives graduates over 100 hours of project management education toward PMI credentials (Google, checked October 30, 2026), and the CAPM and Google certificate comparison covers it. Other routes and their prices are on the prep options page.
From eligible to booked
Before the exam
Finish the 23 hours
Course, chapter learning activity, employer program or university class; done by exam day.
Application day
Apply on pmi.org
Diploma, education hours and contact details go into the online application.
Within 24 hours
Review
PMI says registrations are processed in 24 hours or less, unless picked for audit (CAPM ECO, checked October 30, 2026).
Audit: 90 days
Send documents if selected
A random percentage of applications is audited. You get 90 days to submit; review takes about 5 to 7 business days (PMI Certification Handbook, checked October 30, 2026).
After acceptance
Pay the exam fee
$225 for PMI members, $300 otherwise (PMI store, U.S. pricing, checked October 30, 2026). The full breakdown is on the exam cost page.
Eligibility year
Sit the exam
One year of eligibility, up to three attempts (CAPM ECO, checked October 30, 2026). Booking is covered in how to apply and schedule.
Edge cases in eligibility
Do you need a college degree for the CAPM?
No. A high school diploma, GED or global equivalent meets the education background rule (CAPM ECO, checked October 30, 2026).
Does work experience replace the 23 hours?
No. Experience is not part of the CAPM requirements at all, so it cannot stand in for the education hours.
Is there a short PMI course to start the hours?
PMI’s store lists Foundations of Project Management at $79 for members and $99 otherwise, 8 to 12 hours and 8 PDUs (PMI store, U.S. pricing, checked October 30, 2026). That is short of 23 on its own, so plan the rest with a provider type from the list above.
How old do you have to be?
At least 18 (PMI’s CAPM page, checked October 30, 2026).
Can you take the CAPM in a language other than English?
Yes. The list is on the application page, under exam languages.
Sources
- PMI CAPM Examination Content Outline, 2023 update www.pmi.org — diploma, 23 hours, providers, topics, processing, eligibility period
- PMI: CAPM certification page www.pmi.org — age 18, no experience
- PMI Certification Handbook www.pmi.org — audit
- PMI store: CAPM exam www.pmi.org — fee, U.S. pricing
- PMI store: Foundations of Project Management www.pmi.org — $79 member, $99 full, 8 PDUs, U.S. pricing
- Google Project Management Certificate grow.google — hours toward PMI credentials