The exam fee is the number everyone quotes, but it is only one line of the bill. Here is the whole picture, in the order you will pay it.
The exam fee
The exam costs $405 for members of the certification body and $655 for non-members. Membership carries its own annual fee, so compare the saving on the exam with what membership costs before you decide which route is cheaper for you.
You pay when your application is approved, and the fee covers one attempt. If you need to retake the exam, a re-examination fee applies; the current amount is published in the certification handbook.
The 35 hours of education
Every candidate needs 35 contact hours of project management education before applying, whatever their degree. Prices for a qualifying course vary widely between providers and formats, so budget for it separately. Career Focus Area does not provide the 35 contact hours; we provide the exam simulator you use after them.
Practice
Practice is where most candidates decide between a first-attempt pass and a retake. The simulator's plans are one-time payments for an access period: Basic at $99 for 90 days, Premium at $150 for 180 days and Ultra at $200 for 365 days. Every plan runs the same simulator; the difference is how many full-length exams and extras you get, and for how long.
Renewal
The credential renews every three years. To renew you report 60 professional development units earned in that cycle and pay a renewal fee, which is also published in the handbook.
What it adds up to
- Exam fee: $405 as a member, $655 as a non-member.
- Education: the price of your 35-hour course.
- Practice: $99 to $200, one-time.
- Renewal: 60 units and a fee every three years.
Put the education and practice costs next to the exam fee and the fee stops looking like the main expense. It is the retake you want to avoid, and practice is the cheapest way to do that.
Sources
- Exam fees supplied by the site owner from the certification body's current fee schedule.
- The certification body's certification handbook (eligibility, re-examination and renewal).
- Career Focus Area pricing.
