PMP Tutorial › Module 1 › Lesson 1
PMP Exam Overview: Eligibility, Format & Cost
Welcome to Lesson 1 of the Techoral PMP tutorial. Before you study a single concept, you need to understand what you are signing up for — what the PMP is, whether you qualify, how to apply, and how the exam works. This lesson covers all of it.
In this lesson
What the PMP is
The Project Management Professional (PMP) is the flagship certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI). It proves you can lead projects and teams across any industry and any delivery approach — predictive (waterfall), agile, or hybrid. It is the most widely recognised project management credential in the world and consistently correlates with higher salaries.
Eligibility requirements
You must meet both an experience and an education requirement. There are two paths:
| Your education | Project leadership experience | PM education |
|---|---|---|
| Four-year degree (or global equivalent) | 36 months leading projects | 35 contact hours (or hold the CAPM) |
| High-school diploma / associate degree | 60 months leading projects | 35 contact hours (or hold the CAPM) |
The application process
- Create a free account at pmi.org (consider joining PMI — membership often pays for itself via the cheaper exam fee).
- Complete the online application: describe your project experience (objectives, your role, outcomes) and record your 35 contact hours.
- Submit. PMI reviews within ~5 business days; some applications are randomly selected for audit (you supply sign-offs and certificates).
- Pay the exam fee, then schedule your exam at a Pearson VUE centre or via online proctoring. You have one year and up to three attempts.
Exam format
- 180 questions in 230 minutes, with two optional 10-minute breaks.
- Question types: multiple choice, multiple response, matching, hotspot, and limited fill-in-the-blank.
- Three domains: People (42%), Process (50%), Business Environment (8%).
- Roughly half the questions reflect agile or hybrid environments; half predictive.
- Results are reported as Above Target / Target / Below Target / Needs Improvement — there is no published pass percentage.
Cost & renewal
| Item | PMI member | Non-member |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee (USD) | US$405 | US$575 |
| Re-examination | US$275 | US$375 |
The PMP is valid for three years. You renew by earning 60 PDUs (Professional Development Units) per cycle — split between Education and Giving Back, aligned to PMI's Talent Triangle (Ways of Working, Power Skills, Business Acumen).
FAQ
- Do I need a PMP to apply if I lack experience?
- No — if you don't yet meet the hours, start with PMI's CAPM, which has no experience requirement, then move to the PMP later.
- Is the exam based on PMBOK 7?
- It's based on the Exam Content Outline, drawing on PMBOK 7, the Agile Practice Guide and broader practice.