PMP requirements: experience, 35 hours of training, and an application
To sit the PMP you need documented experience leading projects, 35 contact hours of project management education (or a CAPM), and an application that PMI approves. Unlike most exams on this site, the experience requirement is the hard part, not the exam registration.
The two main routes
| Four-year degree | High school diploma or associate degree | |
|---|---|---|
| Project leadership experience | 36 months | 60 months |
| Within the last | 10 years | 10 years |
| Project management education | 35 contact hours, or a CAPM | 35 contact hours, or a CAPM |
PMI also offers a shorter experience route for graduates of PMI-accredited degree programs, and says it has expanded eligibility to apprenticeships and training. Check PMI’s current handbook for the detail.
What counts as experience
PMI looks for experience leading and directing projects, whatever your job title. You do not need to be called a project manager, but your application has to describe the projects, your role in them and the dates, and PMI can audit what you submit. Experience is measured in months, not hours.
The 35 contact hours
These can come from a PMI-approved or other eligible provider, and both live and self-paced courses have qualified. Holding an active CAPM satisfies the requirement instead. Some providers report that from late 2026, live course hours will only count if delivered by an Authorized Training Partner or an accredited academic program, so check this before you pay for live training.
How you become a PMP
Record your project experience and your 35 contact hours, and describe your projects.
Submit it through PMI. PMI reviews it and tells you when you are eligible.
Pay the exam fee once your application is accepted. Membership lowers the fee.
Schedule at a Pearson VUE test center or take it online with a proctor. You get up to three attempts within the one-year eligibility period.
The PMP lasts three years and renews with 60 professional development units.
Common questions
Do I need a degree?
Not if you have a high school diploma or an associate degree, which follows the longer 60-month experience route.
Do I need the job title project manager?
No. PMI looks for experience leading and directing projects, regardless of your official title.
How recent does my experience need to be?
PMI says it has widened the window for counting experience from eight years to ten with the July 2026 update. Check the handbook for how it applies to your dates.
Next step
The exam, PMI membership and training, itemized.
→What changed in the July 2026 refresh.
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