Project management certifications and what it takes to qualify
The minimum education, experience and training PMI expects for each credential, plus exam format and renewal load. Enrol directly on pmi.org — requirements change, so always confirm against the official handbook before you apply.
CAPM
EntryCertified Associate in Project Management
Students, coordinators and anyone moving into delivery roles with no formal PM experience.
Minimum requirements
- Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate degree or global equivalent)
- 23 hours of project management education completed before the exam
- No prior project experience required
- Exam
- 150 questions, 3 hours — predictive, agile and business analysis fundamentals
- Renewal
- 15 PDUs every 3 years
PMP
ProfessionalProject Management Professional
Practising project managers who already lead projects end to end.
Minimum requirements
- Four-year degree + 36 months leading projects + 35 hours of PM education (or CAPM held)
- OR secondary degree + 60 months leading projects + 35 hours of PM education (or CAPM held)
- Experience must be within the last 8 years
- Exam
- 180 questions, 230 minutes — People, Process and Business Environment domains
- Renewal
- 60 PDUs every 3 years
PMI-ACP
ProfessionalPMI Agile Certified Practitioner
Delivery leads working in Scrum, Kanban, SAFe, XP or hybrid environments.
Minimum requirements
- Secondary degree
- 12 months of general project experience within the last 5 years (waived if you hold an active PMP or PgMP)
- 8 months of agile project experience within the last 3 years
- 21 contact hours of agile practices training
- Exam
- 120 questions, 3 hours — agile mindset, delivery, stakeholders and performance
- Renewal
- 30 PDUs in agile topics every 3 years
PMI-RMP
SpecialistPMI Risk Management Professional
Managers owning risk registers, quantitative analysis and contingency strategy.
Minimum requirements
- Four-year degree + 24 months of project risk experience + 30 hours of risk education
- OR secondary degree + 36 months of project risk experience + 40 hours of risk education
- Experience must be within the last 5 years
- Exam
- 115 questions, 2.5 hours — risk strategy, identification, analysis and response
- Renewal
- 30 PDUs in risk topics every 3 years
PMI-SP
SpecialistPMI Scheduling Professional
Planners and schedulers who own the critical path and baseline integrity.
Minimum requirements
- Four-year degree + 24 months of project scheduling experience + 30 hours of scheduling education
- OR secondary degree + 40 months of project scheduling experience + 40 hours of scheduling education
- Experience must be within the last 5 years
- Exam
- 120 questions, 3.5 hours — schedule development, maintenance, analysis and reporting
- Renewal
- 30 PDUs in scheduling topics every 3 years
PMI-PBA
SpecialistPMI Professional in Business Analysis
Anyone owning requirements, product needs and solution evaluation on projects.
Minimum requirements
- Four-year degree + 36 months of business analysis experience + 35 contact hours of BA education
- OR secondary degree + 60 months of business analysis experience + 35 contact hours of BA education
- Experience must be within the last 8 years
- Exam
- 200 questions, 4 hours — needs assessment, planning, analysis, traceability and evaluation
- Renewal
- 60 PDUs in business analysis topics every 3 years
PgMP
AdvancedProgram Management Professional
Leaders coordinating multiple related projects toward one set of benefits.
Minimum requirements
- Four-year degree + 48 months of project management experience (or an active PMP) + 48 months of program management experience
- OR secondary degree + 48 months of project management experience (or an active PMP) + 84 months of program management experience
- Panel review of your program experience before you can sit the exam
- Exam
- 170 questions, 4 hours — strategy, benefits, stakeholders and governance
- Renewal
- 60 PDUs every 3 years
PfMP
AdvancedPortfolio Management Professional
Executives balancing investment across a portfolio of programs and projects.
Minimum requirements
- 96 months of professional business experience within the last 15 years
- Four-year degree + 48 months of portfolio management experience
- OR secondary degree + 84 months of portfolio management experience
- Panel review before exam eligibility
- Exam
- 170 questions, 4 hours — strategic alignment, governance, performance and risk
- Renewal
- 60 PDUs every 3 years
PMI-CP
SpecialistConstruction Professional in Built Environment Projects
Project professionals delivering construction and built-environment work.
Minimum requirements
- Secondary degree or higher
- 36 months of construction project experience within the last 8 years
- Completion of the four required PMI-CP course micro-credentials
- Exam
- Four micro-credential assessments plus the final PMI-CP exam
- Renewal
- 30 PDUs every 3 years
Requirements summarised from PMI's published certification handbooks. PMI periodically updates eligibility, exam content and renewal rules — the handbook linked above is always the authoritative source. Critical Path is not affiliated with PMI.