Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM): FAQS
What is the PMI CAPM Exam?
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is offered by Project Management Institute (PMI) for candidates who want to gain more responsibility or add project management skills into their current role. CAPM certification exam offers recognition to practitioners having interest or have just started a career in project management. Moreover, this exam is good for project team members who wish to demonstrate their project management knowledge. This certification exam provides knowledge of the principles and terminology within PMBOK Guide that offers best practices in project management.
What are the prerequisites for the PMI CAPM Exam?
- Candidates applying for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) exam must hold a secondary degree that can be a high school diploma associate’s degree or the global equivalent.
- They must have 23 hours of project management education completed by the time you sit for the exam.
How many questions are there on the PMI CAPM Exam?
In the CAPM exam there will be 150 multiple choice questions out of which 15 are pretest questions that do not affect the score.
What is the course outline for the PMI CAPM Exam?
The topics in CAPM exam are –
- Introduction to Project Management (6%)
- Project Environment (6%)
- Role of the Project Manager (7%)
- Project Integration Management (9%)
- Project Scope Management (9%)
- Project Schedule Management (9%)
- Project Cost Management (8%)
- Project Quality Management (7%)
- Project Resource Management (8%)
- Project Communication Management (10%)
- Project Risk Management (8%)
- Project Procurement Management (4%)
- Project Stakeholder Management (9%)
How much will the PMI CAPM Exam cost?
The CAPM exam will cost $225 USD for members and $300 USD for non-members.
What is the time duration of the PMI CAPM Exam?
You will be given three hours to complete this exam.
In what language can we give the PMI CAPM Exam?
This exam is available in English Language. But there is option to give the exam in other languages that includes Arabic Hebrew, Brazilian Portuguese Italian, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, Chinese (Traditional), Korean, French, Russian, German, Spanish and Turkish.
What is CAPM Exam Rescheduling Policy?
Candidates who want to reschedule or cancel an online proctored exam or center based exam can do it up to 48 hours before the scheduled exam appointment. However, late rescheduling and cancellations will result in a fee. So, it is recommended to reschedule or cancel the exam as soon as you know you won’t be able to make the appointment. Candidates who reschedule or cancel their exam within 30 days of your scheduled appointment, then there is a charge fee of US$70. And, candidates need to reschedule or cancel your appointment before you are within 48 hours of exam appointment (local time). After that, candidates will not be able to cancel your appointment and will forfeit the entire exam fee if you do not show up.
What is the CAPM Exam Refund Policy?
Candidates can request a refund within 30 days from the date of purchase and they cannot schedule or take the certification exam within that time frame. After the refund is processed, the application will be closed and the eligibility period will no longer be valid. If a scheduled exam is canceled and rescheduled outside of 30 days from the date of purchase, up to 48 hours prior to the scheduled testing date, there is a rescheduling fee applied. Within 48 hours of the scheduled testing date, all fees and the ability to reschedule are forfeits.
Is there any accommodations provided for the Examination?
Candidates who want accommodation during the examination can request the administration of any PMI examination. With this they can have modification due to disability, handicap or medical condition that may affect your ability to take the examination. Moreover, there are no additional costs for test accommodations.
What is the CAPM Recertification Policy?
After passing the CAPM examination, candidates are certified for a period of five years. However, before the end of the five-year certification cycle, candidates have the option to pursue recertification or, if eligible, apply for any other PMI certifications. For this who wait until the month before your certification expires to apply for certification renewal, then they have 12 months to take the examination, but only one month in which to take the examination to be considered for recertification.
Once I pass the exam or evaluations, what next?
You may refer to yourself as a certification holder although your certificate package can take six to eight weeks to arrive in the mail. Please refer to the “Use of Your PMI Certification” section of the handbooks for more details. You also can start making plans for maintaining your certification by familiarizing yourself with the Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program and its requirements. More details on the CCR program can be found within the CCR Handbook.
How do I schedule a certification exam appointment?
Once you are eligible, PMI will e-mail you examination scheduling instructions with your eligibility code, which you will need when scheduling your exam appointment at a testing center.
Where will the examination be given?
All PMI exams are offered at approved Pearson VUE Testing Centers worldwide. You can check for locations on Pearson VUE’s website. (NOTE: Please check Pearson VUE’s Covid-19 page for information about exam availability in your area.) You can also take your CAPM or PMI-ACP exam in the comfort of your home or office while being monitored by an online proctor through Pearson VUE.
If I fail the exam, can I take it again?
If you fail the exam on your first attempt, you can re-take it two more times within your one-year eligibility period. Fees are associated with re-examination. Details for re-examination can be found in the certification handbook.
What happens if my eligibility expires and I have not taken the exam?
Your application is valid for one year from the date of approval. If you allow your eligibility to lapse, you must re-apply.
Do I have to be a CAPM, PMP, or a PMI member to apply for other PMI certifications?
No. No one certification serves as a prerequisite for another. You also do not have to be a PMI member to apply to become a certification holder.
What requirements do I need to fulfill to maintain an active certification status?
All PMI certifications, with the exception of CAPM, require that you engage in continuous professional development in order to remain certified. The requirements for each certification can be found within the CCR Handbook .
Why has the PMI Talent Triangle been incorporated into the CCR program?
Extensive market research and feedback from certification holders and organizations identified a subset of skills that employers require for project practitioners to deliver improved results. These skills areas are represented in the PMI Talent Triangle. The CCR updates align professional development activities, specifically Education activities, with the PMI Talent Triangle to ensure certification holders are focused on the needs of the profession.
How are the three areas of focus for the PMI Talent Triangle defined?
The PMI Talent Triangle outlines the three skill areas employers need. They are as follows:
- Technical Project Management: the knowledge, skills and behaviors related to specific domains of Project, Program and Portfolio Management. The technical aspects of performing one’s role.
- Leadership: the knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed to guide, motivate, and direct a team, to help an organization achieve its business goals.
- Strategic and Business Management: the knowledge of and expertise in the industry and organization that enhances performance and better delivers business outcomes.
What are some examples of topics that align to each skill area within the PMI Talent Triangle?
Many topics can align to each area of the PMI Talent Triangle. Here are some examples to help you understand.
Are the skill areas of the PMI Talent Triangle aligned with activities that Give Back to the Profession?
No. They are not. You can still earn PDUs for activities that give back to the profession including creating new project management knowledge, volunteering, and working as a professional in project management. Volunteer activities should reflect your use of practitioner knowledge and skills (i.e., planning the project for a charity).
How can I maintain several credentials at once?
The CCR process enables certain PDUs to be shared across your certifications, simplifying the maintenance process. To learn more please refer to the “Maintaining Multiple Certifications” section of the CCR Handbook and/or watch this webinar .
What are PDUs?
PDUs stand for Professional Development Units. PDUs are the measuring unit used to quantify your professional development as part of the Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program. 1 PDU = 1 hour of learning/activity.
Can I still earn Education PDUs the same way I used to?
Yes. You can earn your Education PDUs by attending classes offered by PMI R.E.P.s, Chapters or by your organizations or a university; attending a PMI congress, SeminarsWorld® and other events, or through self-directed learning.
Can I claim PDUs for a single Education activity in more than one skill area of the PMI Talent Triangle?
Yes. You can claim PDUs for a single Education activity under multiple skill areas (Technical Project Management, Leadership, Strategic and Business Management) of the PMI Talent Triangle. For example: if you read a book that contains content on techniques for project time management and on negotiating with stakeholders, you could claim this Education activity in the skill areas of Technical Project Management and Leadership.
Can I transfer PDUs to my next cycle?
Yes. PDUs earned above the required total (e.g. 60 for PMP) in the last year of your 3-year certification cycle can be applied to your next cycle. PDUs earned during the first two years of your cycle cannot be applied to a future cycle. For more details, please refer to the CCR Handbook.
When is the earliest I can start earning PDUs after I earn a certification?
You can start earning and reporting PDU activities as soon as you earn a PMI certification. Activities you completed prior to earning your certification will not count as PDUs towards your newly acquired certification.
When reporting PDU activities, is any supporting documentation required?
You do not need supporting documentation to report PDUs and renew your credential. When reporting your PDUs through CCRS, you will be directed to include specific information about the activity in the PDU claim form.
Why does PMI conduct application audits?
PMI conducts application audits to confirm the experience and/or education documented on certification applications. However, the purpose of the audit is to enhance the credibility of the certification program and of the certification holders. For each certification, a specified percentage of applications are randomly selected for audit.
How much time the audit process take?
The certification audit team processes audit materials within 5 to 7 business days of their arrival at PMI. Once PMI reviews and approves audit materials, PMI will send an e-mail containing your payment instructions.
