Frequently Asked Questions

What does Federal PMP offer?

Federal PMP’s mission is to help current or former federal employees increase their competitiveness in today’s job market. We are pleased to offer special pricing through a collaboration with a PMI Authorized Training Partner. Federal PMP is also developing several low-cost PMP prep courses designed for professionals with government experience. However, no proof of federal or current employment is required to access any of these offers. 

Go to our training page to see all of our course offerings.

How much is the PMP prep course, PMI membership, exam, and other expenses? 

Getting PMP certified requires an application, 35 contact hours of PMP-specific training, and passing the PMP exam offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). Other optional but recommended expenses include the PMI membership and practice exams. The total cost for all of these items varies. Below is a summary of what an individual can expect to pay to get certified.

PMI Membership - $164 (offered by PMI)

The PMI Membership is optional, however the membership discount for the exam ($250 off) is greater than the cost of membership - so this option is always recommended.

PMP Exam - $425 for PMI members (offered by PMI)

The exam is required and must be taken through PMI at an authorized testing center. The exam cost is $675 for non-members. The combined membership and exam cost is $589. The cost to retake the exam is $275. 

Note: While membership and exams are sold exclusively by PMI, authorized training partners can buy vouchers for these services in bulk at a discounted price. Under normal circumstances, this discount is not passed through to the students.

Prep Course - $20 to $3,500 (offered by training providers)

The 35 contact hour requirement has some restrictions (see below). Training must be led by a third-party provider and cannot be entirely self-directed, and therefore almost always has an associated cost. These costs vary by provider and by training modality (pre-recorded video, online instruction, or in-person courses), and may be stand-alone or bundled with other services.

Practice Exams - $0 to $150 (offered by PMI and training providers)

It is strongly advised that students take two or more practice exams before taking the real exam to increase their chances of passing. Some prep courses include practice exams, or these may be an additional cost. PMI offers practice exam packages for $49-$99 through its website.

Go to our training page to see how our course offerings compare to market rate prices. Federal PMP is dedicated to securing low-cost certification options for our community.

What are the eligibility requirements for the PMP or CAPM? How do I apply?

Individuals interested in the PMP Certification must have 3-5 years of experience in project management, depending on education level. Applicants must document their experience with project leadership as part of the PMP application process. Note that “project management experience” is defined broadly.

Professionals with less than 3 years of project management experience are eligible for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). The CAPM is similar to the PMP but has no prior experience requirement, requires only 23 contact hours of training, and has a shorter exam.  

How can I meet the PMP course requirement?

To fulfill the 35 contact hour requirement, students must take a PMP exam preparation course. PMP training does not need to be provided by an Authorized Training Partner to be recognized by PMI. The course must be instructor-led (either live or on-demand), be structured around PMP exam content, and provide a certificate upon completion. Independent learning and other certifications or training programs (such as COR certification or Google Project Management) do not meet this requirement. 

All of the training courses offered by Federal PMP and our training partners meet the PMI requirements. Our courses vary on training modality (on-demand, or instructor-led online), money-back guarantees, cost and schedule, and additional materials such as practice exams. Please review details for each course on our training page.

How do I take the exam? How difficult is it?

The PMP exam is 180 questions, 230 minutes long, and is pass/fail. To take the exam, applicants must either purchase the exam from PMI or redeem an exam voucher. Once PMI approves your application, you have one year to take the exam and up to three attempts within that period. However, it is recommended to take the exam within 2 to 6 weeks of finishing the course. The exam is usually administered in-person at an authorized testing facility, though some online testing options are available through PMI. Testing locations are available globally. 

The PMP exam is generally described as difficult. Most students need to study and take practice exams before feeling prepared to take the exam. PMI does not publish the passing score or the student pass rate for the exam. Some courses offer exam guarantees, paying re-examination fees or reimbursing students who fail the test several times. 

Federal PMP strongly believes that most federal employees and associates are extremely well suited to pass the PMP exam on their first try.

How can a PMP certification benefit my career or employability?

A PMP certification can significantly enhance your employability, salary potential, and career trajectory, particularly if you’re transitioning from government to the private sector or aiming for leadership roles. PMP is the international gold standard for project management, and is widely recognized across industries and geographies. 

For those with government experience (e.g., COR, AOR, or technical leadership), PMP helps translate your skills into private sector language and frameworks. Hiring managers often prefer or require PMP certification for mid to senior-level project roles, and PMP-certified professionals earn 16%–32% more on average than those without certification.

How do I maintain my PMP certification?

The PMP certification is initially valid for three years from the date you pass the exam. To renew your certification, you need to earn 60 professional development units (PDUs). You can earn PDUs through training, webinars, giving presentations, volunteering, or self-directed learning in project management. There are many free and paid options to get your PDUs.

Federal PMP is committed to developing a community to connect, support, and encourage our growing influence in the project management space. Additional opportunities for connection with the larger project management professional community include joining one of PMI’s 300+ volunteer-led Local Chapters, in locations around the world.

How do I get started?

Explore our training options, connect with our team, and take the next step toward becoming PMP certified!