How Many Attempts Do You Get to Pass the PMP® Exam?
The Project Management Institute (PMI®) allows 3 attempts within a 1-year eligibility period. Here is when the year starts, what retakes cost and what happens if you use every attempt.
In this guide
You have applied, studied and booked a date, and a quiet worry sits behind all of it: what if the first attempt does not go to plan? For a working professional balancing evenings and family, it matters to know how many chances the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam gives you and how long you have. This guide settles how many attempts the Project Management Institute (PMI) allows, how the 1-year clock works, and what happens if you use them all.
Quick answer
The Project Management Institute (PMI) allows 3 attempts at the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam within a 1-year eligibility period that starts once the application is approved. Repayment of fees applies to the second and third attempts. After 3 unsuccessful attempts, a candidate must wait 1 year from the date of the last exam before reapplying.
| Awarding body | Project Management Institute (PMI) |
| Attempts allowed | 3 within the 1-year eligibility period |
| Eligibility period | 1 year from application approval |
| If your application is audited | The year starts the day you are told the audit is complete |
| Fees for retakes | Repayment of fees applies to the second and third attempts |
| Waiting time between attempts | None stated in the PMI Certification Handbook |
| After 3 unsuccessful attempts | Wait 1 year from the date of the last exam, then reapply |
| If the year ends without a pass | Reapply for the certification |
| Reschedule or cancel within 30 days | A fee plus taxes applies (see the cost section) |
How many attempts do you get at the PMP exam?
You get 3 attempts at the PMP exam within your 1-year eligibility period.
The PMI Certification Handbook states: “Once your application has been approved, you have 1 year to take the exam. You may take the exam three times within this 1-year eligibility period.” The limit is on the number of attempts inside that year, not on the number of times you can apply over a career.
A pass on any attempt ends the process, and you earn the certification. A fail on the first or second attempt does not end anything, because attempts remain as long as the year has not run out.
Attempts are not a quota to spend. Each one costs an exam fee after the first, an appointment to book and weeks of preparation, so the sensible goal is to pass on the first attempt and keep the others in reserve. A candidate who goes in prepared also protects the year, because the clock keeps running whether or not an attempt has been used.
Want to feel ready before your first attempt? See the PMP course outline and the 35 contact hours included.
When does the 1-year eligibility period start?
The year starts when PMI approves your application, or on the day you are told you passed the audit, if your application is selected for one.
| Situation | When the 1-year period starts |
|---|---|
| Application approved without an audit | When PMI approves the application |
| Application selected for audit | The day PMI informs you that you successfully completed the audit |
The Handbook does not describe any way to extend the year, so plan as if the 1 year is fixed. If you expect a busy stretch at work, choose your first exam date with the whole year in mind, not only the first month. Our guide on the PMP application process explains how approval works, and our article on when to submit your PMP exam application after training helps you time the start of the year.
Is there a waiting time between attempts?
The Handbook does not state one. PMI limits the number of attempts to 3, not the time between them, but you still need to book each new appointment and pay the applicable fee.
Do retakes cost extra?
Yes. PMI states that repayment of fees applies to the second and third attempts.
PMI does not give one fixed retake amount in the Handbook, because fees depend on your membership status and region, so check the amount shown in your PMI account before you rebook. Our guide on the total cost of PMP certification explains how the exam fee and membership fit together.
Rescheduling also has a cost. PMI charges US$70 plus taxes if you reschedule or cancel an appointment within 30 days of the date. If you do not attend and have not rescheduled in time, PMI treats it as a no-show, and the exam fee is forfeited. Treat each appointment as one of your 3 attempts.
What happens after 3 unsuccessful attempts?
You must wait 1 year from the date of your last exam before you reapply for the certification.
The same rule covers the other way to run out of road. If your 1-year eligibility period expires and you have not passed, PMI requires you to reapply. In both cases, you start with a fresh application, so the cost in time and money is much higher than a careful second or third attempt. The Handbook does not say whether your education hours must be repeated, so check the current requirements before you reapply.
Want a safety net while you prepare? The PMP course includes one year of free retraining on the same exam version.
Plan your remaining attempts
For planning only. This is simple arithmetic, and PMI sets no minimum gap between attempts.
The preloaded example is a candidate who has used 1 attempt and has 8 months left. That leaves 2 attempts, which is about 4 months of preparation for each one if both are needed.
How do you prepare so one attempt is enough?
Treat the first attempt as the one that counts, and use every piece of feedback if you need another.
- Practice with full-length mock exams before you pay for the real appointment.
- Study across all three domains, People (33%), Process (41%) and Business Environment (26%), because the exam does not publish a fixed passing percentage. See how the weights shape your study in our guide to PMP exam domain weighting in 2026.
- Schedule the exam with enough days in the year to retake if needed.
- Reschedule more than 30 days ahead if your plans change.
- If you do not pass, read the domain feedback in your result report and rebuild your plan around the weakest domain.
PMI states that the exam report shows your overall pass or fail status and diagnostic information for each domain. Our tips on how to avoid PMP exam failures and our honest look at whether the new PMP exam is harder in 2026 will help you prepare. For the full path from application to exam day, see how to get PMP certification and the PMP eligibility requirements. PMI publishes the official rules in the PMI Certification Handbook and on its PMP certification page.
Have a question about your exam attempts or timeline? Message our team on WhatsApp or send your question through the course inquiry form.
Frequently asked questions
How many times can you take the PMP exam?
The Project Management Institute (PMI) allows 3 attempts at the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam within the 1-year eligibility period. After 3 unsuccessful attempts, a candidate must wait 1 year from the date of the last exam before reapplying.
How long do you have to take the PMP exam after your application is approved?
Once an application for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is approved, the Project Management Institute (PMI) gives the candidate 1 year to take the exam, with up to 3 attempts in that period.
When does the PMP eligibility period start if your application is audited?
If the Project Management Institute (PMI) selects a Project Management Professional (PMP) application for audit, the 1-year eligibility period begins the day the candidate is informed that the audit was successfully completed.
Can you extend the PMP exam eligibility period?
The PMI Certification Handbook does not describe any way to extend the 1-year eligibility period for the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam. A candidate who needs more time should contact the Project Management Institute (PMI) before the period ends.
Do you pay again to retake the PMP exam?
Yes. The Project Management Institute (PMI) states that repayment of fees applies to the second and third attempts at the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam. PMI does not give a single amount, so check the fee shown in your PMI account.
Is there a waiting period between PMP exam attempts?
The PMI Certification Handbook does not state a waiting period between attempts at the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam within the 1-year eligibility period. The Project Management Institute (PMI) limits the number of attempts to 3, not the time between them.
What happens after failing the PMP exam three times?
If a candidate does not pass the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam in 3 attempts within the 1-year eligibility period, the Project Management Institute (PMI) requires waiting 1 year from the date of the last exam before reapplying for the certification.
What happens if the PMP eligibility period ends before you pass?
If the 1-year eligibility period expires and the candidate has not passed the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam, the Project Management Institute (PMI) requires the candidate to reapply for the certification.
Is there a fee to reschedule or cancel your PMP exam?
Yes, if you reschedule or cancel a Project Management Professional (PMP) exam within 30 days of the appointment, the Project Management Institute (PMI) charges a fee plus taxes. Failing to attend a scheduled appointment is treated as a no-show, and the exam fee is forfeited.
What does the PMP result report show that can help with a retake?
The Project Management Institute (PMI) states that the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam report shows the overall pass or fail status, with diagnostic information on performance for each domain. A candidate can use that feedback to focus study before a retake.
Where 3FOLD fits
3FOLD Training is licensed by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai and is a PMI Authorized Training Partner. Our PMP certification training is delivered as Virtual Instructor Led Training (VILT) with 35 contact hours, one-year Learning Management System (LMS) access, full-length mock exams and exam application support, plus one year of free retraining on the same exam version. We prepare; PMI examines. The aim is to help you walk into your first attempt exam-ready, so the other two stay in reserve. Check the current batches on the course page.
Next step: ready to prepare for your first attempt? Choose a batch that fits your schedule and get one-year LMS access.
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