Do You Qualify for the PMP®? Education and Experience
The three things PMI checks, how experience months are counted, and a tool that adds up your projects without double-counting overlaps.
In this guide
Before you spend money on a course or an exam, it is worth confirming that PMI will accept your application. The rules are not hard, but people often misread how experience is counted. This guide sets out what PMI asks for and shows you how to check yourself. PMI publishes the official criteria, so confirm anything important on pmi.org.
Quick answer
PMP certification eligibility depends on three things: education, experience and training. The experience you need falls with your education: 60 months with a high school diploma, 48 months with an associate degree, 36 months with a bachelor’s degree and 24 months with a degree from a PMI-accredited (GAC) programme. It must be leading projects, non-overlapping and within the past 10 years, and you also need 35 hours of project professional training or a CAPM®.
What are the PMP certification eligibility requirements?
| Your education | Months leading projects | Within the last |
|---|---|---|
| High school diploma, GED or secondary school certificate | 60 (5 years) | 10 years |
| Associate’s degree or vocational trade school diploma | 48 (4 years) | 10 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 36 (3 years) | 10 years |
| Bachelor’s or post-graduate degree from a PMI GAC programme | 24 (2 years) | 10 years |
Every row also needs 35 hours of project professional training, or a CAPM credential. There is no minimum age, and the degree can be in any subject. If you are not yet eligible, PMI points you to the CAPM certification as a starting step.
How does PMI count your project experience?
PMI wants to see that you led or directed project work, not just took part in it. The experience can come from one project or many, and from your current or earlier employers, as long as it falls inside the 10-year window. Months in which two projects overlap are counted once, so two projects that ran side by side for a year give you twelve months, not twenty-four. The calculator below does that sum for you.
Experience calculator
Enter up to three projects as year and month (for example 2022-03). Overlapping months are counted once.
| Project | Start (YYYY-MM) | End (YYYY-MM) |
|---|---|---|
| Project 1 | ||
| Project 2 | ||
| Project 3 |
| Check | Result |
|---|---|
| Months needed | – |
| Your months, overlaps counted once | – |
Enter start and end months for at least one project (YYYY-MM).
A planning aid only. Include only months within the past 10 years. PMI decides eligibility.
Not sure where you stand, or want a guided route? Our PMP certification training takes you through it.
Do you need a project manager title to apply for the PMP?
No. PMI looks at what you did, so engineers, analysts, consultants and team leads who directed project work can qualify. Describe your role clearly on the application, as our guide on how to apply for the PMP exam explains.
The 35 hours can come from a PMP preparation course, from a CAPM certification, or from other project management education. Our PMP course is 35 contact hours of live online training with official PMI courseware. Once you qualify, the exam costs USD 405 for PMI members and USD 555 for non-members, so check pmi.org for current fees. If you would like a quick review of your background, send us your details through the enquiry form.
Meet the training requirement.
See the live PMP course and its current batches.
Questions? Use the course enquiry form, email online@3foldtraining.com or message us on WhatsApp. The official source is PMI’s PMP page.
Frequently asked questions about PMP certification eligibility requirements
What are the PMP certification eligibility requirements?
60 months with a high school diploma, 48 with an associate degree, 36 with a bachelor’s degree or 24 with a PMI GAC programme degree, leading projects within the past 10 years, plus 35 hours of project professional training or a CAPM.
Do I need a project manager title to meet the PMP certification eligibility requirements?
No. PMI looks at whether you led or directed project work, whatever your job title.
Do overlapping months count towards PMP certification eligibility requirements?
Overlapping months are counted once. Confirm the current wording on pmi.org.
How can I meet the 35-hour part of the PMP certification eligibility requirements?
Take a PMP preparation course that provides 35 contact hours, or hold a CAPM certification.
Does my degree subject matter for PMP certification eligibility requirements?
No. PMI asks for the level of education, not a particular subject.
What if I do not meet the PMP certification eligibility requirements yet?
PMI suggests the CAPM certification as a first step while you build experience.
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