CAPM vs. PMP: Which Is Best for You?

CAPM vs. PMP: Which is best for you?

The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® and the Project Management Professional (PMP)® are two certifications administered by a professional project management organization called the Project Management Institute (PMI). The CAPM is an entry-level certification designed to prepare candidates for positions in project management, while the PMP is a credential for project managers with at least three years of experience. 

Here’s a quick overview of how they compare.

Let’s take a look at the requirements, costs, and other details of each.

CAPM vs. PMP certification requirements

The requirements to qualify for the CAPM exam are as follows:

• 23 hours of project management education, completed before you take the exam

• High school diploma or equivalent

How to earn PMP certification: 

• 35 hours of project management education. This can be waived if you have the CAPM certification.

• 36 months (3 years total) of experience leading projects if you have a four-year degree, or 60 months (5 years total) if you have a high school diploma, an associate’s degree, or the global equivalent

You’ll need to pay for and pass a certification exam to receive each certification.

How do I fulfill my project management education requirements?

There are several online courses from various providers that can fulfill the education requirement. If you don’t know where to start, take a look at the Google Project Management: Professional Certificate, which qualifies you for over 100 hours of project management education. If you prefer in-person options, your local community college may have some project management courses that will fulfill the requirement.

CAPM vs. PMP certification cost

The PMP certification costs more than the CAPM certification. The PMP costs $675 for non-PMI members, and the CAPM $300 for non-members [4, 3]. Here’s a breakdown of their costs.

Note that a PMI membership costs $139 a year, plus a one-time application fee of $10 [5]. 

CAPM cost [3]:

• $225 for PMI members ($374 total with membership and membership application fee)

• $300 for non-PMI members

Are you a student? Get the student bundle

If you’re enrolled in an accredited degree-granting program, you may be eligible for the student bundle. This gets you PMI membership for $32 [6] and the CAPM exam certification for $225, for a total of $257.

PMP cost [4]:

• $405 for PMI members ($554 total with membership and membership application fee)

• $675 for non-PMI members

CAPM vs. PMP salary

PMP holders generally make more than CAPM holders.

As of January 2025, the average US salary for CAPM holders is $74,000, while for PMP holders it is $118,000, according to Payscale [1, 2]. At the same time, Ziprecruiter reports higher averages, with CAPM holders having an average US salary of $92,091, and PMP holders making $122,388 [7, 8].

Does getting a CAPM or PMP earn you more money?

If you compare the average salaries for certified versus non-certified project management professionals, it appears as though CAPM and PMP credentials can increase your earning power. Without certification, associate project managers make an average of $58,954 [9], while project managers earn $80,757 [10]. Certifications may lead to higher-paying jobs or raises in your current one. If you recently got certified, it can be worth approaching your manager to discuss a raise. Other factors like experience and location can affect your salary.

CAPM and PMP: Are they worth it?

Certifications may give you an edge in the job search process, show hiring managers that you have a baseline of knowledge expected of you, and help you learn new skills. They may also lead to higher incomes, and qualify you for positions that require certification. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

• The CAPM and PMP both earned a spot on Entrepreneur’s list of The 9 Most In-Demand Professional Certifications You Can Get Right Now: Both topped the list, which also noted the demand for project management skills across various industries [11]. 

• The PMP is more in-demand than the CAPM: The CAPM was mentioned in more than 600 US job listings on Indeed in January 2025, while the PMP was mentioned in more than 22,000.

Think about your professional goals to decide if it’s worth it for you.

Read more: 10 PMI Certifications to Level Up Your Project Management Career

CAPM vs. PMP: Which should you get?

The CAPM and PMP serve different purposes; which you decide to get should depend on your professional circumstances. 

If you’re looking to get started in the field of project management, the CAPM may be more useful (and manageable) than the PMP. If you have some experience and are looking to expand your skill set and be more competitive in the job market, the PMP might make more sense to get.

CAPM vs. PMP exam

The CAPM and PMP exams differ in content and difficulty. The CAPM is a knowledge-based exam, testing candidates on project management theory and processes. It’s ideal for early- and mid-career professionals. The PMP verifies your ability to lead, making it ideal for advancing your career [12].

CAPM exam

In 2023, PMI revised the CAPM to test you on concepts covered in the PMBOK Guide and beyond. Here’s a breakdown of what percentage of each concept is covered in the exam [3]:

1. Project management fundamentals: 36 percent

2. Predictive and plan-based methodologies: 17 percent

3. Agile frameworks and methodologies: 20 percent

4. Frameworks for business analysis: 27 percent

PMP exam

The PMP exam also covers material in the PMBOK Guide and beyond. The topics covered broadly break down as follows [4]:

1. People: 42 percent

The people portion includes questions on managing conflict, leading a team, assisting team performance, negotiating project agreements, supporting virtual teams, and other people-related topics.

2. Process: 50 percent 

The process part of the exam covers the tactics used to execute a project. That includes managing communications, assessing risks, engaging stakeholders, planning budgets and schedules, quality management, determining scope, and several other topics.

3. Business: 8 percent

For the business portion of the exam, you’ll have to learn concepts in planning and managing project compliance, evaluating project benefits and value, addressing external factors for their impact on project scope, and supporting organizational change.

Keep in mind

PMI updates its exams every five years. The PMP exam was updated beginning January 2, 2021, to comprise 180 questions instead of 200, two 10-minute breaks instead of one, three “domains”—phases of project management—instead of five, among other changes. The CAPM exam was updated in 2023 to cover Agile methodologies and business analysis. 

Getting ready for the PMP and CAPM exams

There are many courses you can take to learn concepts tested on the CAPM and the PMP. Here are a few options. 

Google Project Management: Professional Certificate 

The Google Project Management: Professional Certificate covers essential project concepts. Accessible for anybody regardless of experience, the certificate was designed to be completed in six months or less. Though not an official CAPM training course, the certificate covers essential topics covered in the CAPM exam. You can gain job-ready skills and fulfill the project management education requirement. You’ll also receive a Professional Certificate upon completion that you can add to your resume.

Microsoft Project Management Professional Certificate

Microsoft’s Project Management Professional Certificate includes nine courses on project management that can be completed in four months. This beginner-friendly certificate is designed for professionals who want to build a solid foundation in project management and prepare for the PMP exam. It includes a thorough exam overview and sample questions.