The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), is the most widely recognized project management certification in the world. Meeting the PMP certification requirements takes planning. Candidates need the right combination of education, work experience and training before they can sit for the exam.
This guide covers what PMP certification involves, including required education, work experience, the cost of the exam and how a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program can help you meet the 35-hour education requirement. Those weighing their options can find a direct path to satisfying that requirement while earning their degree through the online MBA with a Concentration in Project Management program from The University of Texas at Tyler (UT Tyler). Offered by UT Tyler’s Soules College of Business, the program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). Only 6% of business schools worldwide have earned this symbol of the highest standard in management education.
What Is PMP Certification?
The PMP certification validates your ability to lead and direct projects. It is recognized by employers across every industry and in more than 200 countries. PMP-certified project managers in the U.S. report a median salary of $135,000, about 24% higher than professionals without the credential, according to PMI’s most recent salary survey.
That earning gap reflects how much organizations value structured project leadership, not just technical know-how. The discipline itself continues to evolve. Trends reshaping the field include greater use of AI-assisted planning tools, hybrid Agile-Waterfall approaches and more sophisticated performance metrics, all of which the PMP exam increasingly reflects.
PMP Certification Requirements
PMI sets certification eligibility criteria based on your level of education. Following PMI’s July 2026 exam update, all project management experience must have been earned within the last 10 years, up from the previous eight-year window. To be eligible for the PMP exam, you’ll need one of the following, plus experience leading projects within the last 10 years:
- High school diploma (or GED, secondary/upper school certificate) plus five years of experience leading projects
- Associate’s degree or vocational trade school diploma plus four years of experience leading projects
- Bachelor’s degree or higher plus three years of experience leading projects
- PMI GAC program (bachelor’s or post-graduate degree from a PMI Global Accreditation Center program) plus two years of experience leading projects
In addition, you’ll need 35 hours of project management training, which must be completed before you submit your application. This requirement is separate from your project experience and can be met through any one of the following options:
- Project Management Professional (PMP)® Exam Prep Course
- PMI Authorized Training Partners (ATP)
- PMI Global Accreditation Center Program
- Active Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® certification
- Third-party training course (proof of course completion required)
The 35-hour education requirement is one of the most common barriers applicants face. A single qualifying course, a formal certificate program or specific coursework within a graduate degree, such as an MBA in project management, can all satisfy this requirement.
PMP Certification Requirements Without a Degree
You do not need a four-year degree to earn PMP certification. Applicants with a high school diploma or associate’s degree can still qualify with 60 months (five years) of project management experience instead of 36 months. The 35-hour training requirement applies in both cases.
PMI counts unique, non-overlapping months of experience, so time spent leading multiple simultaneous projects is not multiplied. Documenting this experience carefully on the application, project by project, is often the most time-consuming part of the process for candidates without a four-year degree.
How Much Does the PMP Exam Cost?
PMI sets two price tiers depending on membership status. Be sure to verify current pricing directly with PMI before you apply, since fees are subject to change without notice.
| PMI Member | Non-Member | |
| PMI membership fee | $164/year | — |
| PMP exam fee | $425 | $675 |
| Total | $589 | $675 |
Joining PMI before applying saves $86 on the exam and includes access to PMI resources, the PMBOK Guide and other member benefits. You have one year from application approval to schedule and take the exam, with up to three attempts allowed within that window.
PMP Exam Requirements and Format
PMI’s 2026 update also changed how the exam itself is weighted, sharpening its focus on strategic and business impact. Here’s what candidates can expect from the exam’s content, length and delivery.
- Exam content: People (33%), Process (41%) and Business Environment (26%)
- Length: 180 questions administered over 240 minutes (four hours), including two 10-minute breaks
- Delivery: In-person at a Pearson VUE testing center or online proctored
Because Business Environment now carries more than three times the exam weight it did before, formal coursework that covers strategic and business-impact scenarios can make a real difference in exam readiness. UT Tyler’s online MBA in Project Management program builds these competencies through its required PMBOK-aligned coursework, giving students a structured way to prepare for the exam’s current format.
How Long Does It Take to Get a PMP Certification?
Most candidates complete the full process in about six months, including time to complete the application, gather documentation, prepare for the exam and take the test. PMI reviews applications within five business days. Study time varies. Surveys of PMP holders suggest most spend two to three hours per day for two to three months preparing.
Candidates who already hold formal project management coursework, such as a graduate certificate or MBA concentration, often move through the process faster since their 35-hour education requirement is already satisfied. Building a study schedule around the exam’s People, Process and Business Environment domains, rather than cramming close to the test date, tends to produce stronger results.
PMP Renewal Requirements
Once certified, you must maintain your credential by earning 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs) every three years, as tracked through PMI’s certification maintenance program. Renewal fees apply and are billed separately from PMI membership dues, so it’s worth confirming current pricing directly with PMI before your three-year cycle ends.
PDUs must include a minimum number earned through Education activities, with the remainder available through Giving Back activities such as volunteering or mentoring other project professionals. Most PMP holders track and report PDUs on a rolling basis throughout the three-year cycle rather than waiting until the deadline approaches.
How UT Tyler’s MBA Satisfies the 35-Hour Requirement
One of the most direct ways to meet the PMP’s 35-hour education requirement is through a graduate-level project management program. UT Tyler’s online MBA in Project Management degree includes the course Project Management Certification, a study of the full Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) that aligns with the training PMI outlines in its 35-hour education requirement.
That means completing this course as part of your MBA can help you work toward the PMP’s education requirement, so you’re preparing for the exam and earning your degree at the same time. UT Tyler’s program is 100% online, AACSB-accredited and built for working professionals. Courses run in accelerated seven-week terms, so you can complete the MBA in as few as 12 months while balancing work and other commitments.
Learn more about UT Tyler’s online MBA in Project Management program and how it can help accelerate your path to PMP certification.
PMP Certification FAQs
Even after reviewing the certification requirements, cost breakdown and renewal rules above, a few questions come up often among candidates weighing their options. Here are quick answers to common ones.
Do you need a college degree to become PMP certified?
Candidates with a high school diploma or associate’s degree can still qualify by documenting 60 months of project management experience instead of the 36 months required for bachelor’s degree holders.
Can you retake the PMP exam if you don’t pass on the first attempt?
Yes, PMI allows up to three exam attempts within the one-year eligibility window that starts once your application is approved.
Does earning an MBA count toward the PMP’s 35-hour training requirement?
Graduate coursework can count when it covers the full body of project management knowledge, which is the approach UT Tyler’s online MBA in Project Management program takes with its PMBOK-aligned coursework.
How much does PMP certification cost in total?
Budget $589 if you join PMI before applying or $675 if you sit for the exam as a non-member, plus the ongoing cost of renewal every three years.
How often do you need to renew a PMP certification?
PMP holders renew every three years by earning 60 Professional Development Units and paying a renewal fee.
About UT Tyler
The University of Texas at Tyler is a public research university and member of the University of Texas System, located in Tyler, Texas. UT Tyler serves more than 11,500 students and offers more than 90 degree programs across five colleges and three schools, including the Soules College of Business, College of Engineering, College of Education and Psychology and School of Health Professions.
The Soules College of Business holds AACSB accreditation and delivers graduate business programs fully online. UT Tyler’s online MBA program is included in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Online MBA rankings, reflecting the university’s ongoing investment in quality, career-focused programs for working professionals.