If you are about to book the PMP, one question comes first: should you join PMI before you pay for the exam? For almost every candidate the answer is yes, and the numbers below show why.
What PMI membership costs in 2026
| Membership type | First year | Each year after |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | $159 ($149 + $10 application fee) | $129 |
| Student | $42 ($32 + $10 application fee) | $32 |
| Retiree | $65 | $65 |
The $10 application fee is charged once, when you first join. You pay it again only if your membership lapses and you rejoin later.
Some countries have reduced regional rates, so the price shown in your PMI account may be lower. Local chapter membership is optional and separate, usually $20 to $50 a year.
The exam fee: member versus non-member
PMI raised the PMP exam fee on 6 August 2026:
| PMI member | Non-member | |
|---|---|---|
| PMP exam | $445 | $675 |
| Retake (commonly cited) | $275 | $375 |
| Renewal every 3 years | $60 | $150 |
Does joining save money?
Compare the two routes for your first attempt:
| Join PMI first | Do not join | |
|---|---|---|
| Membership (first year) | $159 | $0 |
| Exam fee | $445 | $675 |
| Total | $604 | $675 |
Joining saves $71 on the first attempt alone. If you need a retake within the year, the saving grows by another $100.
That is before you count what membership includes.
What you get with membership
- Free digital PMI standards, including the PMBOK Guide and the Agile Practice Guide. Buying the PMBOK Guide separately would cost more than the $71 difference.
- PMIstandards+, PMI's online library of practical guidance linked to the standards.
- Webinars and on-demand content that earn PDUs, which you will need later to renew.
- Access to local chapters, useful for study groups and networking.
- The PMI job board and salary survey.
When to join
Join before you pay the exam fee. The member price applies only if your membership is active at the moment you pay.
A practical order:
- Join PMI.
- Submit your PMP application from the same account.
- When it is approved, pay the member exam fee and book your date.
Membership runs for 12 months from the day you join. Your exam eligibility period also lasts one year from approval, so one year of membership usually covers your whole exam window, including a retake.
Should you renew membership after you pass?
This is a closer call. Renewing your PMP costs $60 for members and $150 for non-members, a saving of $90 every three years. A year of membership costs $129. So keeping membership only to save on renewal does not pay for itself.
Stay a member if you use the other benefits: free standards, PDU webinars and your local chapter. Many PMPs earn most of their 60 PDUs through member content, which makes membership worth keeping.
In the Gulf
PMI charges in US dollars. At the fixed pegs of 3.75 riyals and 3.6725 dirhams to the dollar:
| USD | SAR | AED | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Membership, first year | $159 | 596 | 584 |
| Exam fee, member | $445 | 1,669 | 1,634 |
| Member route, total | $604 | 2,265 | 2,218 |
| Exam fee, non-member | $675 | 2,531 | 2,479 |
The short answer
Join PMI, then pay for the exam. You save money on the first attempt, you get the PMBOK Guide for free, and you are covered if you need a retake. For the full budget, including training and practice exams, see our guide to the cost of the PMP in 2026.
Fees change from time to time, so check the price in your PMI account before you pay.