CAPM vs PMP Certification: Your Comprehensive Guide

Earning a project management certification boosts your skills, value, and salary. Among the popular choices are the PMP certification and the CAPM certification. Each certification offers unique benefits, catering to different experience levels and career aspirations.

This guide compares CAPM and PMP certifications. It highlights differences in exam difficulty, requirements, and salary impacts. Understanding these distinctions helps you choose the best certification for your career goals.

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What’s the Difference between CAPM and PMP

What is the difference between the CAPM vs PMP certification? To put it simply, the CAPM is considered more entry-level, while the PMP is professional level. As a result, the CAPM exam prerequisites are less restrictive, and the exam is relatively easier and less expensive than the PMP. However, the PMP certification is generally better known, more prestigious, and more likely to earn you a higher salary.

This high-level overview is helpful when differentiating between CAPM vs PMP in general. Take a closer look at the details to help you decide which certification to pursue.

Category	CAPM	PMP
Target Audience	Entry-level professionals or those exploring project management.	Experienced project managers leading full projects.
Prerequisites	• Secondary degree (high school diploma or equivalent) • 23 hours of project management education	Option 1: Secondary degree + 60 months leading projects + 35 hours education (or CAPM) Option 2: Four-year degree + 36 months leading projects + 35 hours education (or CAPM)
Exam Focus	Fundamentals of project management (PMBOK® Guide principles).	Real-world application across domains: People, Process, and Business Environment.
Benefits	• Builds credibility early in your career • Qualifies for entry-level PM roles • Meets PMP education prerequisite	• Industry-recognized gold standard • Higher earning potential (20% average salary boost) • Prepares for leadership and complex project roles
Cost	Exam Fees: $225 (PMI members) $300 (non-members) Optional & Additional Costs: • PMI Membership: $139-$159/year • Training Courses: $500–$3,000+ for online or boot camps • $10 application fee is typically required in the first year Renewal: • Every 3 years: $60 (members), $150 (non-members)	Exam Fees: $405 (PMI members) $595 (non-members) Optional & Additional Costs: • PMI Membership: $139-$159/year • Training Courses: $500–$3,000+ for online or boot camps • $10 application fee is typically required in the first year Renewal: • Every 3 years: $60 (members), $150 (non-members)
Exam Details	• 150 multiple-choice questions• 3 hours	• 180 questions (multiple formats)• 3 hours 50 minutes

Benefits of the CAPM and PMP Certifications

Earning either a CAPM or PMP certification from PMI can give your career a measurable boost. CAPM certification shows you understand the basics of project management principles. A PMP certification proves your skills and ability to apply project management principles to real-world situations reliably. While they differ in scope and target audience, both credentials carry shared advantages that make you more competitive in the job market:

Benefits of Both Certifications:

• Increased credibility with employers, peers, and clients
• Stronger industry recognition and professional reputation
• Greater demand for your skills in the job market
• Higher earning potential and salary growth
• Expanded career development and promotion opportunities
• Eligibility to meet hiring or role requirements for project-related positions

CAPM-Specific Benefits:

• Demonstrates understanding of fundamental project management concepts
• Ideal entry point for those new to the field
• Meets the education requirement for the PMP exam, making it a stepping stone to the next level

PMP-Specific Benefits:

• Recognized globally as the top project management certification
• Validates your ability to lead and deliver complex projects successfully
• Positions you for leadership roles with higher responsibility, autonomy, and pay

If you are just starting your project management career, a CAPM certification can help. Alternatively, you may already have some project management experience and want to be qualified for full-time roles where you take ownership of projects of any size and complexity. In this case, a PMP will help you obtain positions with a higher salary and levels of autonomy and responsibility.

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CAPM vs PMP Certification Requirements

What prerequisites do you need to take the CAPM vs PMP exam? The CAPM certification has fewer requirements, designed for entry-level professionals. Applicants must meet these requirements:

• Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree, or the global equivalent)
• 23 hours of project management education completed by the time you sit for the exam

To fulfill the 23-hour education requirement, you may want to consider taking an exam preparation course. For example, our Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification course both prepares you for the exam and meets the education requirement.

Meeting PMP exam requirements, in contrast, takes more time and effort. PMI offers two paths to be eligible to sit for the PMP exam:

• PMP Exam Requirements – Option 1
  • Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree, or global equivalent)
  • 60 months leading projects
  • 35 hours of project management education OR CAPM Certification
• PMP Exam Requirements – Option 2
  • Four-year degree
  • 36 months of experience leading projects
  • 35 hours of project management education OR CAPM Certification

PMI will waive the 35-hour education requirement for the PMP exam if you are an active CAPM credential holder. This adds to the benefits that come with earning your CAPM certification.

CAPM vs PMP Exams: What to Expect

The CAPM and PMP exams, both designed by PMI and administered by Pearson VUE, share similarities. Neither allows reference materials, and both cover similar topics. However, each exam has unique features.

Differences between Exams

CAPM vs PMP Exam	CAPM Exam	PMP Exam
Exam Fee	$225 for members $300 for non-members	$405 for members $595 for non-members
Exam Components	150 multiple-choice questions	180 questions, including multiple-choice, multiple response, matching, hotspot, and limited fill-in-the-blank.
Exam Time Limit	3 Hours	3 Hours and 50 Mins
Exam Content	Covers chapters 1-13 of the PMBOK® Guide, 7th Edition.	Covers 3 domains: People, Process, and Business Environment. Use the PMP Exam Content Outline from PMI to prepare.

The PMP exam is more difficult than the CAPM exam, but both are rigorous. We can help you prepare confidently for either test. Let us help you prepare for either test so that you can feel confident and ready when exam day arrives.

Difficulty Levels

While both exams require adequate preparation, the CAPM exam is considered less rigorous than the PMP exam. This is because the CAPM is designed more for entry-level project managers or those interested in a career in project management. The PMP exam is more challenging but comes with industry-wide benefits such as a 20% higher salary on average.

Exam Tips

Preparing for the CAPM and PMP certification exams shouldn’t trigger anxiety. Here are three ways you can get ready to succeed:

1. Create a study schedule. It’s best to plan to study regularly in the weeks or months before exam day. Make sure to account for work, school, spending time with friends or family, and taking care of yourself.
2. Find a support network. Share your goal with others so they can help you stay on track. If you’re working full-time, see if your manager or boss will allow you to study during work hours. Your success is good for your employer, too!
3. Learn more about the exam. PMI provides excellent resources to help you prepare for these certification exams. Review the CAPM vs PMP exam content and components so that you know exactly what to expect.

Can you convert a CAPM Certification to PMP?

You can’t directly convert a CAPM certification into a PMP certification. However, earning a CAPM is still valuable, it builds your foundation, counts toward the PMP’s 35-hour education requirement, and positions you to pursue the PMP once you gain enough project management experience.

Certification Recertification/Renewal

Previously, CAPM certification holders needed to retake the exam every five years to maintain their certification status within PMI. However, PMI recently changed these requirements. Now, both CAPM and PMP professionals can retain their certifications by earning a set minimum of professional development units (PDUs) every three years.

PDUs are one-hour blocks of time that you spend learning, teaching others, or volunteering. You can maintain your certification status by accumulating and tracking PDUs across your 3-year certification cycle. CAPM certification holders must earn 15 PDUs to keep their certification active, while PMP certification holders must earn 60. On top of PDUs, PMI members must pay a $60 renewal fee, while non-members pay $150.

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Which is Right for You? CAPM or PMP Certification:

It can be a challenge to determine whether a CAPM vs PMP certification is right for your future as a project manager. To put it simply, if you meet the PMP certification requirements, it is undoubtedly the right choice. Even if you meet some but not all of the requirements, it’s probably still worthwhile to work towards qualifying for the PMP exam.

Here are some considerations to help you decide between the CAPM vs PMP exam. Based on how you answer some of these questions, you can determine if you want to pursue a CAPM vs PMP certification.

Career Path for CAPM vs PMP Certification Holders

Which stage of your career are you in? Are you at the beginning of your career looking to break into project management, or do you already have a history of project management experience?

If you’re just starting your path to project management, taking the CAPM exam is likely the right choice so you can show your qualifications and work towards pursuing the PMP certification. For those with more experience and a grasp of project management fundamentals, pursuing the PMP certification is likely the better option for your salary potential and professional development.

The CAPM certification may also be more appropriate if you hold multiple designations or are in a more technical role at work but want to take on more responsibility as a team lead or get a bump in your salary. Those who are not looking to be full-time project managers can use a CAPM as a supplemental certification for their current role.

CAPM vs PMP Exam Cost

How much are you willing to pay for a certification? While both exam costs can be an investment, the PMP exam is between $180–$295 more expensive than the CAPM, depending on your PMI membership status. Beyond the exam fee, you should also consider training courses, study materials, and PMI membership. When factoring in these additional expenses, total PMP certification costs can range from around $1,500 to over $6,000. With that higher initial cost, however, comes a higher average salary once you earn the PMP.

Make sure to check with your employer to see if they might be willing to cover some or all of the costs before making your decision. Obtaining a PMP certification reflects well on your organization as a whole, so many employers will cover exam and training fees for their project managers.

Jobs for CAPM vs PMP Certification Holders

As a PMP certification holder, you will be qualified for full-time project management roles with a higher salary where you manage projects of all sizes. You will be more likely to manage larger, more complex projects with higher budgets in positions such as program manager, project manager, and project controller.

With a CAPM certification, you will likely be qualified for positions such as assistant project manager, project coordinator, or project management associate. These roles are more likely to involve coordinating intra- and inter-team schedules, along with facilitating effective communication.

CAPM vs PMP Salary Comparisons

You can expect a salary increase, especially in specialized fields, after you obtain a PMP. According to the PMI Earning Power Salary Survey, PMP certificate holders earn a 33% higher salary than those without a PMP certification. However, the salary bump you can get with a CAPM certification is still well worth the time and effort.

Regardless of which option you choose, earning either certification will improve your resume and make you a more proficient and knowledgeable project manager.

Have more questions about earning a project management certification? Download The Complete PMP Certification Guide now.

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