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The Certified Associate in Project Management Certification (CAPM) offered by PMI is an entry level certification that can assist with your Project Management career aspirations. While not as well-known as the Project Management Professional (PMP), it is still a valuable certification to earn. The CAPM can be used as a stepping stone to further your career and assist with obtaining your PMP in the future. 

To apply for the CAPM exam, all you need is a high school diploma, and 23 hours of Project Management education.  

An important thing to remember is that the CAPM exam is currently undergoing a revision to align it more closely to The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Guide’s 7th version. The current exam was last revised in 2018 and is based off the 6th edition. PMI has released the updated exam outline on their website and will inform educators and certification seekers roughly a week prior to releasing the new exam. This is something to keep in mind if you are seeking this certification, as this will also have an impact on the educational component you require to write the exam. 

Like the PMP, this educational component can be obtained through various means. PMI offers their own CAPM training course, Project Management Basics – An Official PMI Online Course for $400 USD for non-PMI members, or $350 if you are a PMI member.  

Like the PMP, there are also online training options from PM Prepcast and RMC Learning Solutions as well as many other online training options. 

Udemy also offers CAPM training that is accepted by PMI, such as the CAPM Certification Exam Prep Course 25 PDU Contact Hours/PDU by TIA and Andrew Ramdayal, and CAPM Exam Prep Seminar - PMBOK Guide, Sixth Edition by Joseph Phillips. These courses often go on sale, like their PMP counterparts, so keep an eye out. 

Google, in conjunction with Coursera, now offers Project Management education. Google’s Project Management training is approximately 60 hours and is free to try for 7 days. After your 7 days are up, you will be charged $39 dollars a month. Those of you who are seeking the CAPM certification are eligible for the Grow with Google Meets PMI Program. This program grants you a $175 USD discount off the CAPM exam, plus a 90-day free trial of many PMI membership benefits. If you are a PMI member, you’re still eligible for the $175 USD discount as well.  

Once you’ve completed your educational component, you will then be able to apply for the CAPM exam. 

The CAPM exam process is identical to how you would schedule a PMP exam. You will have one year from receiving confirmation of your exam to schedule, be it through a testing centre, or online in the comfort of your own home through Pearson Vue. You will be prompted to pay the exam fee of $350 USD if you are not a PMI member, or $225 USD if you are. Occasionally, PMI will also have discount codes available, which you can check through Microsoft Edge’s Shopping extension, which can be applied on top of the discount you receive if you are a PMI member.   

If needed, you will be able to reschedule your exam. You will have up to 48 hours to reschedule. If you reschedule your exam prior to 30 days before you are due to write, there is no fee. If you reschedule within 30 days of writing, there is a $70 USD fee. If you miss your appointment, you will forfeit the exam fee in its entirety.   

The exam is 150 questions long, and is 180 minutes, or 3 hours. Unlike the PMP, there are no breaks during the exam. The exam is currently broken out into thirteen domains:  

• Introduction to Project Management (6%)  
• Project Environment (6%)  
• Role of the Project Manager (7%)  
• Project Integration Management (9%) 
• Project Scope Management (9%) 
• Project Schedule Management (9%)  
• Project Cost Management (8%)  
• Project Quality Management (7%)  
• Project Resource Management (8%)  
• Project Communication Management (10%)  
• Project Risk Management (8%) 1 
• Project Procurement Management (4%)  
• Project Stakeholder Management (9%) 

The complete exam outline is available on PMI’s website in PDF format.   

There are only three testing centres approved by PMI and Pearson Vue in Nova Scotia, with all three testing centres being in Halifax. For many the online option is preferred for convenience. With the online exam, you can schedule it at any time, be it in the afternoon, or in the middle of the night. However, some of the requirements are more stringent. You will be allowed to login 15 minutes prior to the beginning of your online exam to re-check your machine and have your testing area approved by the Online Proctor.  

• You will need to ensure your computer meets the requirements to run the testing software and ensure your internet connection is relatively stable. Pearson Vue will allow you to run a test for compatibility prior to your exam. This test can be conducted at any time, and you must use the computer you used to run the compatibility check while writing your exam.  
• You will have to be in an area free from distraction.   
• You are not allowed to have anything on your desk, no external monitors connected to your laptop, and your webcam/audio will be on the whole time.   
• Your phone must be on silent, and out of reach. It may be in the room. In case the Online Proctor is unable to contact you through the web chat for any reason, they will attempt to contact you via your phone.   
• You will not be allowed to wear a watch of any sorts. This restriction does not just apply to smartwatches/fitness trackers.  
• You cannot read questions out loud, or even move your lips while silently reading the questions. 
• You cannot look or move away from your screen.  
• If you fail to abide by any of these restrictions, you will have your exam revoked by the Online Proctor and will have to pay the rewrite fee.   

Once you’ve booked your exam, you’ll need to study. There are many options available to assist. There are Reddit communities to assist with studying, along with other online courses and study aids, such as Pocket Prep. There are also many YouTube videos from instructors such as Andrew Ramdayal, Ricardo Vargas, and David McLachlan. 

Being a PMI member will not only allow for a discount off your exam fee, but it will also grant you free access to digital copies of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Guide 6th edition, to assist with your exam preparition. 

Relying solely on the course you took to be eligible for the exam will most likely not be enough. Like the PMP exam, PMI allows you three chances at passing the CAPM during your one-year period, but there are fees associated with re-writing the exam. This fee is $150 USD for PMI members, or $200 USD for non-members. Also, if you do not pass the exam within your one-year period, you will have to wait one year from your last attempt at the exam before you can re-apply.   

Congratulations! You’ve passed and now have your CAPM certification and can start earning PDUs to maintain your certification. You’re required to earn 15 PDUs over the next three years and can start gaining some valuable Project Management experience over the next three years, and, if you want to, can move onto the PMP certification. Earning the CAPM automatically covers the 35-hour education component for the PMP, so you already have an advantage. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to PMINS, and we’ll be happy to assist.