Understanding the CAPM Exam application process is vital if you want to apply for this credential.
PMI awards the CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) certification. This certification is for professionals with little or no project experience who want to grow or move their careers into project management.
The CAPM exam application process is not difficult. You only need to use foresight and have the correct, necessary information with you. Preparation and knowledge are key to success on the CAPM exam.
CAPM Exam Application Process
The CAPM exam application process involves a few steps.
Let’s start with the first: check your eligibility requirements.
Check Your Eligibility
Ensure you are eligible to apply for the CAPM exam. Once you are eligible, apply for the CAPM certification exam.
You must have a secondary or high school diploma to qualify for the CAPM exam.
Fill Out the CAPM Application Form
You can complete the CAPM application form online or offline—I recommend applying online. The information required is the same, but the online process is faster. It takes around 24 hours to get approved, while the offline method may take about 8-10 days.
The application form is divided into two sections. The first is for general information, and the second section asks for a training program or project management experience.
Fill in the information carefully.
You have 90 days to complete the CAPM application form, so take your time. You can fill out part of it, save it, log in later, and start from where you left off. You can also edit the entered information.
If you start the application and don’t finish it, the PMI will send you a few reminders. Make sure you complete this process before it’s due.
Review the information at least twice before submitting the application form, as you cannot edit any information once you submit it.
Before submitting the application form, read and agree with the PMI Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct and the Certification Agreement/Renewal Agreement.
CAPM Application Completeness Review and Fee Payment
After submitting the form, the PMI can take one week to review it. If everything looks good, they will email you with payment instructions or ask you for clarification if they find any issues with your application.
Once all issues are resolved (if any), you will get an email confirming your completed application. Then, you can pay the fee and schedule the exam.
The fee for the CAPM exam is 300 USD for non-PMI members and 225 USD for PMI members.
You will have one year and three attempts to pass the CAPM exam. If you don’t pass the exam within a year or fail in all three attempts, you cannot apply for the CAPM exam next year.
CAPM Audit
After submitting the exam application form, you will know immediately if you are selected for an audit.
If the PMI selects you, they will email you detailed instructions on how to complete the audit process. The audit should be completed within 90 days, and your eligibility period will start the day you pass.
Please note that audit selection is a random process, and you cannot avoid it.
Therefore, preparing for an audit before applying for the CAPM exam is in your best interest.
In an audit, they will ask you to send a few documents, like copies of educational certifications, experience certifications, contact hours certificates, and more. Send these by mail in a sealed envelope. They may take one week to review, and then you will know the result of your audit.
They may ask for further clarification if necessary. If you follow the instructions, you should have no issues with the audit.
PMI may contact your previous bosses or employers to verify your work experience. Therefore, inform them in advance about your CAPM exam application.
Schedule the CAPM Exam Date
If you are not selected for an audit, PMI will send you an email with a code; simply go to the Pearson VUE site to schedule the exam using the code. If you are selected for an audit, you will receive this code after successfully clearing it.
A Few Precautions for the CAPM Exam Application Process
- Make sure you have completed the CAPM training before applying for the exam.
- Inform your bosses and employers before applying so they can respond to PMI queries.
- Don’t provide overlapping experiences.
- Keep photocopies of all educational certificates, experience certificates, and training programs.
- Double-check everything before your final submission.
Summary
The CAPM exam application process is lengthy but straightforward. However, PMI provides enough time to complete the form, so take your time and fill in the correct information. Check twice before you hit submit because you cannot make any changes. I suggest you keep photocopies of all your documents to help you complete the application form.
Good luck with your CAPM exam.
Please read the CAPM handbook for updated CAPM exam application process information.
Further Readings:
I am Mohammad Fahad Usmani, B.E. PMP, PMI-RMP. I have been blogging on project management topics since 2011. To date, thousands of professionals have passed the PMP exam using my resources.
