Does CAPM Expire? Yes — 3-Year Renewal Required

Yes, the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) expires every 3 years. PMI requires 15 Professional Development Units (PDUs) and a renewal fee of $60 (PMI members) or $150 (non-members). While less demanding than PMP's 60-PDU requirement, CAPM holders must actively maintain their certification to keep it valid.

CAPM Renewal Requirements Breakdown

PMI's Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program governs CAPM renewal. Here's exactly what you need:

• 15 PDUs total over the 3-year cycle — no annual minimums, so you can front-load or spread them out
• All 15 PDUs must be in Education — CAPM doesn't have a "Giving Back" category like PMP
• $60 renewal fee for PMI members ($150 for non-members) — paid at the end of the cycle when you submit your renewal
• Report PDUs through PMI's CCRS portal — log activities as you complete them, don't wait until the deadline

How to Earn 15 PDUs for CAPM Renewal

15 PDUs over 3 years is very manageable — roughly 5 PDUs per year, or about 5 hours of learning annually. Here are the most common sources:

PDU Source	PDUs Available	Cost
PMI.org webinars	1 per webinar	Free (members)
ProjectManagement.com courses	1-3 per course	Free
LinkedIn Learning PM courses	1-2 per course	Subscription
PMI chapter meetings	1-2 per event	Free-$25
Self-directed reading	Up to 15	Free
Formal PM training courses	7-35 per course	$200-$2,000

CAPM vs PMP — Renewal Comparison

Understanding the maintenance differences between CAPM and PMP helps you plan your certification path:

Factor	CAPM	PMP
Cycle Length	3 years	3 years
PDUs Required	15	60
Renewal Fee (Member)	$60	$60
Renewal Fee (Non-Member)	$150	$150
PDU Categories	Education only	Education + Giving Back
Grace Period	60 days	60 days

What Happens If CAPM Expires?

If you don't renew CAPM before the deadline (plus the 60-day grace period), your certification status changes to "expired" in PMI's system. Here's the impact:

• Cannot use CAPM designation: You must remove "CAPM" from your resume, LinkedIn, and business cards
• Must retake the full exam: No shortcut renewal — you'd need to re-register and pass the CAPM exam again ($225 members, $300 non-members)
• Previous PDUs don't carry over: Any PDUs earned during the expired cycle are lost
• Consider upgrading to PMP instead: If you now have 3+ years of PM experience, you may qualify for PMP, which carries significantly more career value

3-Year Cost of Maintaining CAPM

Here's the total cost breakdown for maintaining CAPM over a full 3-year cycle:

Expense	PMI Member	Non-Member
Renewal Fee	$60	$150
PMI Membership (3 years)	$417	$0
PDUs (free sources)	$0	$0
Total	$477	$150

Frequently Asked Questions

Does CAPM expire?

Yes, CAPM expires every 3 years. You need 15 PDUs and must pay the renewal fee ($60 for PMI members, $150 for non-members).

How many PDUs does CAPM need for renewal?

15 PDUs over 3 years — roughly 5 hours of learning per year. All PDUs must be in the Education category. Free sources like PMI webinars and self-directed reading can cover all 15.

What is the CAPM renewal cost?

$60 for PMI members, $150 for non-members. Non-members actually save money by not paying for PMI membership ($139/year) unless they need other PMI benefits.

What happens if CAPM expires?

You lose the CAPM designation and must retake the full exam to recertify. There's a 60-day grace period after expiration where you can still complete renewal requirements.

Should I get CAPM or go straight for PMP?

If you have less than 3 years of PM experience, CAPM is your only PMI option. If you already qualify for PMP, skip CAPM — PMP has 4x the market recognition and salary impact.

Can I earn PDUs for free?

Yes. PMI webinars, ProjectManagement.com, PMI chapter events, self-directed reading, and volunteering all provide free PDUs. You can easily earn all 15 required PDUs without spending anything.