PMI Membership and Fees in 2023

As everyone knows, PMP certification is the gold standard certification for project management. However, acquiring one is difficult, including specialized formal training and rigorous hours of practical experience to pass a certification exam. It takes a lot of time, and this process also helps validate your project management skills. In addition, it ensures that you have the knowledge of the highest standard that makes you apt for the role of a Project Manager.

In becoming a Certified PMP professional, PMI plays a huge role. As all know, PMI is the accredited governing body for PMP certification. It offers many benefits to all project managers, and PMI membership is one among them. PMI offers many membership options to aspiring project management professionals. And they must be aware of it. So, for today, let us talk about PMI membership and its fees.

PMI Membership Benefits

The Project Management Institute (PMI) is the world's leading project management organization, with over 500,000 global members and more than 300 local chapters worldwide. PMI membership demonstrates your commitment to your project management career and professional development.

PMI states, "Membership is part of the world's leading community of project, program, and portfolio professionals."

Benefits of PMI membership is that it gives your career an edge that highlights your dedication to employers, colleagues, and the community. In addition, it provides access to knowledge, networks, and resources that help you improve and advance.

PMI Membership Fee

Project Management Institute (PMI) offers four types of membership options

• PMI Individual membership
• PMI Student membership
• PMI Retiree membership
• PMI Group Membership

1. PMI Individual Membership

Any individual can take up this type of membership. Any professional can join the PMI community by paying the applicable fee. It is beneficial for industry professionals. The practitioners who want to enhance their project management knowledge and skills and implement the acquired knowledge in their projects can take up this membership option.

2. PMI Student Membership

The cheapest form of membership.
You can only take up a student membership if enrolled in a full-time undergraduate or degree program. However, it helps those students or learners who are willing to become aspiring project managers in the future. As mentioned above, the PMI membership cost is the lowest among the different types of membership available.

3. PMI Retiree Membership

Retire membership applies to those professionals who have renounced active careers in project management and have taken the retiree status. In addition, it is useful for those who want to remain part of the PMI community but has no interest in pursuing project management in their future career.

4. PMI Group Membership

This membership is available only to organizations or universities. The enterprises that want to take up this membership must have a group of 15 or more people interested in joining PMI and then can pay the PMI membership fees. If you are already part of such a group, you can directly contact PMI and get the membership.

The below table includes the PMI membership renewal fee along with membership fee for the mentioned types of PMI membership.

Is PMI Membership Worth it while Aiming for PMP Certification?

Answering this question is pretty much easy. The simple answer is: Yes, of course, joining PMI as a member is worth it.

Reduction in the PMP Exam Fee

The first and foremost benefit of being a PMI member is that it helps you to save money. PMI offers a discount to its members for applying to the PMP certification exam.

The regular PMP certification fee is $555, but for PMI members, the fee reduces to $405. Although this is a direct saving of $150, it is not. You will have to shell out $139 for individual membership, but you can still save $11.

Your savings can multiply if you attempt more than one certification exam within a year because you will get a discount on all your exam applications. The discount is also applicable on re-examinations in the unfortunate event of failing in the first attempt.

The PMI membership gives many benefits, such as

• Membership access gives you PMBOK for free
• Have a chance to join the local chapters of PMI
• Avail discount on PMP exam fees and save money on many globally recognized certifications
• Boost your skills through many free webinars and events
• Stay ahead of deadlines by getting access to 1,000+ free tools and templates
• You can re-attempt the PMP Certification exam if you cannot pass on your first try and can save up to 100$

As mentioned earlier, PMI membership is an "add-on" advantage if you are an aspiring project manager. You are benefited in most of the ways:

Discounted Access to Huge Project Management Resources

As a PMI member, one can easily save up to 20% on PMI publications available in the PMI store. In addition, all the resources related to PMI's exams and PMI's online self-learning courses covering project management can be used for free. Also, you can download the latest version of the PMOBOK free of charge.

One can also download many other relevant standards and frameworks for free. For Example, some of the Standard for Program Management, Practice Standard for Scheduling, Practice Standard for Project Risk Management, and many others.

Be a Part of the PM Network

Every PMI member is entitled to receive free copies of the PM Network and PMI Today Magazines published by the PMI every month. They can either be delivered to your doorstep or in your email free of charge.

These copies provide you with the latest updates in the project management stream and within the PMI and its local chapters. In addition, interviews, in-depth articles, and case studies will help you increase your knowledge and skills.

Have an Advantage from Your Local PM Community

Once you become a PMI member, you will have a chance to understand PMI local chapters. In addition, project managers, professionals, and other experts can use this platform to enhance their professional network.

Earn More PDUs

The PMI has a large library of free webinars that you can watch to earn an unlimited number of PDUs. Anyone with an active PMI membership can access projectmanagement.com and watch the webinars to stay updated on the latest developments.

However, if you are PMP certified, you can watch these webinars while earning PDUs. These PDUs will be automatically reported to PMI, and you can renew your PMP credential for another three years for free with them. Their website categorizes PDUs for PMP, PMI-RMP, and PMI-SP, among others. This makes earning PDUs for all of your PMI credentials easier.

Annual Renewal PMI Member Fees

After you become a PMI member, you have to renew it regularly. Therefore, you will be paying the annual renewal fee. However, The annual renewal fee is $119 for PMI members. If at all your PMI membership gets expired and if you want to rejoin PMI again, then you will considered as a new member. You will also have to pay a $129 membership fee plus a $10 joining fee.

Is it Essential to Become a PMI Member Before Taking the PMP Exam?

No, PMI membership is not mandatory to take PMP exam. You can apply for the PMP exam without being a member of the PMI. There is no problem with that. However, I strongly advise you to join PMI before applying for the exam because it will save you money. As previously stated, one can save up to 11 USD. As a result, if you join the PMI and then apply for the PMP exam, you will pay USD 405.

As a result, I recommend that you join PMI before applying for the PMP exam. Another benefit of a PMI membership is free access to a digital copy of the PMBOK Guide. So, it is an additional savings of 59.62 USD.

Obtaining a PMI membership provides certain benefits that will assist you in navigating your PMP journey with ease. In addition, your PMI membership at the local PMI Chapter allows you to expand your network by attending the chapter's various events. These events allow you to attend various sessions, including informal meet-ups. Furthermore, you can work with like-minded people to create and share consumable tools, content, and resources.