The quick answer
The old PMP exam is gone. Since July 9, 2026, every PMP appointment uses PMI's new exam, built on the July 2026 Examination Content Outline. Still 180 questions, but the time is now 240 minutes, Business Environment more than triples its share, and 35 tasks were rebuilt into 26. If you're studying from older material, you don't need to start over. You do need to fill the gaps.
- Jul 9, 2026New exam for every appointment on or after this date
- 33 / 41 / 26People, Process and Business Environment, was 42 / 50 / 8
- 240 min180 questions, 170 scored, two 10-minute breaks
- Dec 1, 2026New rule for live training hours. Self-paced still counts
Most of what you'll read about the PMP change is a summary of a summary. This guide comes straight from PMI's own documents: the new July 2026 Examination Content Outline, the January 2021 outline it replaced, the June 2026 Certification Handbook and PMI's PMP pages, all checked on October 9, 2026. If PMI hasn't confirmed something, it isn't here.
The short version goes like this. Same three domains, same 180 questions, same renewal rules. What changed is how much each domain counts, how the tasks are grouped, how much reading the questions ask of you, and who can apply.
Dates to plan around
- January 2021The previous PMP outline takes effect, with People 42 percent, Process 50 percent and Business Environment 8 percent.
- The new PMP exam launches. PMI says every exam scheduled on or after this date uses it.
- Live PMP prep classes count toward the 35 training hours only from a PMI Authorized Training Partner, a China Registered Education Provider or an eligible accredited academic program. Self-paced courses from any organization still count.
- Accumentum PMP start. Our course is self-paced and aligned to the 2026 outline.
- Legacy PMP eLearning and exam prep bought from PMI stays in the myPMI learning platform until this date. After that, PMI says you'd need the new versions.
There was no overlap period this time. With some certifications you get months where either version counts. PMP switched on one day, so if your test date is still ahead of you, you're taking the new exam.
Two different changes, two different dates. July 9 changed the exam itself. December 1 changes which live training counts toward your application. They're often mixed up, and they affect different people.
Old and new exam side by side
| Detail | Previous exam | New exam |
|---|---|---|
| Content outline | January 2021 Exam Update | July 2026 PMP Certification Exam Update |
| Used for | Exams before July 9, 2026 | Exams scheduled on or after July 9, 2026 |
| Total questions | 180 | 180 |
| Scored and pretest | 175 scored, 5 pretest | 170 scored, 10 pretest |
| Time | 230 minutes | 240 minutes |
| Breaks | Two 10-minute breaks, after question 60 and question 120 | Two 10-minute breaks, after the case study section and about midway through the rest |
| Domain weights | People 42%, Process 50%, Business Environment 8% | People 33%, Process 41%, Business Environment 26% |
| Tasks | 35 | 26 |
| Enablers listed | 133 | 138 |
| Approach mix | About half predictive, half agile or hybrid | About 40% predictive, 60% agile or hybrid |
| Question types | Multiple choice plus other item types | Adds case or scenario questions and graphic-based questions |
| Experience window | Last 8 consecutive years | Last 10 years |
| Scoring method | Pass or fail, with feedback by domain | Unchanged, per PMI |
| Renewal | 60 PDUs every 3 years | 60 PDUs every 3 years |
Look at the scored questions. The new exam scores 5 fewer questions and gives you 10 more minutes, yet it adds longer case questions and chart questions that take more reading. So the extra time isn't a gift. My guess is it mostly pays for the reading. That's my inference from the format, not something PMI has said.
Today's PMI fee, as listed on the PMP page on October 9, 2026, is US$425 for PMI members and US$675 full price. PMI notes prices can vary by membership and region, and you pay only after your application is approved. The exam is offered in 15 languages on PMI's PMP page: English, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish and Turkish.
Where the points moved
All three domains keep their names. The weight between them shifted hard.
| Domain | 2021 outline | 2026 outline | Change | Tasks | Enablers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I. People | 42% | 33% | Down 9 | 14 to 8 | 53 to 39 |
| II. Process | 50% | 41% | Down 9 | 17 to 10 | 61 to 64 |
| III. Business Environment | 8% | 26% | Up 18 | 4 to 8 | 19 to 35 |
Business Environment went from a sliver to about a quarter of the exam. Do the math on 170 scored questions and the old 8 percent was roughly 14 questions. At 26 percent it's closer to 44. PMI publishes percentages, not counts, so treat those as estimates.
Notice the task counts, too. People and Process both lost tasks, but Process actually gained enablers. PMI merged related tasks and wrote more detail under each one. Fewer task headings doesn't mean less to study.
What's new on the 2026 exam
PMI's update page sums up the change as more focus on outcomes, value and business impact, with AI, sustainability and stakeholder engagement showing up inside project scenarios. Here's where that lands in the outline itself.
Case and chart questions
Two types are marked new in the 2026 outline. Case or scenario questions give you a longer situation, sometimes with graphs or charts, then ask a series of questions about it. Graphic-based questions ask you to read a chart, graph, diagram or image and answer from what it shows. Both are available in every testing format.
More agile and hybrid
The old outline split the exam about evenly between predictive and agile or hybrid. Now it's about 40 percent predictive and 60 percent agile and hybrid, spread across all three domains.
Stakeholders and reporting
- A new task on managing internal and external customer expectations and satisfaction
- Developing and keeping a common vision current
- Understanding reporting requirements and building reports that match what sponsors expect
Money, quality and artifacts
- Finance is its own task now, with contingency, spend tracking, financial reporting and reserves
- Quality adds regulatory compliance, cost of quality and sustainability
- Evaluating status means tailoring artifacts and building metrics
Governance and improvement
- Governance built on organizational process assets, with ethics, success metrics, escalation paths and thresholds
- A brand new continuous improvement task on lessons learned and updating process assets
- Sustainability listed as a compliance requirement and a risk to manage
Inside the scenarios
You won't find an AI task. PMI says AI and sustainability appear as part of the project situation, so a question might include an AI tool or a dashboard, and you're judged on the decision you make with it.
Tasks with a new home
A lot of what looks new is old material that moved. If your notes are organized by the 2021 tasks, this table keeps you from thinking a topic was cut when it was only regrouped.
| Topic | 2021 outline | 2026 outline |
|---|---|---|
| Risk | Process, task 3 | Business Environment, task 5 |
| Change control | Process, task 10 | Business Environment, task 3 |
| Governance | Process, task 14 | Business Environment, task 1 |
| Issues and impediments | Process, task 15, and People, task 7 | Business Environment, task 4, as one task |
| Communications | Process, task 2 | People, task 8 |
| Knowledge transfer | Process, task 16 | People, task 7 |
| Stakeholder engagement | Process, task 4, and People, task 9 | People, tasks 4 to 6 |
| Negotiating agreements | People, task 8 | Process, task 5, under procurement |
| Benefits and value | Business Environment, task 2, and Process, task 1 | Process, task 3 |
| Budget and resources | Process, task 5 | Split into Process, task 4 for resources and task 6 for finance |
| Methodology and integrated planning | Process, tasks 9 and 13 | Process, task 1 |
| Project artifacts | Process, task 12 | Process, task 9, evaluating project status |
| Shared understanding | People, task 10 | People, task 1, a common vision |
| Ground rules | People, task 12 | People, task 2, inside managing conflicts |
| Mentoring | People, task 13 | People, task 5, as one enabler |
| Compliance, external environment, organizational change | Business Environment, tasks 1, 3 and 4 | Business Environment, tasks 2, 8 and 7 |
The pattern is easy to see once it's laid out. Risk, change, governance and issues were Process and People work in 2021. Now they're Business Environment work. That's most of the reason that domain grew from 8 to 26 percent. Only one Business Environment task, continuous improvement, is completely new.
What PMI dropped
Several 2021 tasks don't appear in the 2026 outline as a task or an enabler. Most of them were in People.
Team building and development
- Engaging and supporting virtual teams
- Using emotional intelligence and personality indicators
- Making sure team members are adequately trained
- Appraising team performance against KPIs
- Building a team and refreshing its skills
Older wording and ideas
- Servant leadership as a named enabler
- Finding the minimum viable product under value delivery
- "Anticipate and embrace the need for change," replaced by the steps of a change control process
- Documenting ownership for ongoing benefit realization
One caution before you rip pages out of your notes. PMI says enablers are illustrative examples, not a complete list. A topic missing from the outline isn't a promise it will never show up in a scenario. Team leadership still has its own task, and conflict is still tested. I'd just spend fewer hours on personality frameworks and more on governance and finance.
Eligibility and the 35 hours
The 2026 outline also changed who can apply. PMI's summary says it "expands eligibility to apprenticeships and training, with a 10-year window for experience." Here's how the rules compare.
| Rule | 2021 outline | 2026 outline |
|---|---|---|
| Experience window | Last 8 consecutive years | Last 10 years |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 60 months leading projects | 60 months |
| Associate degree or vocational program | Grouped with high school at 60 months | 48 months, its own tier |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36 months | 36 months |
| Degree from a PMI GAC-accredited program | 24 months | 24 months |
| Training | 35 contact hours of project management education | 35 hours of training aligned to the exam outline |
| Active CAPM | Waives the 35 hours | Waives the 35 hours |
Experience is still counted in months, and overlapping projects only count once. It has to be leading and directing projects in a professional setting. Paid work isn't required, but school projects, personal events and home improvement jobs don't count. Neither do routine operational tasks.
For training, the 2026 outline lists Authorized Training Partners, China Registered Education Providers, GAC programs, accredited colleges and universities, employer programs, training companies, and self-paced on-demand courses that include an end-of-course assessment. Books and practice exams alone don't count, and PMI can audit any application.
Then there's December 1, 2026. From that date, live classes taught by an instructor, in person or online, count only when an Authorized Training Partner, a China Registered Education Provider or an eligible accredited academic program delivers them. Self-paced courses from any organization still count, and so does training you finish before December 1. Not sure you have the experience yet? CAPM vs PMP walks through which exam you can sit now, and an active CAPM covers the PMP training requirement.
Is the new PMP exam harder?
PMI's answer is "Not more difficult, just more relevant," and it says the scoring method hasn't changed. There's no published passing percentage for either version. Your score report shows pass or fail with feedback for each domain.
What I'd tell you is that it's harder in a different place. If you've run projects day to day but never dealt with a steering committee, a compliance audit or a budget reserve, the old exam went easier on you. The new one asks for that business side on about a quarter of its questions. And the case questions reward people who read carefully under time pressure.
What this means for you, and how I'd study now
Nothing changes
PMI says your certification stays valid. No new test and no extra training. Keep earning 60 PDUs every three years.
Keep going, fill the gaps
PMI's own advice is to keep going, since the core principles haven't changed. Add the topics below before you book.
Use 2026-aligned prep
Pick a course and practice questions built on the July 2026 outline, so the weights and question types match what you'll see.
If you prepared on 2021 material, here's where I'd put the extra hours, in this order.
- Governance. Escalation paths, thresholds, success metrics and how process assets shape them.
- Compliance. Classify requirements like security, health and safety, sustainability and regulation, and measure how compliant the project actually is.
- Finance. Contingency and reserves, spend tracking and what to do when spending drifts.
- Risk and change as business decisions. Same tools as before, now tested under Business Environment.
- Stakeholder and customer expectations, plus reporting that matches what sponsors want.
- Case and chart questions. Practice reading a dashboard or a status chart and deciding what it tells you.
- Pacing. Finish and review each section before you take a break, because you can't go back to it afterward.
Want a quick read on where you stand? The free PMP Exam Readiness Score takes a few minutes, and the Exam Readiness Score page covers every exam we offer it for.
Does my PMP expire when the exam changes?
No. A PMP you've already earned stays valid. PMI says renewal hasn't changed either. You maintain it through the Continuing Certification Requirements program with 60 professional development units in each three-year cycle, plus the renewal fee. Our guide to keeping your certification active covers how renewal works across certifications.
Accumentum PMP start dates
Every start on our calendar uses our PMP course, aligned to PMI's July 2026 outline across People, Process and Business Environment. It's self-paced and on-demand, so it's the format PMI accepts from any organization before and after December 1. That includes the December 8 start.
- Tuesday, October 20, 2026PMP, 2026 exam outlineRegister for Oct 20
- Tuesday, November 3, 2026PMP, 2026 exam outlineRegister for Nov 3
- Tuesday, December 8, 2026PMP, 2026 exam outlineRegister for Dec 8
- Tuesday, January 12, 2027PMP, 2026 exam outlineRegister for Jan 12
- Tuesday, January 26, 2027PMP, 2026 exam outlineRegister for Jan 26
- Tuesday, February 16, 2027PMP, 2026 exam outlineRegister for Feb 16
- Tuesday, March 2, 2027PMP, 2026 exam outlineRegister for Mar 2
- Tuesday, March 16, 2027PMP, 2026 exam outlineRegister for Mar 16
New PMP classes start every 2 to 3 weeks. Most students finish in 4 to 6 weeks part-time. Short on experience for PMP? Our CAPM course starts every 2 to 3 weeks too.
How we help you prepare
PMP course
35 hours of project management education aligned to the 2026 outline. You get a certificate verifying the 35 contact hours when you complete it.
CAPM course
For anyone still building project experience. It provides the 23 hours of project management education PMI requires for CAPM.
Since August 2022, 2,405 Accumentum students have certified out of about 2,435 attempts, a 98.8% pass rate.
PathPass® has a PMP practice bank at $19 a month for one exam or $39 for all banks, with a free preview. If you're weighing whether the credential pays off, read Is PMP worth it in 2026? For the application itself, see how to get PMP certification.
Ways to pay for your PMP course
Pay monthly
The PathPay 12-Month Program lists PMP at $204.17 a month, $2,450 total, with the exam voucher included. PathPay® is a payment plan, not a loan.
Have your employer pay
Many employers set aside training funds. Ask before you enroll, since most want their paperwork done before the course starts. The funding page covers the options.
Army CA and Air Force COOL
Accumentum is an Army CA and Air Force COOL Approved Vendor, but the Army or the Department of the Air Force decides eligibility and payment. Get approval before you enroll. See our Army CA and Air Force COOL pages.
Questions about which course or payment option fits? Email us at info@accumentum.net.
Frequently asked questions
When did the new PMP exam start?
July 9, 2026. PMI says every PMP exam scheduled on or after that date uses the new exam, built on the July 2026 Examination Content Outline.
Can I still take the old PMP exam?
No. The previous exam, based on the January 2021 outline, ended when the new one launched on July 9, 2026. There's no overlap window to choose between them.
What are the new PMP domain weights?
People 33 percent, Process 41 percent and Business Environment 26 percent. The previous exam was 42, 50 and 8 percent.
How long is the new PMP exam?
240 minutes for 180 questions, with two 10-minute breaks. 170 questions are scored and 10 are unscored pretest questions. The previous exam allowed 230 minutes and had 175 scored questions.
Is the new PMP exam harder?
PMI says it isn't more difficult, just more relevant, and that the scoring method hasn't changed. The content mix is different, with much more Business Environment and new case and graphic-based questions.
Do I need to redo my 35 hours of training?
No. PMI says training completed before December 1, 2026 remains eligible under the current rules. From December 1, live classes count only when an Authorized Training Partner, a China Registered Education Provider or an eligible accredited academic program delivers them. Self-paced courses from any organization still count.
Does my PMP expire because of the new exam?
No. PMI says an existing PMP stays valid and you don't need to retest. You still renew with 60 PDUs every three years.
How much does the PMP exam cost?
As of October 9, 2026, PMI's PMP page lists US$425 for PMI members and US$675 full price. PMI says prices can vary by membership status and region.
Sources
All checked October 9, 2026.
- PMI, What's new in the updated PMP exam, including the new exam FAQ and the notice on training requirements effective December 1, 2026: pmi.org new PMP exam page
- PMI, Project Management Professional (PMP) certification page: fees, exam languages, eligibility, training options and exam day details: pmi.org/certifications/project-management-pmp
- PMI, PMP Examination Content Outline, July 2026: domains, tasks, enablers, question types, exam format, eligibility and training providers: PMP ECO July 2026 (PDF)
- PMI, PMP Examination Content Outline, January 2021 Exam Update, 2023 edition: the previous domains, tasks, exam format and eligibility: PMP ECO January 2021 (PDF)
- PMI Blog, What the 2026 PMP Exam Update Says About Modern Project Leadership, July 9, 2026: pmi.org/blog/pmp-exam-change
- PMI press release on the updated PMP exam, July 9, 2026: pmi.org press release
- PMI Certification Handbook, revised June 2026: eligibility period, retakes, score reporting and fees policy: PMI Certification Handbook (PDF)