How to Meet the PMP 35-Hour Training Requirement

You’ve decided that the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification is the right next step for you. You’ve also reviewed the eligibility requirements and confirmed that you qualify. That brings you to the training requirement: at least 35 hours of qualifying project management training completed before you submit your application.

You may already have some or all of those hours from a previous course, college coursework or employer-sponsored training. Or you may need to choose a new PMP 35-hour course. Either way, you need to know what qualifies, how to count your hours and what records to keep. This guide walks you through each step.

What is the PMP 35-hour training requirement?

To apply for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification, you need 35 hours of project management training aligned with the PMP Examination Content Outline. You may also see these described as contact hours.

The training requirement is separate from the professional project experience required for PMP eligibility. Training builds your project management knowledge. Experience shows that you have led and directed project work in a professional setting. You must complete the training before submitting your application. An active Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® certification waives the training requirement.

What are the most direct ways to meet the requirement?

If you still need all 35 hours, the simplest approach is to choose one course designed to provide them. The two most direct paths are:

Take a live course from a PMI Authorized Training Partner

PMI Authorized Training Partners offer instructor-led PMP courses using PMI-developed content. Courses may be delivered in person or virtually and are designed to meet the 35-hour training requirement.

Beginning 1 December 2026, live training will qualify only when delivered by a PMI Authorized Training Partner or an eligible accredited academic program, including GAC-accredited programs. A separate Registered Education Provider pathway applies in China.

Take PMI’s self-paced PMP Exam Prep Course

PMI’s on-demand PMP Exam Prep Course provides the 35 hours of training required for your application. You can complete it at your own pace, and once you finish, the training information can be applied automatically to your PMP application.

How can you tell whether your training counts?

Beyond the direct training options above, you may already have qualifying training or decide to take a self-paced course from another organization. Here’s how to determine what counts and what documentation to keep.

Does training you already completed count?

You may already have some or all of the 35 hours you need. Qualifying project management training does not expire, and it does not have to come from one course or provider.

Previous training may count if it provided formal instruction in project management topics aligned with the current PMP Examination Content Outline. This could include:

• College or university project management courses
• Employer-sponsored project management training
• An older PMP on-demand prep course
• Self-paced, on-demand courses that included an end-of-course assessment

You can combine hours from multiple qualifying courses to reach 35. Count only the time spent receiving project management instruction.

For example, one hour of classroom instruction equals one training hour. A college project management course that met for three hours a week over 15 weeks would provide 45 training hours. If project management covered only part of a broader course, you can count only the hours devoted to those topics.

Training taken for an earlier version of the PMP exam can still satisfy the requirement. Courses completed before 1 December 2026 remain eligible under the requirements in place at the time, even if you apply after the new live-training rules take effect. Compare the course content with the current exam content outline, however, to identify topics you may still need to study for the exam.

Review your course descriptions, syllabi and completion records before enrolling in anything new. If the training covered qualifying project management topics and you can document the hours, you may not need another 35-hour course.

How to evaluate a self-paced PMP course

While PMI’s on-demand PMP Exam Prep Course is the most direct self-paced option, you can also take self-paced, on-demand training from any organization. If you choose that route, review the course carefully before enrolling to make sure it meets PMI’s requirements.

Before enrolling, confirm that the course:

• Provides formal instruction in project management
• Aligns with topics in the current PMP Examination Content Outline
• Clearly states how many training hours it provides
• Includes an end-of-course assessment
• Provides a certificate or other completion record

Do not rely on the course title alone. A course advertised as offering “35 hours” or “35 PDUs” does not automatically qualify. Review the course description and completion requirements and be cautious of providers that guarantee you will pass the PMP exam.

All training is subject to audit, and PMI may determine that a course does not meet its quality requirements.

How to document your 35 training hours

On your PMP application, list each course you are using toward the 35-hour requirement. Enter the training provider, course title and number of training hours. Then, select if your completed course was delivered via live instructor or self-paced/on-demand.

You do not need to upload a certificate or transcript when you submit the application. Keep those records, however, because PMI will ask for proof if your application is selected for an audit. Depending on how you completed the training, this may include:

• A course-completion certificate
• A college or university transcript
• A record from an employer-sponsored program
• A course description or syllabus showing the project management content
• Documentation showing the number of training hours

If you combined several courses to reach 35 hours, retain the records for each one. Review the information before submitting to confirm that the course and completion details are accurate.

What comes after completing the 35 hours?

Once you have completed and documented your training, you can submit your PMP application. Make sure you have also completed the sections on academic education, professional project experience and identification details.

Completing the 35-hour training requirement does not necessarily mean you are ready to take the exam. Many candidates continue studying and assess their readiness through resources such as PMI Study Hall® and the PMP® Practice Exam.

PMI Study Hall combines learning refreshers with practice questions, mini exams and full-length simulations. The PMP Practice Exam provides a timed, full-length simulation with performance results across the exam domains. Both can show you where to focus before exam day.

After PMI approves your application, you can pay the exam fee and schedule your exam. You will have one year from the date of approval to take the exam. With the training requirement complete and an exam date ahead, you’ll be one step closer to earning your PMP certification.

Tags: PMP | Certification | Authorized Training Partner | Exam | Getting Started

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