CPMAI Retake Policy Explained: Attempts, Wait Time, Fees
A candidate who fails the PMI-CPMAI exam can retake it up to 3 times within the 1-year eligibility period. PMI recommends a 30-day wait between attempts. Each retake costs an additional exam fee, and the completed prep course carries over.
PMI sets the CPMAI retake terms and revises them, so confirm the live rules on pmi.org before you rebook. This article lists the policy in 1 table, explains the 5 rules that matter (attempts, wait time, fee, course credit, window), compares the CPMAI rules with the PMP rules, and gives a 6-step retake plan.
What is the CPMAI retake policy?
The CPMAI retake policy has 5 parts: up to 3 attempts, a 1-year eligibility period, a recommended 30-day wait, an additional fee per retake, and credit for the completed prep course. The result of each attempt is pass or fail.
| Rule | Policy |
|---|---|
| Attempts | Up to 3 within the eligibility period |
| Eligibility period | 1 year (12 months) from purchase |
| Wait between attempts | 30 days recommended by PMI |
| Retake fee | Additional exam fee per attempt, set by PMI |
| Prep course | Completed coursework carries over; no repeat required |
| Result report | Pass or fail; PMI publishes no numeric score |
The exam itself stays the same on a retake: 120 questions, 160 minutes, 5 weighted domains. Retakes use the same specification as the first attempt.
How many times can you retake the CPMAI exam?
You can take the CPMAI exam up to 3 times within the 1-year eligibility period. That equals the first attempt plus 2 retakes.
Treat the 3 attempts as a budget. A failed first attempt leaves 2. A failed second attempt leaves 1. Write down your attempt dates and the end of your 12-month window on the day you buy the bundle.
How long must you wait before a CPMAI retake?
PMI recommends waiting 30 days between CPMAI attempts. Use the 30 days to rebuild the weak domains, not to repeat the same study. Book the retake only after consistent timed practice.
Thirty days equals about 4 weeks. A 4-week plan covers 3 jobs: review the missed domains, redo timed practice, and sit 2 full 160-minute sets. Confirm on pmi.org whether the wait is a recommendation or a hard rule at the time you book.
How much does a CPMAI retake cost?
PMI charges an additional exam fee for each CPMAI retake. PMI sets the amount and applies regional and membership pricing. PMI’s certification page does not publish the retake amount, so confirm it at checkout.
Plan the budget in 2 layers. The first layer is the bundle price, which covers the prep course and the first attempt. The second layer is the retake fee for each extra attempt. See the bundle prices in the CPMAI certification cost breakdown.
An exam voucher issued for one PMI pricing region may not work in another region. Buy in the region where you will sit the exam.
Do you repeat the prep course before a retake?
No. The completed 21-hour Exam Prep Course carries over to the retake. You pay only the retake fee.
Reuse the course as a review tool. Re-watch the modules for your weakest domains, and skip the rest.
What happens when the 12-month window ends?
The 1-year window starts at purchase and covers the course and all exam attempts. A candidate who has not passed when the window closes has no remaining attempts under that purchase. Contact PMI before the window closes to confirm options.
Set 3 calendar reminders: 90 days before the end, 30 days before the end, and the last booking date. Book retakes early.
How do CPMAI retake rules compare with PMP retake rules?
The CPMAI and PMP policies share a structure: 3 attempts, a 1-year window, a 30-day wait, and a fee per retake. The fee amounts and the wait rule differ. Verify each exam’s terms separately.
| Rule | PMI-CPMAI | PMP |
|---|---|---|
| Attempts | Up to 3 in 1 year | Up to 3 in 1 year |
| Wait between attempts | 30 days recommended | 30 days after a failed attempt |
| Retake fee | Additional fee set by PMI | $275 member, $375 non-member |
The PMP row follows the PMTI guide on what happens if you fail the PMP exam.
How do you prepare for a CPMAI retake?
Prepare in 6 steps: map the missed domains, rebuild the 6-phase logic, redo the practice exam, run 2 timed sets, confirm the rules and fee, and rebook with a date inside your window.
Follow these 6 steps:
- Map every topic you remember missing to its domain and weight.
- Rebuild the 6 CPMAI phases from memory, with the output of each phase.
- Redo the official practice exam and review each explanation.
- Run 2 full 160-minute timed sets with the two-pass method.
- Confirm the current attempt count, wait rule, and fee on pmi.org.
- Rebook a date inside the 12-month window.
Project Management Training Institute, a PMI Authorized Training Partner, helps candidates close domain gaps with CPMAI exam prep with an instructor before the retake.
