IT, Cloud & Cybersecurity • Certification
CompTIA Project+
Project management fundamentals without the rigor
Researched and maintained by TestPrepPilot Editorial BoardCloud, IT & cybersecurity certifications desk · Figures last verified August 2026
The short version
What is the CompTIA Project+ and is it worth it?
Project+ (PK0-005) is a single exam covering project life cycle, constraints, communication, risk and closeout for entry-level project coordinators.
- Industry-neutral
- Good first PM cert
- Renews every 3 years
What is it?
What exactly is the CompTIA Project+?
Project management fundamentals without the rigor
CompTIA Project+ certifies the foundational project-management knowledge needed to coordinate small-to-medium projects across any industry, covering the full lifecycle from initiation to close.
Before you book
Who is eligible to sit the CompTIA Project+?
Who it is for: Project coordinators and team leads
The test itself
What is the format of the CompTIA Project+?
The CompTIA Project+ is administered by Pearson VUE and runs 90 minutes, contains 95 questions and requires 710 of 900 to pass.
| Administered by | Pearson VUE |
|---|---|
| Questions | 95 |
| Time limit | 90 minutes |
| Pass mark | 710 of 900 |
| Exam fee | $355 |
| Format | Multiple-choice and performance-based |
Content outline
What topics are on the CompTIA Project+?
The CompTIA Project+ is weighted across 4 domains; the largest are Project planning (34%), Project execution (26%), Communication and change (22%).
Weightings come from the official exam outline. Study time is best allocated in roughly these proportions rather than evenly across domains.
- Project life cycle 18%
- Project planning 34%
- Project execution 26%
- Communication and change 22%
Money & time
How much does the CompTIA Project+ cost?
For the CompTIA Project+, the exam fee is $355; the all-in cost is typically $355+; most candidates spend 1–3 months preparing.
Cost breakdown
| Exam voucher | $355 |
|---|---|
| Typical total | $355+ |
Academic pricing available.
Timeline
- Study 4–8 weeks
- Sit PK0-005 test day
Typical prep: 1–3 months
The path
How do you register for the CompTIA Project+?
- 1
Create your accounts10 minutes
Set up a free CompTIA account and a Pearson VUE account. Your CompTIA account is where the certification and CEUs are tracked; Pearson VUE handles scheduling and delivery.
Use a consistent email so your exam result links to your CompTIA record.
- 2
Purchase an exam voucher1 day
Buy the XK0-006 voucher from the CompTIA store (standard $390 USD). Optionally choose an exam+retake bundle or add CertMaster training.
- Select Linux+ (XK0-006) in the CompTIA store
- Choose voucher only, exam+retake bundle, or bundle with training
- Save the voucher code from your CompTIA account
- 3
Schedule your exam15 minutes
Go to Pearson VUE, enter your voucher code, and book a date. Choose a nearby test center or online proctoring (OnVUE).
- Pick test center or OnVUE online
- Run the OnVUE system check if testing at home
- Confirm date, time, and time zone
- 4
Prepare your ID and environmentTest-day prep
Bring a government-issued photo ID to a center. For online testing, prepare a quiet private room, clear your desk, and have your webcam ready for the check-in scan.
Accepted ID rules follow Pearson VUE policy (typically passport or driver's license matching your account name).
- 5
Take the exam90 minutes
Complete up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, including multiple-choice and performance-based items. You see a pass/fail result on screen immediately after finishing.
- 6
Claim and maintain your certificationA few days
Your certification appears in CompTIA CertCentral. Log in to download the e-certificate and start tracking the 50 CEUs needed to renew within 3 years.
The fine print
What are the retake and renewal rules for the CompTIA Project+?
- Proctoring & delivery
- Delivered by Pearson VUE with two options: an in-person proctored test center, or online proctoring via OnVUE with a live remote proctor (requires webcam, stable internet, and a private room).
- Retake policy
- If you do not pass, you may retake XK0-006 after a 14-day waiting period. Each attempt requires a new exam voucher; there is no limit on the number of retakes. CompTIA's standard candidate agreement governs retake rules.
- Score reporting
- A pass/fail result is shown on screen immediately after the exam. A detailed score report by domain is available in your Pearson VUE account and mirrored in your CompTIA CertCentral record.
- Recertification
- Linux+ is valid for 3 years from the certification date. Renew by earning 50 Continuing Education (CE) credits and paying the CE fee through CompTIA CertCentral, by earning a higher-level CompTIA certification, or by passing the current XK0-006 exam again.
- Refunds & rescheduling
- Exam vouchers are generally non-refundable but may be transferable or have a defined expiry; optional CertMaster training may be refundable within a limited window per CompTIA's terms. Review voucher terms at purchase.
Context
Linux certifications compared
| Credential | Vendor | Level | Exam | Validity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CompTIA Linux+ | CompTIA | Vendor-neutral | Intermediate | 1 exam (XK0-006) | 3 years |
| LPIC-1 | Linux Professional Institute | Vendor-neutral | Entry | 2 exams (101 + 102) | 5 years |
| Red Hat RHCSA | Red Hat | Vendor-specific | Entry | 1 exam (performance lab) | 3 years |
What it pays
How much does this credential pay?
$100,750 median for project management specialists (BLS, May 2024)
There is no Bureau of Labor Statistics occupation called "Project+" — the CompTIA Project+ certification validates project-management knowledge for IT professionals, and the wage question belongs to the role you perform with it. The closest official BLS occupation is Project Management Specialists, SOC 13-1082, which had a May 2024 median wage of $100,750, with the lowest 10 percent under $59,450 and the highest 10 percent above $170,380. The fit must be read with an honest caveat: Project+ is an entry-level, vendor-neutral project-management certification often earned by IT professionals, project coordinators and team members who take on project duties, so the realistic benchmark for a new holder sits below the project-manager median, climbing with responsibility. BLS counted 774,900 project management specialist jobs in 2024 and projects 9 percent growth from 2024 to 2034, with about 111,600 openings a year. The limitation to state plainly: the BLS median covers the whole occupation at all levels, credentialed or not, and the certification's value is as a foundational project-management signal that employers use for coordinator and junior-manager roles. Read the number as the market for the occupation the credential serves.
| Measure | Figure | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage, project management specialists | $100,750 | BLS OOH, SOC 13-1082, May 2024 |
| Lowest 10 percent | Under $59,450 | BLS OOH, SOC 13-1082, May 2024 |
| Highest 10 percent | Above $170,380 | BLS OOH, SOC 13-1082, May 2024 |
| Projected openings per year | ~111,600 | BLS OOH, SOC 13-1082, 2024-2034 |
Job growth.BLS projects 9 percent growth for project management specialists from 2024 to 2034, about 111,600 openings per year.
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook - Project Management Specialists
Your odds
What are the pass rates?
CompTIA publishes no pass rate — the Project+ exam (PK0-005) has up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, passing 710 of 900
CompTIA does not publish cohort pass rates for its certification exams, and third-party surveys are not official data, so we do not treat them as authoritative. What CompTIA does publish is the format and the passing standard: the Project+ exam (PK0-005) has a maximum of 90 questions with a 90-minute time limit, and a passing score of 710 on the 100-900 scale. The exam is delivered at Pearson VUE centres or through online proctoring, and the certification is valid for three years, renewable through CompTIA's continuing education program. The exam content follows the published exam objectives: project management concepts; project life cycle phases; tools and documentation; and the basics of IT, governance and compliance in projects. The absence of a published pass rate is not an absence of standards: the 710 line on the 100-900 scale is a moderate bar for an entry-level project-management exam, and the exam rewards applied knowledge of the project lifecycle and the tools. The practical reading: target well above 710 on practice — 80 percent-plus — and use CompTIA's official exam objectives and CertMaster practice materials, the closest thing to the real item style.
Read this before quoting the number.CompTIA publishes the passing score and format but no pass rate; any percentage circulating online is a third-party estimate.
Source: CompTIA - Project+ certification
Your schedule
How long should I study for it?
60-90 hours over 5-7 weeks of focused study
The Project+ exam (PK0-005) has up to 90 questions in 90 minutes with a 710/900 passing score, built on the published exam objectives: project management concepts, the project life cycle phases, the tools and documentation, and the basics of IT, governance and compliance. A defensible plan runs 60 to 90 hours over 5 to 7 weeks. Weeks 1-2: the project-management concepts — the project vs operations, the roles and the constraints (scope, schedule, cost, quality), and the project management processes. Weeks 3-4: the life cycle — initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closing — learning what happens in each phase and the key documents. Weeks 5-6: the tools and documentation — the work breakdown structure, the schedules, the risk register, the change control and the communication plan. Week 7: the IT, governance and compliance basics, then question-bank drilling and a full timed practice exam at the real format. The plan is lifecycle-heavy because the exam rewards knowing the phases and their outputs; candidates who study general PM theory instead of the specific lifecycle structure miss the exam's core.
- Weeks 1-220
Project concepts
- Projects vs operations and the roles
- The constraints and processes
- Stakeholder and communication basics
- Weeks 3-425
Life cycle phases
- Initiation and planning
- Execution and monitoring/controlling
- Closing and the phase outputs
- Weeks 5-625
Tools and documentation
- WBS, schedules and estimates
- Risk register and change control
- Communication and documentation
- Week 715
IT, governance, drill
- IT and compliance basics
- Question-bank drilling
- One full timed practice exam
Adjusting the pace
Working with projects.The concepts are familiar from practice; focus study on the exact lifecycle structure and the exam format.
New to project management.Add 1-2 weeks of project-management fundamentals before the full plan.
How to study
How do I prepare most effectively?
The Project+ exam rewards applied knowledge of the project lifecycle, so the dominant strategy is learning the phases and their outputs as a sequence: what happens in initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and closing, and which documents each phase produces, because the exam tests the structure directly. Second, use the published exam objectives as the scope map and audit every study resource against them; CompTIA publishes them for free. Third, master the tools and documentation — the WBS, the schedule, the risk register and the change-control process — a distinct and heavily weighted area. Fourth, use CompTIA's official CertMaster practice materials, the closest thing to the real item style, and hold yourself to 80 percent-plus on practice because the 710 line leaves no margin. Finally, take at least one full timed practice exam; 90 questions in 90 minutes is exactly one minute per item, and the pacing matters.
Learn the lifecycle sequence
What each phase does and which documents it produces is the exam's core.
Audit against the objectives
The free official objectives are the scope map.
Master the tools and documentation
WBS, schedules, risk and change control are a weighted area.
Hold to 80%+ on practice
The 710/900 line leaves no margin.
Run one timed practice exam
90 questions in 90 minutes; the pacing matters.
What to buy
Which study resources are worth paying for?
Project+ prep spans official CompTIA resources and third-party courses. CompTIA's own products — the exam objectives (free), CertMaster Learn and CertMaster Practice — are the authoritative source, typically $200-$500 for the bundles. Third-party providers sell Project+ courses and question banks from roughly $50 to $400; the market is smaller than for A+ or Security+, so prices and quality vary more. Free resources include the objectives and CompTIA sample questions. A realistic total budget is $300 to $800 including the exam fee (about $358). Prices below are list prices as of mid-2026 and change frequently; we rank nothing by commission.
| Resource | Price | Format | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| CompTIA exam objectives | Free | Official PDF | The authoritative scope; audit every resource against it |
| CertMaster Learn + Practice | $200-$500 | Online learning + practice | The official learning path |
| Third-party courses | $50-$400 | Video courses and question banks | Structured walkthrough of the objectives |
| Free sample questions | $0 | CompTIA practice items | Orientation before committing |
| Project+ exam | ~$358 | Computer-based exam | The certification itself |
List prices as of mid-2026, subject to change; the PK0-005 exam fee is about $358; no commission or affiliate ranking is implied.
Avoid these
What mistakes do candidates most often make?
The most common Project+ mistake is studying general project-management theory instead of the exam's lifecycle structure: candidates who know PM concepts but not which document each phase produces miss the structural items, which dominate the exam. The fix is lifecycle-first study. The second mistake is under-preparing the tools and documentation area, a distinct weighted block. Third, candidates ignore the IT, governance and compliance objectives, treating them as minor when they are a tested area. Fourth, some candidates misjudge the pace — 90 questions in 90 minutes is exactly a minute per item, so a timed simulation is essential. Finally, candidates who do not audit their study materials against the official objectives risk studying the wrong scope.
✕Studying general theory
✓Learn the lifecycle phases and their document outputs.
✕Under-preparing tools and documentation
✓WBS, schedules, risk and change control are a weighted area.
✕Skipping IT and governance
✓A tested objective area; cover it.
✕Misjudging the pace
✓90 questions in 90 minutes; run a timed simulation.
✕Studying the wrong scope
✓Audit every resource against the official objectives.
What you'll face
What question types will I see?
The Project+ exam has up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, with multiple-choice, drag-and-drop and performance-based items. The items test the published objectives: project-management concepts, the life cycle phases, the tools and documentation, and IT, governance and compliance — with many items asking which document, tool or process fits a described project situation. Samples below are editor-written illustrations of the published objectives, not live exam items; they show the lifecycle-structure style of the real items.
Which phase, process or document fits a described situation.
WBS, schedules, risk and change-control questions.
Compliance and IT-project basics.
Try these
Q1During which project phase is the project charter typically created and the project formally authorised?
Answer:A
The project charter is created in initiation, which formally authorises the project. Planning develops the detailed plans, execution performs the work, and closing finalises the project.
Q2A team member proposes a change to the project scope. The correct process is to:
Answer:A
Scope changes go through the change-control process — evaluation of impact, approval and documentation. Immediate implementation, ignoring or informal decisions each bypass the control the exam rewards.
Q3Which document breaks the project work into manageable components for estimating and tracking?
Answer:A
The WBS decomposes the work into manageable components for estimating and tracking. The charter authorises the project, the risk register tracks risks, and the communication plan governs communications.
Samples are editor-written illustrations of the published objectives, not live exam items.
The big day
What should I expect on exam day?
The Project+ exam is a 90-question, 90-minute computer-based exam at a Pearson VUE centre or through online proctoring. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID matching your registration name and your appointment confirmation; personal items go in the locker. Arrive 30 minutes early; late arrivals forfeit the appointment and the fee. Pace at exactly one minute per item, flag uncertain items for review, and budget extra time for the performance-based items. You receive your score on screen immediately, with the official result following; CompTIA reports your scaled score against the 710 line. If you fail, CompTIA allows retakes after a waiting period. On a pass, the certification is valid for three years, renewable through continuing education units (CEUs) or by retaking. The afterwards matters: log your CEUs as you earn them, because CompTIA audits renewals, and record the expiration date.
Bring
- Valid government-issued photo ID matching your registration name
- Appointment confirmation
Leave at home
- Phone, smartwatch and all electronics
- Notes and study materials
- Personal bags beyond what the centre allows
How the day runs
Rules in the room
- No personal electronics in the testing room
- 90 minutes for up to 90 questions; the clock does not pause
- The certification is valid 3 years, renewed with CEUs or a retake
Afterwards.On a pass, your Project+ is valid for three years; earn CEUs (or retake) to renew. On a fail, retake after additional objectives-focused study.
Reference
What are the key facts about the CompTIA Project+?
CompTIA Project+ is a certification credential; awarded by CompTIA; the exam fee is $355; typical preparation is 1–3 months; holders typically earn $55,000 – $85,000.
| Credential | CompTIA Project+ |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Project+ |
| Type | Certification |
| Profession | IT, Cloud & Cybersecurity |
| Specialty | CompTIA |
| Awarded by | CompTIA |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Typical prep time | 1–3 months |
| All-in cost | $355+ |
| Typical salary range | $55,000 – $85,000 |
| Exam code | PK0-005 |
| Scope | National / Multi-state |
| Also known as | PK0-005 |
Real questions
Frequently asked questions about the CompTIA Project+
Project+ vs CAPM or PMP?
Project+ is a lighter, industry-neutral entry cert; CAPM and PMP follow the PMI framework and PMP requires experience.
Does it expire?
Yes, after three years via CE credits.
How do I register for comptia-project-plus?
You register and schedule comptia-project-plus through Pearson VUE. Pick a test-centre appointment or online proctoring, then sit the exam on your booked date.
What is the comptia-project-plus exam format?
The exam is delivered as Multiple-choice and performance-based, with about 95 items, in 90 minutes. The published pass mark is 710 of 900.
How long is the comptia-project-plus certification valid?
Most CompTIA certifications are valid for three years and renewed via Continuing Education (CE) credits, a higher cert, or a single renew-by-exam.
How much does comptia-project-plus cost?
The exam fee is $355. Optional study materials and retakes are priced separately.
Who issues the Linux+ certification?
CompTIA (the Computing Technology Industry Association), a vendor-neutral certifying body. The exam is delivered through Pearson VUE and the credential is ANSI-accredited to ISO/IEC 17024.
How do I renew a CompTIA certification?
Through CompTIA CertCentral: accumulate the required Continuing Education (CE) credits (50 for Linux+) and pay the CE fee, earn a higher CompTIA cert, or retake the current exam. Most CompTIA certs follow the 3-year renewal cycle.
Are CompTIA exam vouchers refundable?
Vouchers are typically non-refundable but may be transferable and carry an expiry date. Optional training products may have a limited refund window. Always review the terms shown at purchase in the CompTIA store.
In short
Is the CompTIA Project+ worth it?
- Project+ is an entry-level, vendor-neutral PM cert.
- It covers the full project life cycle.
- It renews every three years.
Same awarding body
What other credentials does CompTIA award?
Worth comparing
How does the CompTIA Project+ compare with similar credentials?
Trust
Where does this information come from?
Everything above is taken from the awarding body's own published material. Fees, question counts and domain weights are revised regularly — check the official page before you pay.
- CompTIA Awarding body
- Official CompTIA Project+ exam page Exam page
- CompTIA certification programme Programme rules
Research confidence: high · Last reviewed 2026-08