Free tool
Exam Cost Calculator
The exam fee is rarely the whole story. Pick a certification and adjust the assumptions to estimate what it really costs to get certified. No sign-up, and runs entirely in your browser.
Base exam fees at a glance
The official exam fee is only the starting point. Add study materials, any retake and ongoing renewal to get the true cost - which is what the calculator above does.
The hidden costs beyond the exam fee
- Study materials: $0 with free official resources, up to several hundred for books or paid courses.
- Retakes: usually the full exam fee again, after a waiting period.
- Instructor-led training: required or bundled for some certs (e.g. PRINCE2, ITIL), optional but pricey for others.
- Maintenance & renewal: annual fees and continuing-education costs for certs that expire - see each exam's "Keeping your certification" section.
Five ways to cut the cost
- Lean on free official resources and reputable free courses before paying for a bootcamp.
- Ask your employer about reimbursement - many fund exams and training.
- Look for exam vouchers, retake bundles and seasonal discounts.
- Check for student, academic or regional pricing where it is offered.
- Prepare properly the first time - the most common avoidable cost is a retake.
FAQ
- What does it really cost to get certified?
- Budget for more than the exam fee: study materials (free to several hundred dollars), a possible retake (usually the full fee again), and ongoing maintenance for certs that expire. The calculator adds these up; the table below lists the base exam fees.
- Why is the exam fee not the full cost?
- The headline fee covers one sitting. On top of it you may pay for books or a course, a retake if you do not pass first time, instructor-led training for some certs, and annual maintenance fees - for example ISC2 charges around US$135 a year to keep CISSP active.
- Which certification is cheapest, and which is most expensive?
- Among those we cover, foundational exams like Azure AZ-900 (~$99) and AWS Cloud Practitioner ($100) are cheapest. The most expensive are CEH (~$1,199) and the multi-stage finance qualifications (CFA across three levels, CPA across four sections), where totals run into the thousands.
- Can my employer pay for my certification?
- Often, yes. Many employers reimburse exam fees and training as professional development, sometimes on condition you pass. It is worth asking before paying out of pocket.
- How can I reduce the cost?
- Use free official resources and reputable free courses instead of paid bootcamps, look for exam vouchers and retake bundles, check for student or regional pricing, and ask your employer about reimbursement.