Most people who look up HRDF professional certificates support ask one question: will the fund pay me back for a certificate like the PMP? The short answer is yes — for a defined list of certificates, up to a set cap for each one, and under conditions that get a claim rejected if you miss even one. This article gathers what the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF, known in Arabic as «هدف») publishes about the programme, in the order you need it before you spend a riyal.
What the HRDF professional certificates programme is
It is a programme run by the Human Resources Development Fund to encourage Saudi nationals to earn professional certificates the labour market asks for. The idea is simple: you pay for the training and the exam, you earn the certificate, and then you file a claim. The fund pays the money back into your bank account, up to the cap set for your certificate.
The programme does not fund a course in advance and does not pay the training provider on your behalf. It reimburses you after you pass, which is why the professional certificate itself is required to apply — attending a course is not enough. In a 2025 announcement the fund said the programme supports 268 certificates across many fields, and that more than 13,000 citizens had benefited from it in the year before.
Who qualifies for HRDF professional certificates support
The fund publishes clear conditions, and all of them apply together:
- You are a Saudi national — employed in the public or private sector, or looking for work.
- Your certificate is on the approved list. Not every professional certificate is supported; the list, with the cap for each certificate, is on the programme page.
- You earned the certificate after it was approved in the programme. The PMP, for example, has been approved since May 2016, so a PMP earned before that date is not reimbursed.
- Your employer did not pay. You confirm this when you apply; if your company covered the fees, the claim is not eligible.
- No more than two claims. The limit is two certificates per person, so choose which two carefully.
- You apply within six months of the certificate being issued. A certificate issued more than six months earlier is not reimbursed — the condition applicants miss most often.
Is the PMP supported? What about ACP, PBA and RMP?
We checked the official list on 30 September 2026 for the certificates the academy prepares candidates for. This is what the fund publishes:
- PMP, Project Management Professional: supported. Exam cap SAR 2,100, training cap SAR 2,000. See the PMP programme.
- PMI-ACP, Agile Certified Practitioner: supported. Exam cap SAR 3,800, training cap SAR 2,000. See the Agile programme.
- PMI-PBA, Professional in Business Analysis: supported. Exam cap SAR 2,100, training cap SAR 2,000. See the business analysis programme.
- PMI-RMP, Risk Management Professional: not on the list when we checked, so do not count on a refund until you have confirmed it yourself. The RMP programme is there for those who want it for its professional value.
The list includes other PMI certificates such as the CAPM, and it changes with the needs of the labour market — so search for your certificate by name on the programme page before you enrol anywhere.
Note that the cap is a ceiling, not a percentage: the amount on your invoices is reimbursed as long as it is below the cap, and anything above the cap is yours to pay.
What is reimbursed and what is not
The programme reimburses two kinds of cost, each with its own cap: training costs and exam fees. That is why the fund asks for invoices that separate the training amount from the exam amount; if your invoice combines them, you need a notice from the training centre stating each amount separately.
The most important thing that is not reimbursed is membership fees, mandatory or optional. For the PMP, PMI membership lowers the exam fee, but the membership itself is not paid back, and the fund asks you not to attach its invoices. Current exam and membership fees are published on PMI's PMP page.
How to apply, step by step
- Check the list first. Search for your certificate on the professional certificates programme page and note the training and exam caps.
- Pay yourself and keep the official invoices — the training invoice from the training provider and the exam receipt from the certifying body.
- Pass the exam and receive the certificate. Reimbursement is paid for the certificate, not for attendance.
- Apply online within six months through the fund's e-services after creating an account, attaching a copy of the certificate, the invoices, and the authorisation letter filled in and signed.
- Wait for review and payment. The fund states that eligibility review and payment take 40 working days from the date you apply with everything complete; the money is then transferred to your bank account by IBAN.
Mistakes that sink a claim before it is reviewed
The fund itself warns about specific mistakes, and they are the easiest to avoid:
- A bank statement is not an invoice. Proof of payment is the official invoice; a bank statement or anything like it does not replace it.
- Unofficial invoices risk rejection. An invoice without the issuer's logo or stamp, or one captured as a screenshot of an email or a browser, may well get the claim rejected.
- Forgetting the authorisation letter. It must be attached, filled in and signed.
- Missing the six months. Many people pass, put the claim off, and lose it.
- Confusing the course with the certificate. A course attendance certificate is not enough; the professional certificate itself is required.
A practical plan before you enrol
If you are considering the PMP and want the support, order the decision like this. First make sure you are eligible for the exam — experience and training hours — which we explain in PMP eligibility requirements. Then confirm the certificate is still on the fund's list and that your employer will not pay for you, and ask the training provider for a detailed official invoice before you pay.
Once you pass, put the six-month deadline in your calendar and file the claim that same week rather than waiting for other paperwork. And remember that in most cases the support covers part of the cost, not all of it: work out what you will carry after reimbursement, and weigh it against what the certificate adds to the job you are aiming for.
Frequently asked questions
Does HRDF support the PMP?
Yes. The PMP has been on the programme's approved list since May 2016, and the fund reimburses up to SAR 2,100 for the exam and up to SAR 2,000 for training, according to the official list when we checked.
Is the RMP supported by HRDF?
PMI-RMP was not on the programme's list when we checked on 30 September 2026. The list changes, so search for it by name on the programme page before relying on a refund.
Am I eligible if my employer paid the fees?
No. The programme requires you to confirm that your employer did not pay for the certificate.
How many times can I use the programme?
Twice at most per person — reimbursement for two certificates.
When is the money paid?
Within 40 working days of applying with all requirements complete, transferred to your bank account.
Are PMI membership fees reimbursed?
No. The fund does not cover membership fees, mandatory or optional, and asks that their invoices not be attached.
