If you are looking to move from project execution into project management, lead cross-functional teams or put a recognized professional framework around your experience, the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is one of the qualifications many working professionals consider. PMI describes the PMP as a globally recognized certification that demonstrates project leadership across predictive, hybrid and agile ways of working.
Once you decide to pursue the PMP, however, a practical question usually follows: how much will the training cost, and is there any government funding available in Hong Kong?
If you enrol in a course that is registered as reimbursable under Hong Kong’s Continuing Education Fund (CEF), and you meet the eligibility, attendance and assessment requirements, you may apply for reimbursement after successful completion. The current maximum cumulative CEF entitlement is HK$25,000 per eligible applicant.
This guide uses KORNERSTONE’s PMP-related CEF course as the main example to explain how the subsidy works, when to apply, what information to prepare and how to separate course tuition from the official PMP examination fee. It also briefly covers KORNERSTONE’s CISSP- and FRM-related CEF courses for readers comparing different professional development options.
Part 1: Can a PMP Course Qualify for CEF Reimbursement?
Yes, but not every course marketed as PMP training automatically qualifies. The key is whether the actual course you enrol in is registered as a CEF reimbursable course and whether that registration is still valid on your course commencement date.
KORNERSTONE’s CEF course related to PMP training is the Foundation Certificate in Project Practices, CEF Course Code 33C159589. Current registration information shows that it is recognized at QF Level 2 and remains valid until 31 January 2028.
Part 2: How Much CEF Funding Can You Actually Receive?
CEF does not mean that every course costs the learner only 20%. Under the current rules, the learner co-payment ratio is 20% of course fees for the first HK$10,000 of subsidy, and 40% for the remaining HK$15,000 of subsidy.
If your CEF balance is completely unused, the first HK$10,000 of subsidy can cover up to HK$12,500 of course fees: the learner pays HK$2,500 and CEF reimburses HK$10,000. Further eligible course fees are then calculated at a 40% learner / 60% CEF ratio.
For example, for a course fee of HK$18,000, assuming your CEF entitlement is fully unused:
| Calculation | Course Fee | Learner Pays | CEF Reimbursement |
|---|---|---|---|
| First stage | HK$12,500 | HK$2,500 (20%) | HK$10,000 (80%) |
| Remaining fee | HK$5,500 | HK$2,200 (40%) | HK$3,300 (60%) |
| Total | HK$18,000 | HK$4,700 | HK$13,300 |
The actual reimbursement will depend on your remaining CEF balance. If you have already claimed CEF for previous courses, the result may be different. Check your account status and the government’s funding calculator before setting your budget.
Part 3: Who Is Eligible for CEF in 2026?
For CEF courses commencing on or after 1 August 2022, applicants must be aged 18 or above when the course begins and meet the relevant Hong Kong residency requirements. There is no upper age limit under the current rules for these courses.
The course itself must also be registered as a CEF reimbursable course. Before enrolling, check the government Course Search Engine rather than relying on the fact that a course title contains PMP, CISSP or FRM.
Part 4: Attendance and Assessment Requirements
Enrolling in a CEF course does not by itself guarantee reimbursement. To be considered to have successfully completed the course, you must meet both the attendance and assessment requirements:
- Attend at least 70% of the contact hours, or any higher attendance requirement set for the course.
- Achieve an overall assessment mark of at least 50%, or any higher assessment requirement set for the course.
The CEF course assessment is separate from the PMI PMP Certification Exam. You must first satisfy the CEF course requirements to be eligible to apply for tuition reimbursement; the official PMP exam is handled separately under PMI’s certification process.
Part 5: How to Apply for KORNERSTONE CEF Reimbursement
- Check the course before enrolling: confirm the CEF Course Code, registration validity and your remaining CEF entitlement.
- Complete the course requirements: monitor your attendance and assessment results so that you meet the successful-completion criteria*.
- Apply within one year after successful completion: submit online through eWFSFAA or use the paper SFO 313 form.
- Prepare bank and other required information: approved reimbursement is paid into a designated savings or current account, and the account name must exactly match the name on your Hong Kong Identity Card.
- Wait for processing: where documents are complete and the training provider can verify the information, processing is generally about six weeks for applicants with an existing CEF account and eight weeks for first-time account opening.
If you submit online without using iAM Smart+ for digital signing, you must print the submitted form, sign the Part D declaration and return the signed original to the CEF Office within one month after successful electronic submission for the application to be treated as valid.
*the 2026 SFO 312C guide does not list an original tuition receipt or a copy of the completion certificate as standard attachments required from every applicant. Keep your payment and completion records, however, in case the CEF Office needs them for verification.
Part 6: PMP Course Tuition and PMP Exam Fees Are Separate
This is the point most likely to cause confusion. CEF reimbursement mainly applies to eligible tuition for registered CEF courses. For non-language professional certifications such as PMP, CISSP and FRM, an external certification examination fee does not automatically become CEF-reimbursable simply because it is related to professional study.
The current CEF-registered tuition for KORNERSTONE’s Foundation Certificate in Project Practices is HK$13,800. If your full CEF entitlement is unused, an illustrative calculation under the current co-payment ratios gives an estimated learner payment of HK$3,020 and estimated CEF reimbursement of HK$10,780. The actual reimbursement depends on your remaining entitlement and final approval by the CEF Office.
When budgeting for PMP, therefore, separate the KORNERSTONE CEF course tuition from the official PMI PMP Exam Fee. The former is calculated under CEF rules and your remaining balance; the latter needs to be budgeted separately.
Part 7: Beyond PMP – Other KORNERSTONE CEF Courses
If you want to upskill but have not decided that PMP is the only route for you, KORNERSTONE also has CEF reimbursable courses in IT Security and Financial Risk. The examples below assume that the applicant has not used any of the HK$25,000 CEF entitlement.
| Professional Area | CEF Course | Course Code | Registered Fee | Illustrative Learner Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PMP / Project Management | Foundation Certificate in Project Practices | 33C159589 | HK$13,800 | about HK$3,020 |
| CISSP / IT Security | Foundation Certificate in Information Security Practices | 33C159597 | HK$14,800 | about HK$3,420 |
| FRM / Financial Risk | Foundation Certificate in Financial Practices | 33C159600 | HK$13,800 | about HK$3,020 |
*Illustrative figures use the current CEF co-payment ratios and assume the full HK$25,000 entitlement remains unused. Actual reimbursement varies with the applicant’s remaining balance and approval outcome.
Part 8: Not Sure Where to Start with CEF?
For first-time applicants, the difficult part is often not the training itself but understanding the course code, remaining entitlement, required documents and what to submit after the course.
If you are considering KORNERSTONE’s PMP-related CEF course, our training consultants can help you check the course details, CEF Course Code, attendance and assessment requirements, and the information you should prepare for the reimbursement application. They can also guide you through the submission steps after course completion. The actual reimbursement amount and final approval remain subject to the CEF Office.
If you are still comparing professional development paths, you can also ask about KORNERSTONE’s CISSP– and FRM-related CEF courses, schedules and fees before deciding which route best fits your background and goals.
Speak with our training consultants through Course Enquiry to understand your course and CEF options before you enrol.
