If you're reading this, you're either worried about failing the CCIM comprehensive exam, or you've already failed and need to know what comes next. Either way, take a breath. Failing the CCIM exam isn't the end of your CCIM journey—it's a common detour that many successful designees have taken.
This guide covers everything: the retake policies, the costs, why candidates fail, and exactly how to prepare differently for your next attempt. Let's start with the most important thing you need to know.
The Good News: Most People Eventually Pass
While the CCIM Institute doesn't publish official statistics, available data suggests that while only 50-65% of candidates pass on their first attempt, the cumulative pass rate including retakes is much higher—estimated at 85-95%.
In other words: most people who commit to passing eventually do. The exam is challenging, but it's not designed to permanently exclude qualified professionals. It's designed to ensure that everyone who earns the designation truly mastered the material.
You completed the four courses. You invested the time and money. You have the foundation. A failed first attempt doesn't erase that—it just means you need a different approach for attempt two.
The $75 Next-Day Retake Option
This is the most important thing to know about CCIM exam failure:
The CCIM Institute offers a next-day retake option that's remarkably affordable. If you fail on Day 1 of an exam administration, you can retake the exam on Day 2 for just $75—compared to the full ~$400 exam fee for a standard retake.
How the Next-Day Retake Works
When you register for the exam, you must opt-in for the next-day retake option. You typically pay the $75 fee upfront as insurance.
Give it your best shot. The 6-hour exam covers all four courses. Results are typically available same day or next morning.
If you don't pass, you can sit for the exam again the very next day. Same location, same format, fresh attempt.
If you pass on your first attempt, the $75 is typically refunded or applied to your CCIM membership.
The next-day retake option is only available if you register for it before your first attempt. If you don't pre-register and then fail, you'll have to pay the full exam fee (~$400) and wait for the next exam administration. Always pre-register for the next-day retake—it's the best $75 insurance policy you can buy.
All Retake Options Explained
If you fail the CCIM exam, you have several paths forward:
| Retake Option | Cost | Timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Next-Day Retake | $75 | Next day | Must pre-register; most cost-effective option |
| Standard Retake | ~$400 | Next exam administration | If you didn't pre-register for next-day, or want more prep time |
| Delayed Retake | ~$400 | Any future administration | Choose a future date that works for your schedule |
How Many Times Can You Retake?
There is no official limit on retake attempts. You can continue taking the exam until you pass. However, if you're failing repeatedly, it's worth stepping back to reassess your preparation rather than simply retaking the same approach.
Do Course Completions Expire?
Your CI 101-104 course completions do not immediately expire if you fail the exam. However, check with the CCIM Institute for current policies on how long course credits remain valid, as this may have time limits (often several years).
What Happens Immediately After Failing
Here's the typical sequence after a failed exam attempt:
Why Candidates Fail (And How to Fix It)
Understanding why candidates fail helps you avoid or correct those issues. Here are the most common reasons:
Running out of time is the #1 killer. Candidates spend too long on difficult questions and rush through (or skip) easier ones at the end.
Yes, it's open book. No, that doesn't mean you can look everything up. Candidates who flip constantly run out of time.
Wrong calculator settings, input errors, or unfamiliarity with HP 10B II keystrokes cascade into wrong answers.
Candidates strong in CI 101/104 (financial analysis) but weak in CI 102/103 (market/user analysis) or vice versa.
Six hours is exhausting. Anxiety leads to rushing, careless errors, and mental fatigue earlier than necessary.
Case studies are complex. Missing a detail or answering what you think is asked (vs. what's actually asked) costs points.
How to Fix Each Issue
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Time Management | Practice under timed conditions. Set checkpoint goals (1/3 done at 2 hours, etc.). Skip and return to difficult questions. |
| Over-Relying on Materials | Know the material well enough that references are for verification, not learning. Tab your books for quick lookup only. |
| Calculator Errors | Practice key sequences until automatic. Verify settings before starting. Sanity-check results (is 150% IRR realistic?). |
| Domain Weakness | Identify which domain(s) were weakest. Focus 60-70% of retake prep on those areas specifically. |
| Test Anxiety | Practice under exam conditions multiple times. Get adequate sleep. Use breaks strategically. Trust your preparation. |
| Misreading Questions | Read questions twice. Underline key requirements. Double-check you're answering what's asked before finalizing. |
How to Prepare for Your Retake
Your retake preparation should be different from your first-attempt preparation. You've now experienced the exam—use that information.
If Retaking Next Day
You have limited time. Focus on:
- Rest: Get a good night's sleep. Fatigue was likely a factor; don't compound it.
- Quick Review: Spend 1-2 hours reviewing your weakest areas—the topics where you were least confident.
- Adjust Strategy: If time was an issue, commit to skipping difficult questions faster and returning to them.
- Mental Reset: Approach Day 2 with fresh eyes. You've seen the exam format; now execute better.
You just took the exam yesterday. The format, the pressure, the pacing—all fresh in your mind. Many candidates find the second attempt easier simply because the mystery is gone. Use this to your advantage.
If Retaking at a Future Administration
With more time, you can address root causes:
- Conduct a Honest Post-Mortem: What specifically went wrong? Where did you feel least prepared? What surprised you?
- Focus on Weak Domains: Identify the 1-2 course areas where you struggled most. Dedicate 60-70% of your prep time there.
- Practice Under Exam Conditions: Timed practice tests. Full 6-hour simulations if possible. Build stamina.
- Consider Additional Resources: If self-study wasn't enough, consider study groups, tutoring, or CCIM review courses.
- Drill Calculator Keystrokes: IRR, NPV, amortization, TVM problems—until the sequences are automatic.
- Review Course Materials Strategically: Don't re-read everything. Focus on concepts you didn't master.
The Mental Game: Recovering from Failure
Let's address the emotional side. Failing the CCIM exam after investing thousands of dollars and months of effort is demoralizing. That's normal. Here's how to process it constructively:
What Failing Doesn't Mean
- It doesn't mean you're not smart enough. The exam is difficult by design. Intelligent, successful professionals fail it regularly.
- It doesn't mean you wasted your money. Your course completions are still valid. Your knowledge is still there. You're closer than someone who hasn't tried.
- It doesn't mean you should give up. The 85-95% cumulative pass rate proves most people who persist eventually succeed.
- It doesn't reflect your professional abilities. Exam performance and professional performance are different skills.
What Failing Does Mean
- Your preparation approach needs adjustment (different, not necessarily more)
- You now have valuable exam experience that first-time takers lack
- You have an opportunity to master the material more deeply
- You're being challenged to earn a credential that's meaningful because it's difficult
Every CCIM designee either passed the first time or failed and passed later. Either way, they're all CCIMs now. The only people who don't eventually pass are those who give up. Your failed attempt is part of your success story—you just haven't finished writing it yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, no. The CCIM Institute provides pass/fail results without detailed score breakdowns. You'll know you failed but won't receive a question-by-question analysis. This means you need to self-assess which areas felt weakest during the exam.
It depends on why you failed. If you felt prepared but had test-day issues (time management, anxiety, fatigue), the next-day retake makes sense—you know the material, you just need to execute better. If you genuinely felt lost on significant portions of the exam, waiting to do targeted preparation might be wiser. The next-day retake works best for candidates who were close.
No. Retakes use different exam forms with different questions, though they cover the same material and have equivalent difficulty. You can't pass by memorizing questions from your first attempt.
The CCIM Institute doesn't publicize individual results. Your employer won't be notified (unless you tell them). Other candidates at the exam site won't know your results. Your failure is private information that you control.
No—failing the exam doesn't invalidate your course completions. You can retake the exam without repeating courses. However, if a significant amount of time has passed or you feel you need to re-learn material, you may choose to audit or retake courses (at additional cost).
The CCIM Institute doesn't publish this data. Anecdotally, most candidates who fail once pass on their second attempt, especially those who use the next-day retake. Failing multiple times is less common but does happen—these candidates typically benefit from significant preparation changes or additional support.
If you've failed multiple times, step back and honestly assess: Are you studying the right material? Are you practicing under timed conditions? Do you understand the concepts or just recognize them? Consider working with a tutor, joining a study group, or auditing courses. Sometimes a different learning approach makes the difference.
Final Thoughts: Failure Is a Detour, Not a Dead End
Failing the CCIM exam is disappointing. It's expensive. It's frustrating. But it's not the end of your CCIM journey—it's a chapter in it.
The CCIM Institute designed the retake system to help candidates succeed. The $75 next-day retake exists because they know that qualified candidates sometimes have bad test days. The unlimited retakes exist because they want everyone who masters the material to eventually earn the designation.
Your job now is simple: figure out what went wrong, fix it, and try again. You've already proven you have the commitment—you completed four courses and sat for a 6-hour exam. That's more than most people ever attempt.
The only way to truly fail is to give up. And you're still reading, which means you haven't.
Dust yourself off. Learn from the experience. Come back stronger. Your CCIM designation is waiting.
Prepare Smarter for Your Retake
Identify your weak areas with targeted practice questions covering all four CCIM domains. Know exactly where to focus your retake preparation.